Ryefield Distribution Boards

As a continuation of our previous article on "What is a Ryefield Board?" and to answer many of the questions of our customers and of electricians also, we have put together a guide to Ryefield Boards. Read below to find out the answers to questions like:What is a Ryefield Distribution Board?Where can a Ryefield Board be used?How does a Ryefield Distribution Board work?Who needs a Ryefield Distribution Board?Who can install a Ryefield Board?What is a Ryefield Board?It is a distribution board made by Ryefield Engineering; it is an affordable board which is most reliable and robust, and it is pre-approved and recommended by the major electrical energy suppliers in the United Kingdom. EDF recognizes the Ryefield board as the only distribution board when it comes to multi-dwelling buildings and commercial buildings. The Ryefield boards work in conjunction with the metering equipment to distribute the power from the main cut-out to the dwelling meters in the building; at the same time, they provide separate protection for each circuit. Where can a Ryefield Board be used?Ryefield boards are specifically designed for multi-house arrangements, multi-dwelling buildings, and commercial buildings. Some of the applications for the Ryefield Boards are: New build properties with more than one flat, where you have to split the energy from the main panel (which in this case is a Ryefield board) to the individual flats. Commercial buildings with three-phase electrical current incoming and with the need to distribute it to big energy consumers (such as cookers, air conditioning systems, large CCTV circuits, lifts, etc). It is deal for restaurants, offices, office buildings, etc. Multi-dwelling houses, that is, houses where there are different flats or different dwellings; a Ryefield board can be used for splitting the energy to the different flats or dwellings. Small commercial dwellings and buildings, small hotels, restaurants, and hostels.They can also be used in domestic settings, not only in the commercial settings; anywhere there is the need for 3-24 ways electrical distribution, you can use a Ryefield board. Ryefield Distribution Boards - what are they and how do they work?A Ryefield distribution board is a 3-24 way electrical distribution boad which is sturdily built, lockable, and sealable; it is used to distribute a three phase or single phase electrical supply to more than one location. A Ryefield Distribution Board is used to distribute electricity from the main cut-out to individual flats or meters; each of the meter/flat has its own individual protection. There are boards from 3 Way Ryefield Board to 48 Ryefield boards (specialist boards), and they come pre-fitted with a 60A or 100A service fuse. You cannot use a 100A fuse on a 60A Ryefield board. What stands out about Ryefield is that the boards they produce have an affordable price, and they are very solid, sturdy, and properly sealed. Each Ryefield board is made of 18g steel sheets and are protected by an epoxy-poder enamelled coating; they come pre-driled for fitting to the wall. The busbar is rated at 400A; the board's standard main brass clamps accept stranded conductors of up to 120mm, and they can be adjusted for smaller conductors. All the steel screws and components are zinc-plated for protection against corrosion. Each fuse unit has an individual pinching screw neutral circuit terminal. Do I need a Ryefield Board? Who needs a Ryefield Distribution Board?Who needs a Ryefield Distribution Board? If you own your house or flat, and that house or flat doesn't need to split the current to more than one dwelling, you do not need a Ryefield Board. However, here are some of the people or situations in which a Ryefield Board is required:HMOs (house of multiple occupation) require a Ryefield board; actually, Ryefield distribution boards are the only ones approved for use by the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) for such applications. If the owner or manager of an HMO tries to install any other kind of distribution board, he may have to replace it with a Ryefield Board before he gets the license for the HMO. Landlords need it: if you are a landlord who owns or manages multi-dwelling houses, they have to use this cost-effective energy distribution solution. Developers who construct new build properties with several flats. Developers who convert larger properties into individual flats and have to split the supply to the individual flats or appartments. In these situations, a Ryefield board is necessary. Industrial or commercial properties with an incoming three-phase supply that needs to be divided between to large consumers need a Ryefield Distribution Board. They have to check with the energy supplier concerning this, but the incoming supply has to be divided between large consumers such as cookers, fryers, air conditioning systems, lifts, or production lines, a Ryefield Board is required. Restaurants, hotels, hostels, etc need a Ryefield Distribution Board, for they need to distribute incoming supplies to different areas that are large electricity consumers, such as kitchens, laundries, lifts, rooms, flats, and so on. Who can install a Ryefield Distribution Board? Can I install it?First of all, we do not recommend anyone to try to install a Ryefield board. Even for most electricians, fitting a distribution board is not a regular job. We recommend a qualified and experienced electrician to fit a Ryefield distribution board. It is recommended for an electrician who is familiar with the requirements of splitting the incoming supply correctly to fit a Ryefield board. In general, all electricians know and can read the specs of a Ryefield board, and they can figure it out how it works; however, installation requires much more than that. It is good to check with the electrician, before booking him, whether he has installed a Ryefield Distribution Board before. For safe installation, it is highly recommended to hire registered electricians to install these distribution boards.You can find all the Ryefield boards we sell at Sparks via this link, and do not hesitate to contact us for any further enquiries.

