Why you should be buying a consumer unit fitted with surge protection.
Consumer Units
Consumer units are the point in your property where electricity enters before being distributed throughout each room. They are essentially control and power distribution devices for your home or workplace. They protect your cables and electrical appliances from damage due to overloads which can often lead to fires, as well as individuals from electric shocks caused by earth leakage.
There are four main types of consumer units:
- Main Switch Consumer Units – often populated with only RCBOs (residual current breaker with over-current protection), protecting each circuit against overload and earth leakage.
- Dual RCD Consumer Units – supplied with main switch and 2 RCDs (residual current devices) with the RCDs detecting AC and pulsating DC components and interrupting the electrical supply to prevent any damage to appliances and protect humans from electric shocks. If all lighting circuits are placed on the same RCD, in the event of earth leakage on one circuit, the whole bank will lose power.
- High Integrity Consumer Units – allow the use of RCBOs as well as MCBs to ensure total circuit protection, particularly ideal for projects that require 12 or more circuits. These are popular amongst electricians as they make circuit design easy and are also cost-effective for domestic use.
- RCD Incomer Consumer Unit – doesn’t feature a main switch and instead uses a single RCD to control all incoming electricity. These are commonly used in workshops, garages, garden offices, and sheds that use small numbers of circuits/ require a smaller electrical supply. This is because a residual current fault on any circuit will knock out power to all other circuits, making it unsuitable for use in bigger buildings.
Surge Protection
Surge protection devices are designed to protect electrical installations such as consumer units, wiring, and accessories, against external electrical power surges i.e., transient overvoltages. This is vital as most homes have extensive use of power-sensitive appliances such as computers, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, fire alarms, etc that can become damaged, sometimes permanently, in the event of power surges which cause failure to their internal components.
Types of surge protection devices:
- Type 1 SPD – installed at the origin, e.g., main distribution board.
- Type 2 SPD – installed at sub-distribution boards.
(Combined Type 1 & 2 SPDs are available and are usually installed in consumer units).
We stock the FuseBox SPDCUKITT2 Type 2 Surge Protector with 32A MCB and Cables which is a surge protection device suitable for use in TN, TNC-S, TNC, and TT systems. It comes complete with a 32 amp MCB 3 fly lead cables allowing for quick and easy installations, and also features a replaceable cartridge. It also has an IP20 ingress protection rating which means the surge protector is touch proof and protected against dust ingress and solid particles over 12mm in size.
Key Features:
- Flag Indication: Green = Good & Red = Replace
- Compact size means it only takes up one slot in the board, giving you more space to fit other devices elsewhere.
- Designed to stand up to tough environments, with robust construction and reliable components.
- Flexible and versatile circuit protection & distribution solution for 18th Edition electrical installations.
- Type 3 SPD – installed close to the protected load. They must only be installed as a supplement to Type 2 SPD.
Surge Protected (SPD) Consumer Units
These are consumer units fitted with at least one surge protection device that will automatically trip in the event of external power surges. They are ideal for domestic and small commercial applications, especially in areas with high chances and occurrences of lightning strikes. SPD consumer units have become increasingly popular due to the current 18th edition wiring regulations that encourage the incorporation of surge protection in all homes.
The IET 18th Edition Wiring Regulations – BS7671:2018 makes it mandatory to incorporate surge protection in domestic, commercial, and industrial applications unless a risk assessment has been carried out. Protection against transient overvoltages is vital where the consequences could result in:
- Serious injury and even loss of human life e.g., from electric shocks and electrical fires,
- Interruption or damage to public services or cultural heritage,
- Interruption of commercial or industrial activities, or
A large number of co-related individuals affected.
Examples of Consumer Units with Surge Protection:
The FuseBox F2006MX 100A 6 Way Main Switch Incomer Type 2 protector Consumer Unit is a 6-way FuseBox consumer unit with a 100A main switch incomer that is fitted with a type 2 surge protection device with a 32A MCB. It is designed to protect appliances and humans against overvoltages and the secondary effects of lightning strikes.
Key features:
- Ample space internally for installing both the mini and standard height RCBOs.
- Earth and neutral terminal bars at the top, along with a raised and removable DIN rail.
- Round knockouts on all faces, a tail clamp (ACCF), and captive screws on the front cover.
- Supplied with an installation pack that includes a busbar, icon label pack, and newly added grommet strip.
Most importantly, it is 18th Edition Regulation Overload and Surge Protection compliant.
We also offer 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 20, and 21 useable ways consumer units all with type 2 surge protection. Two of the most popular FuseBox consumer units amongst electricians are the FuseBox F2010DX and the FuseBox F2014MX.
