Hager Consumer Unit

What is an EICR (electrical installation condition report) and how fill one in? An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), is a periodic inspection report on a property's safety relating to its fixed wiring. This report has also been labelled as the ‘Landlord Safety Test’ or ‘Homebuyers Test’. The tests are conducted by qualified electricians. It is highly recommended you have an EICR inspection carried out every 10 years for your home.For rental properties, one should be carried out every 5 years or if there is a change of tenancy. Note: at Sparks we do NOT do issue EICR reports nor do we renew them. Please consult a registered electrician for this service.The main purpose of an EICR is to guarantee the safety of the residents and to ensure they are not susceptible to electrical shocks and/or fires. Why do I need an EICR? You cannot see electricity and, in many cases, you cannot view the conduits or cables that use electricity. Cables are often hidden inside walls, and consumer units are located in cupboards, where they are not immediately visible. It is unsurprising that we often forget to check the condition of our electrical installations for damage or signs of wear and tear. Faulty and old wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires in the home. You can reduce the risk of a fire by regularly checking your cables, switches and sockets, to see that they are in good condition. Do I need an EICR? How old are my Electrical Installations? As stated above, it is recommended you have an EICR every decade for your home. You should first look for clear signs that the electrics in your home are outdated before deciding if you need an EICR. There are some obvious signs that will tell you if you have old equipment that needs replacing. You should look out for: Fixed cables which are coated in black rubber. Fixed cables which are coated in lead or fabric. A fuse box with a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a mixture of fuse boxes. Old-fashioned round pin sockets (or light switches). Braided flex hanging from ceiling fixtures. Brown (or black) switches. Sockets mounted into skirting boards. All of these features indicate that the electrics in question were created before or during the 1960’s. This means you are in serious need of an EICR. Whatever the age of your electrical installation is, it is likely to suffer some damage or wear and tear. This means you should get an electrician to check its condition at least every 10 years or if you move into a new property. A wide range of electrical items are available at Sparks - from consumer units to electrical accessories, whatever you need, we have it. Buy Hager Consumer Units at Sparks What is the aim of an Electrical Installation Condition Report? The five main aims of an EICR are: To record the results of the inspection in order to make sure your electrical installations are safe, until the next inspection. To find any damage and wear and tear that might affect safety, and have it reported. To find any components of the electrical installation that do not meet the IET Wiring Regulations. To help identify any appliance or object that could cause electric shocks and high temperatures. To keep an important record of the installation’s condition at the time of the inspection. This can be used in any future inspection. The different types of a condition report: can I do this myself? Generally speaking, there are two types of domestic EICR: A ‘visual condition report’ - this does not include testing and is only suitable if your installations have been tested recently. Electrical Safety First (ESF) has devised a brilliant visual safety test that may prove to be a lifesaver. These include basic tips such as ensuring that you have not overloaded any sockets and that you have RCD protection for your appliances. A ‘periodic inspection report’ (EICR) - this is probably a better and safer option. As stated before, many underlying electrical faults can be very difficult to spot. The EICR is more comprehensive than a visual condition report. It will test all your installations, including circuitry hidden behind walls, making it more likely to find any hidden dangers. So in summary, Sparks would recommend that you have an EICR conducted if you have not had one in the last ten years (or five years for rented property). These can easily be arranged and conducted by a registered electrician. Once they are done, you will feel the benefits of knowing that your home is abiding by the latest UK electrical regulations and your wiring installation is safe.You can find a great variety of smart home and IoT products at Sparks.Buy Smart Home Items Note: at Sparks we do NOT do issue EICR reports nor do we renew them. Please consult a registered electrician for this service. Further Information on EICR: A guide to Conditions Report and EICR, via Electrical Safety First. Here's what you need to know about EICR (infographic). What is an EICR and do I need one? Via PowerCor. What is the purpose of an EICR? (Electrical Installation Condition Report) - via Trade Skills 4 u. What is involved in an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)? Via, NCC Compliance. What is an EICR? Via Sparky Facts. EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Reports) Explained, via Allied Electrical. Main aspects included in an NICEIC Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report (DEICR), via Professional Electrician.