Wholesalers have been part of the fabric of life for working electricians since the first ones opened in the early 19th century. This article details exactly how the relationship between Sparks Electrical Wholesalers and local electricians is so mutually beneficial, with discounts, offers, advice, special requirement solutions and customer accounts all part of the negotiations. However, it has become increasingly common to see members of the general public milling around Sparks - and not just to ogle at the beautiful showroom. There's a mix of tradespeople and ordinary members of the  local community that visit us daily. Here are five reasons why North London locals - whether they be tradespeople or not - visit our lighting showroom at Sparks - and why you should too. 1. Product knowledge Sparks has been around for a long time - 30 years in fact - and many of our staff have been around throughout much of our illustrious history. The combined knowledge of Sparks’ over-the-counter salespeople is extraordinary - they have a comprehensive knowledge of the items we stock. You can come in with a basic request such as a ‘I want a white wall light fitting’ for your new bedroom, and the Sparks salesperson will be able to guide you through the process of finding what you need, providing tailored, expert advice. In the lights department, we will figure out if the light should be wall or ceiling mounted (or both), flush or with a stem base, what sort of size and shape, and what kind of style, to complement the room it is being placed in. This support extends to more complex advice for electricians who need to know more about the  domestic distribution boards, for instance, or about the Ryefield boards. Our staff is well-versed in the world of electrical goods of all kinds and their combined knowledge will find a solution to your needs. 2. Pricing Check out the Fluke 1662 Multifunction Installation Tester Kit for Insulation, Volts, Earth, Phase, RCD, Loop, and Continuity Testing - in stock at an amazing price!You rarely get to see haggling in British stores these days, and we don't practice this, but we do give the best prices we can when you visit us in our lighting showroom. This applies to both electricians and members of the public. When dealing with tradespeople looking to buy high quantities of goods or premium products, there is always wriggle room to be explored; there are further discounts applied when larger quantities are purchased. This makes the experience of going to the wholesalers more exciting for those who are want to save some money, rather than facing the fixed prices of conventional retailers. Many electricians prefer to frequently purchase such things as consumer units, Ryefield boards, Astro Lights, Flos Lights, Forbes and Lomax switches and sockets, and Heritage Brass wiring accessories in our showroom because they know the price is unbeatable. This is beneficial for both us - the wholesaler - as we're getting repeat business from someone in the profession, and for the electrician who is obviously getting the cheapest price available.3. Customer service Sparks have followed a growing trend among many wholesalers, offering fast delivery on items that may be in stock at the time of the customer visiting the store, and on items that need to be ordered. Sometimes you may order something that is quite bulky and not so easy to be carried on public transport; in such cases, we can deliver the items for you. And in case the items are not in stock, we can do a delivery when they arrive. It also gifts you ensured safety in delivery and ease of mind with the 30 day ‘no quibble’ return policy that applies to all our products, excluding light bulbs and LED lamps. The face-to-face aspect of visiting your local wholesalers can not be overstated. We are a friendly, local establishment looking to do right by our customers - both old and new - and we have every reason to offer the best advice and customer service that we possibly can. This extends to ‘aftercare’ or follow-up enquiries, where our experienced staff will answer any questions regarding installation, returns, similar products and so on once a product has been purchased. 4. Product availability This is AX4569 - the Astro Lighting Enna Floor LED Lamp in Matt White using a 4.5W 2700K 124lm LED Lamp (non-dimmable) with Switch on the Cord, available hereWe hold large stocks of many of the items that we advertise online and are well-known for. For many of our customers, such as tradespeople and electricians, there is the requirement for instant purchase on certain products, whether it be a screw-in plug or a very particular kind of socket. These are busy people with professions that require them to be ‘on the move’ throughout the day, meaning they can’t be waiting at home for Amazon deliveries to arrive. The advantage of being able to walk out of our showroom with everything you need in hand can not be understated, and is an aspect of shopping at Sparks that is appreciated by most regularly