The FuseBox F2010DX 100A 10 Way Main Switch Incomer Dual RCD 80A Type 2 Surge Protector Consumer Unit is an RCD consumer unit with integrated surge protection that comes supplied with a 100A main switch.
Key features:
- Built-in Type 2 SPD for low voltage electrical installations, protecting against external power surges.
- Earth and neutral terminal bars at the top.
- Complies with 18th Edition Amendment 3.
The FuseBox F2014MX 100A 14 Way Main Switch Incomer Type 2 Surge Protector Consumer Unit with Tail Clamp is an increasingly popular consumer unit. It features 14 usable ways which can be populated with Type A RCBOs or the latest Arc Fault Detection devices (AFDD).
Key features:
- Perfect for residential and commercial applications.
- Ample space internally for installing both the mini and standard height RCBOs.
- T2 SPD ensures it is 18th Edition Regulation Overload and Surge Protection compliant.
Surge Protection Kits:
The Hager JK102SPD 125A Surge Protection Kit Type 2 is a surge protection kit for Hager 125A-rated triple pole and neutral boards.
It is designed to protect Hager electrical installations such as consumer units and wiring accessories against voltage spikes or electrical surges by redirecting any surges to earth. This is because voltage spikes/surges can lead to premature ageing of equipment or in some cases completely damage electronic components and materials. The type 2 surge protection kit is the main protection system that is ideal for all low-voltage electrical installations.
The Eaton EM3SSK3T2 Memshield3 Enclosed Surge Protection Kit is a bolt-on enclosed surge protection kit for Eaton Type B/2 TPN distribution boards.The surge protection device is designed to provide transient overvoltage protection by redirecting voltage spikes and electrical surges to earth. This is because these faults can be damaging to electrical equipment and can also lead to the premature ageing of electronic components and materials.
Key Features:
- Suitable for TT- and TN-S systems according to IEC 60364-5-53 Clause 534.
- Protection of low voltage distribution systems against transient overvoltage caused by indirect lightning strikes and switching operations.
The Schneider Electric CF3PN40 Acti 9 40kA 3 Pole + Neutral TPN Type 2 Surge Arrester Kit protects 3P + N installations and allows for quick replacement of damaged cartridges. It can be installed as an incomer to the distribution board and can be turned over to allow the phase/neutral/earth cables to enter through the top or bottom. In addition, the Schneider Electric surge arrester kit is recommended for high-risk level incoming panel boards and is specially adapted to TT and TN-S earthing systems.
Key Features:
- Designed for wall-mounted installation next to a distribution board.
- Comes complete with an enclosure, Type C MCB, neutral bar, surge arrester, and connecting cables.
- Mechanical indicator shows green in operation or red at end of life.
The PowerBreaker PBSUWK Single Module Type 2 SPD and 32A MCB and Wiring Kit is a 35mm DIN rail mountable, single module SPD unit with L (Live), N (Neutral), and PE (earth) connections and a 32A miniature circuit breaker kit. The SPD uses MOV across the Live and Neutral and a gas discharge tube to dissipate any voltage spikes across Earth and Neutral. Both the SPD and MCB have an IP20 ingress protection rating.
Key Features:
- Kit includes an SPD, 32A single pole miniature circuit breaker (PBM32B – also stocked on our website), connection wires, and labels.
- Type 2 SPD provides protection against transient overvoltages.
- MCB delivers safe and reliable protection on electrical power distribution systems/circuits by protecting systems against overcurrents due to overload currents and short circuits.
Note that the PowerBreaker PBSUWK kit must be installed by a professional electrician in accordance with the latest BS7671 wiring regulations.
In summary, why should you be buying a consumer unit fitted with surge protection?
- Protection against transient over voltages and the secondary effects of lightning strikes by redirecting electrical surges to earth.
- This protects your appliances, preventing thousands of pounds of damages.
- Ensures family protection as overvoltage’s can lead to electric shocks and even fires that put individuals and your property at grave risk.
- SPDs can be retrofitted into metal, non-combustible consumer units.
- Some insurance policies may state that equipment must be covered with an SPD, or they will not pay out in the event of a claim. So, adding a surge protector is a great way to reduce risk and satisfy your insurance company.
- Commercially, it safeguards against computer damage and data loss.
In conclusion, consumer units with surge protection are becoming increasingly popular for very good reasons. Aside from the latest 18th edition wiring regulations, the range of benefits, including life-saving benefits of consumer units fitted with surge protectors, makes for a worthwhile implementation into domestic, commercial, and industrial applications.