After speaking of the 3rd Amendment to the 17th Edition Regs (which came into full application in the beginning of 2016), we need to pay attention to what kind of consumer units we install in new built properties, HMOs, or when we replace a consumer unit. The main considerations with these new boards is the protection against thermal effects (protection against fire) for a longer period of time and the protection against electrical shock (via an RCD). It used to be that the consumer units could use a plastic enclosure, but starting from the 1st of January 2016 ALL the consumer units installed have to be of metal and need to have an RCD protection. Most of the consumer unit manufacturers came out with a range of Metal Consumer Units (RCD protected, fireproof), and in this article, we would like to introduce some of the most popular ones from MK and Hager. MK 10 Way Metal Consumer Unit (Amendment 3 Compliant) - Best Value for Money! The MK Sentry K7666sMET consumer unit is a 17th Edition Amendment 3 compliant metal board, a 16-way enclosure with 10 useable ways. It comes fully populated with 10 MCBs (3 x 6A, 2 x 16A, 4 x 32A, 1 x 40A) and it has a 100A switch disconnector.This metal consumer unit has a stylish design, curved, and it makes full use of the floating bus bar system, offering you ample wiring space. This unit comes in a white colored metal and comes pre-fitted with a switch disconnector and RCD together with all the necessary split-load cabling. The flexible design allows you to position the RCD to suit the required configuration. At Sparks this MK board is now at a reduced price - it is the best Amendment 3 consumer unit value for money!Buy MK Consumer Units Hager Design 10 Consumer Units - Reliable and Supportive Hager came out with quite a few ranges of consumer units to comply with the third amendment to the 17th edition regulations, one of which is Hager Design 10. This range is designed for safety, installation, and aesthetics, and it is reliable and supportive. Here are some of the key points concerning these Amendment 3 compliant boards: Cable Space - Maximum cable space is available even with RCBOs fitted to make installation easier. Terminal bar - The top-mounted terminal rail makes the wiring of the neutral and earth connections neat and simple. Fixings - Multiple points allow the use of No.8 or No.10 fixings giving a range of fixing options. Full metal DIN rail - Minimised distortion to ensure the devices sit square and are not easily displaced. Snap-able busbar - Provides quick and easy configuration of circuits.Buy Hager Design 10 Consumer Units Enjoy a video presentation of this great range from Hager below:  See the entire range of Hager Design 10 - from 2-way to 20-way boards (all of them Amendment 3 Compliant and with 63A/100A switch disconnector incomer) at Sparks.

We have noticed a video recently put online by Hager outlining the main features and benefits of their consumer units, and after watching the 1.07 min video we thought that our readers and customers would also benefit from watching it. We have spoken extensively about the Hager Domestic and Commercial Consumer units on our blog, but there's always something new and special that we find out about them.Update: the video has been made private by Hager, but the main benefits and features of these boards from Hager still stand Hager Consumer Units - Features and Benefits When we talk about the consumer units from Hager, we mean especially the domestic distribution boards. Take a look at this short video and don't forget to read the comments below.  Removable Top Wall - removes easily to provide cable access and re-seals to IP4X when used with the two foam strips provided. Cable Space - maximum cable space is available even with the RCBOs fitted so that the installation and the wiring would be much easier. The Terminal Bars - the top-mounted terminal rail makes the wiring of the neutral and earth connections easier and neater. Meter Tail Kit - an optional meter tail kit is available to make the wiring and termination on the incoming cables easier to install. Snap-able Busbar - a snap-able busbar provides a quick and simple configuration of the devices. You can purchase Hager Domestic Consumer Units via Sparks - or read more on our blog concerning these devices.Buy Hager Consumer Units at Sparks