frequenting customers. Whether it is sockets, switches, LED lamps, heaters, underfloor heating mats, or some bathroom fans, we hold stock of most of these popular and much-needed items in our lighting showroom.5. Brand recognition and fidelity We have been operating on Holloway Road, Archway since 1988 and are one of the longest established shops that remains on the street: quite an achievement in this Internet age. Our brand recognition and fidelity have helped play an influential part in this. Our showroom has been open for 30 years, showcasing our most popular and interesting electrical items and light fittings. It has been visited by electricians, building contractors, architects, hotel and interior designers, landlords, actors, TV presenters, and the general public; whether they have something to purchase in mind, or are just there to admire. By putting a welcoming and friendly face on electrical wholesaling, we have managed to stay relevant and popular among Archway residents, and those coming from further out. The fact that Sparks has retained its status as a leading UK electrical wholesaler for such a long period of time demonstrates our informed and welcoming over-the-counter approach has inspired customer loyalty. These are five of the topmost reasons for which you should visit us - Sparks Electrical Wholesalers Ltd - on 659-661 Holloway Road, London, N19 5SE, close to Archway tube station (and Upper Holloway overground station).

Many people don't know what a Ryefield Board is, and even more people think they can figure out how to install such a distribution board. We receive many calls from people who "do their homework" on what a Ryefield distribution board is, and they are "ready to buy it and install it". Yes, you can safely buy and have a Ryefield Board delivered to you via Sparks Electrical, but the installation of such a distribution fuseboard is not as easy or simple as you think.What is a Ryefield Board?A Ryefield board is simply a distribution fuseboard manufactured by Ryefield Engineering.There are many distribution boards in the UK market, and many of them offer a good and robust wiring solution for a multi-dwelling dwelling. But the distribution boards from Ryefield are not only the cheapest, most reliable, and most robust out there, but they are also the only brand pre-approved and recommended by all the major electrical energy suppliers in the UK. EDF for instance recognizes the Ryefield Board as the only distribution board for multi-dwelling buildings, commercial buildings, etc. They work in conjunction with the metering equipment to distribute the power from the main cut-out to all the dwelling meters in the building, while at the same time they provide separate protection for each circuit. Where are the Ryefield Distribution Boards Used? Since the Ryefield Boards are specifically designed for multi-house arrangements and especially in the cities in the UK there are many such buildings, there are many applications for these distribution boards. Depending on your energy provider (whether they require Ryefield Boards or not), you can install such a distribution board in places like: new build properties with many flats, where you can split the energy from the main panel (the Ryefield Board) to the individual flats; any houses where you either have different flats or different dwellings, to split the energy; commercial buildings where 3 Phase electrical current is incoming and there's the need to distribute it to big energy consumers like cookers (in restaurants), air conditioning systems (offices and commercial buildings), large CCTV circuits, lifts, etc. restaurants, small hotels, hostels, and similar small commercial dwellings and buildings. This doesn't mean that only landlords, property management companies, installers, electricians, business owners, or "big shots" know or need a Ryefield Board. Their use is both in domestic, commercial and in industrial applications where there's the need for 3-24 ways of electrical distribution (see: 9-way distribution board). Can "Anyone" Install a Ryefield Distribution Board? The mere fact that one understands how a Ryefield Board works by digging into their technical specs doesn't mean that one is the qualified person to install such a board. Also, not all electricians are qualified or the right person to install a Ryefield Board. Installing such a board is not a regular job for a registered electrician, but some know what they do, have both the skills and the experience (proven by previous successful jobs) to do the right job. Since the Ryefield boards come from 3-way to 24-way, it is good to make sure that the electrician or electrical engineer is qualified and has previous experience in installing such electrical distribution boards. We at Sparks Electrical distribute a wide range of Ryefield Distribution Boards - see the dedicated category at Industrial Consumer Units online and visit our showroom in Archway (North London) to find out more specs and details on these boards.