Single-Phase Consumer Units: Meeting Modern Electrical Demands Safely and Efficiently
In the ever-changing landscape of electrical installations, the humble single-phase consumer unit remains the backbone of most domestic electrical installations in the UK, serving as the essential hub for delivering electricity safely throughout homes, small businesses, and outbuildings. While the principle hasn’t changed - safely distributing electricity from the incoming supply to individual circuits - the demands placed on these units have evolved dramatically.
Why Single-Phase Matters
Single-phase supplies remain the standard for most UK homes and small businesses. They’re more than adequate for typical loads, including lighting, socket outlets, and modern appliances. But with the rise of electric vehicle charging points, heat pumps, and smart home technology, the design and capacity of consumer units must adapt to increased and often more variable demand.
Recent advancements and regulatory changes are shaping the future of these units - bringing heightened safety, efficiency, and smart features that every electrical contractor should know about.
Key Regulatory Drivers
Recent updates to the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018, Amendment 3:2024) have significant implications for single-phase units. Key points include:
- All new domestic consumer units must have their enclosures manufactured from non-combustible material, offering enhanced fire containment.
- RCD protection is required for circuits which include socket outlets and circuits containing luminaires or for cables buried at a depth less than 50mm in fabric of the building, either via RCBOs or split-load arrangements.
- Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) are required for socket outlets up to 32A in the following four locations, Higher risk residential buildings, Houses in multiple occupation, purpose built student accommodation and care homes. For all other premises they are recommended for socket outlets up to 32A.
- Surge protection devices (SPDs) shall be provided where the consequence caused by the overvoltage could result in serious injury to, or loss of, human life or significant financial or data loss. For all other cases overvoltage protection shall be provided unless the owner of the installation declares it unnecessary.
Elucian by Click
From a standing start point when it was first launched by Scolmore in June 2021, the award-winning Elucian by Click consumer unit and circuit protection range has rapidly grown to become a popular choice of the professional electrical contractor.
Developed with the installer in mind and designed to ensure compliance with BS 7671, the range has comprehensive options for every installation. These consist of Main Switch units, RCBO units, Split Load units and Combination units. The consumer units are functional, stylish, innovative and provide an ideal solution for any residential or light commercial environment. They are packed with features to make installation quick and simple for electricians:
· Non-Combustible Enclosures
· Mains Switch Tail Clamp
· Knockouts
· Rear Knockouts
· Earth and Neutral Bar Configuration
· Backed off Neutral and Earth Bar Screws Keyway Din Rail
· MCB style solid blanks for any unused ways
The Elucian protective devices are easy to install, suitable for residential and light commercial environments, and provide protection against a range of faults to ensure people’s safety against electrocution and fires. The range comprises: MCBs, Isolators, SPDs, Blank Modules, RCDs, RCCBs, RCBOs, AFDDs and Contactors.
Continual investment
Having established a firm footing in the circuit protection sector of the electrical accessories market with its comprehensive line up of products, Scolmore has continued to invest in the Elucian range to provide electricians with products that offer them convenience and easy installation solutions. A raft of products has been added since launch, either to complete the product line up or to provide a solution to a particular installation issue. Here (name of author) highlights some key products in the Elucian line up.
AFDDs
The range comprises Type A 1 Pole + Neutral True 6 kA B Curve & C Curve 30 mA Trip AFDDs with integral RCBOs.
Key features and benefits of the Elucian AFDDs with integral RCBOs include:
- Arc fault detection – These devices mitigate against fire in one single conductor.
- Fault reporting – reports 5 different types of fault conditions. Each fault condition has its own unique LED flashing sequence pattern that signifies the reason why the AFDD has tripped.
- Self-Test – inbuilt self-test function to ensure the device is fully operational.
- Green LED Indication – for a clear, visual representation of the flashing sequence to determine fault condition.
- Compliant – Fully compliant to BS EN 62606: 2013+A1:2017 General requirements for arc fault detection devices.
- Range Available – 6 A, 10 A, 16 A, 20 A, 32 A & 40 A to completely harmonise with the existing range of Elucian RCBOs.
- B & C Trip Curves Available – to cover both short circuit trip times.
- 18 mm Single Width Size – to harmonise with the existing range of Elucian RCBOs and circuit-breakers, only taking up a single din rail space to fit seamlessly into the Elucian range or any existing Elucian installation.
- Neutral Out Tails – 450 mm length supplied as standard
Bidirectional RCBOs
The Elucian Bidirectional RCBO is crucial for ensuring user protection in the event of a fault during a loss of supply. These devices are commonly used with generating sets, where the current can flow in both directions, ensuring that the installer is still protected under fault conditions. The Elucian bidirectional RCBO is Type A rated and available in both B curve and C curve, with 6A, 10A, 16A, 20A, 25A, 32A, 40A and 45A options. It comes with a three year warranty.
Single Width SPDs
With SPDs now heavily used in domestic and commercial premises, the Elucian range includes a single width, double pole SPD. This slimline version of the 2 Pole, Type 2 SPD in a single 18mm module width, comes supplied with the following tails as standard - 230mm Live Tail, 230mm Neutral Tail and 400mm Earth Tails.
The development of the single width module (18mm) means that for all installations where an SPD is required, extra space is gained within the consumer unit as they now only take up one way inside.
Essential Accessories
The comprehensive Elucian range also includes a range of accessories designed to enhance the installation process. Proving popular with contractors are the Pattress Mounts and Recessed Frames.
Pattress Mount
The Pattress Mount kit allows cables to be fed from the top, bottom and either side of the consumer unit. With the pattress mount secured to the wall and attached to the back of the consumer unit, the electrician has space between the mount and the unit to neatly feed cabling from the trunking through the rear knockouts. The mount allows for a maximum of 16mm trunking which would feed behind the consumer unit.
Because the mounting kit comprises two separate parts - a left and right mount – it can be used across any size of distribution board and is therefore compatible with the full Elucian consumer unit range - 5, 8,10,12,14,16 and 22 Way. For the contractor, this means carrying just one type of kit on the van regardless of the size of consumer units being installed, and for the wholesaler it means minimum space taken up in store, with just one size of kit needing to be stocked.
Recessed Frames
The Recessed Frames are designed to fit around 16, 18 and 22 way consumer units, allowing the consumer units to be recess mounted. The installer simply needs to drill holes in the consumer unit and attach the frame using 4 screws, 8 serrated washers and 4 nuts.
Other products included in the accessories collection are terminal bars and support clips and screws; busbars, busbar clips and din rails; SPD cartridges, SPD tail packs, neutral link cables and combined live link cables; grommet strips, mains clamp & screw, mains clamp plate and adhesive labels.
Media enquiries: Majella McCabe 07968 980430 [email protected]