On our website, we have a wide range of Consumer Units both for domestic and for commercial/industrial use. Usually, normal people buy them only once in their lifetime, unless the electrician or landlord does it for them, and then they never have to think about the fusebox (unless there's some problem with the electricity). If you come in our showroom in Archway our consultants will help you find out what's the best consumer unit for your needs. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning the domestic/industrial consumer units. 1. What is a Consumer Unit? A consumer unit, also called a fusebox or distribution board, is a vital component of the electrical supply system in a house, dividing the electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits while at the same time providing protection and circuit breakers for each of the circuits. The consumer units are also sometimes called: circuit breaker panel, electrical panel, fuse board, breaker box, panelboard, breaker panel, power breaker, distribution board, service panel, and similar names. In simple terms, a fusebox is there to help prevent electrical fires or electrocution. 2. What is a Fusebox Composed Of? A fusebox (consumer unit) is composed of the main switch, the fuses and/or circuit breakers, and the RCDs (Residual Current Devices). The main switch allows you to turn off / on the electricity supply to your home. The RCDs are switches tripping a circuit under dangerous conditions, switching it off and disconnecting the electricity in such cases. The circuit breakers are automatic protection devices that switch off a circuit if they detect a fault; they are similar to the fuses but give more precise protection. The fuses have a piece of special fuse wire running between two screws - when a fault or overload current flows through the fuse wire, it becomes hot and melts, breaking the faulty circuit and keeping you safe. 3. What's the Best Deal for a Fusebox that You Have? This is usually the first question people ask us. What's the best deal you have for a fusebox? We get this question so many times that we already know the best consumer unit deal, even though the code is quite complicated: the Hager VC712C1 17th Edition Distribution Board, 12 way coming with 2 RCDs, main switch, 10 breakers include - all for £60 + VAT. This consumer unit is according to the latest regulations and specifications, and it sells like hot cakes, both online and offline! 4. What Size is the Consumer Unit? Size matters: the dimensions of a consumer unit need to be small since it needs to be mounted inside the wall, and in general the wall close to the entrance doesn't have much space to host large boxes. The best size, the general size of a domestic consumer unit, is 380mm width, 245mm height, and 105mm depth. Very small in size, yet including all the breakers and RCDs and switches you need for your electrical circuit! 5. Can I Install the Fusebox Myself? Many over-zealous and DYI customers ask us this, and the response is NO! The fusebox / the consumer unit needs to be installed by a registered and qualified electrician, who then also needs to inspect it periodically (read more about it here). Buy Consumer Units at Sparks

This article is inspired from Hager's own, Social Housing Consumer Unit brochure, which deals with the boards that are ideal for the social housing. The Consumer Unit for Social Housing inside and out Mounting: Consumer Units should be easily reachable and be mounted with the switches at a height of between 0.45 & 1.2m above floor level. Ordinary Persons: Certain regulations only apply to installations not under the supervision of a skilled or instructed person ie. ordinary person. Sockets: Socket outlets for general use in domestic installations require RCD protection not exceeding 30mA. Buried Cables: Where buried cables are not mechanically protected, additional protection by an RCD not exceeding 30mA must be provided. Baths or Showers: All circuits in locations containing a bath or shower shall be protected by an RCD not exceeding 30mA. Single-use RCD: All circuits of an installation should not be connected to a single RCD. Smoke Detectors: Where RCD protection is needed for smoke detector circuits one option is to supply that circuit only. Meeting the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations There are many ways to meet the new 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, and the most practical of these is to provide RCD protection across all the circuits in the home. The best solution is a consumer unit where each outgoing circuit has individual RCD protection at 30mA. If you use an RCBO for each outgoing circuit, the earth leakage on any one circuit would not affect others. A standard main switch disconnector-controlled Hager consumer unit could be used with every circuit having individual RCD protection at 30mA. This could be achieved by selecting RCBOs for every outgoing circuit instead of the usual MCBs. A fault on any circuit would not affect other circuits and hence all relevant Regulations would be met by such a design. Find out more about the Hager Consumer Units for social housing and the current regulations via, Hager Consumer units – inside and out – installation and flush fit; Consumer Unit guide to the 17th edition Wiring Regulations – 1; Consumer Unit Guide to the 17th Edition – 2 – Consumer Unit arrangements; Video – short Domestic Consumer Unit guide to the 17th regulations;Buy Hager Consumer Units