CWS Electrical Wholesalers stock a large range of Metal Consumer Units, more commonly
known as single phase fuseboards and which are normally installed in domestic premises
and small offices. These 18 th Edition Elucian branded boards now have various levels of
innovative safety devices. This document is designed to provide Birmingham homeowners
with a good understanding of the different types of fuseboards and the accessories that
electricians fit inside them:
1) RCD: A vital electrical device that works by disconnecting an electrical supply in a
scenario where the alternative might be electric shock.
2) MCB: Miniature Circuit Breakers although at time of writing they are being installed
less nowadays. RCBO’s, and to a lesser extent up and coming AFDD’s, are very
much taking the place of an MCB.
3) RCBO: Residual Current Circuit Breakers provide important overload circuit protection
against earth leakages, overcurrent, and short circuits. An Elucian 32amp RCBO for
example is the CU1RCBO32B
4) SPD: Surge Protection Device, namely the CU1SPD275T which protects electronic and
electrical devices from high voltage peaks which are normally caused by switching
operations or lighting strikes. Consumer Units that incorporate SPD’s, such as the
Elucian CUEB14MSRCDSP6 are very popular.
5) AFDD: Cutting edge technology for circuit protection. Arc Fault Detection Devices are
now required in High-Risk Residential Buildings such HMO’s, Care Homes, & Purpose-
Built Student residencies. AFDDs will immediately detect and subsequently disconnect
dangerous ARC faults which would previously have gone unnoticed by RCD’s and circuit
breakers. CU1AFDD32B is our most popular AFDD, particularly within our Elucian
range of fuseboards. Landlords within Birmingham and indeed across the UK,
particularly of HMO properties, are increasingly installing AFDD’s.
Why do CWS Electrical Wholesalers in Birmingham only stock metal fuseboards?
In early 2016, new regulations came into force stopping manufacturers making plastic fuse
boards. Elucian boards, by the click Scolmore, became one of the few market leaders in the
modern style metal consumer units.
The main reason for the switch to metal boards was because of an ever-increasing amount
of house fires starting inside plastic fuse boards. Sometimes although not exclusively, these
fires were due to MCB’s not being tightened to their correct torque. To make matters worse
was that fuse boards were commonly installed under a staircase and consequently setting
fires to stairs, and in an emergency, stairs often become a primary escape route for your
family. Thankfully, fires starting inside Fuseboards are now less common, because we now
have far more metal Elucian fuse boards in circulation and far better safety products
available, such as RCBO’s and AFDD’s.
As a Birmingham householder, you may not have much choice where your old plastic fuse
board is currently installed but whether you upgrade and keep it under your stairs, you will
now appreciate that a new metal fuse board provides you with far more safety.
Elucian also provide a range of smaller Garage Boards, the most popular being the
GUEB563RCD3. These do what they say on the tin, typically supplying power to a garage,
outhouse, or the increasingly popular mancave.
Why do Fuse Boards need to be to British Standards?
Electrical installations in commercial & domestic properties must comply with the BS
7671:2018 wiring regulations and this includes installations of consumer units or fuseboards
that meets the relevant BS standards. Any electrician you hire in Birmingham should know
and work to this.
Fuse Boards, made to British Standards, are consumer units designed to meet safety
standards set by the British Standards Institution, BSI. This is the national standards body
for UK, and they are responsible for setting the standards for a vast range of products,
including electrical products. The Elucian brand, by Click Scolmore, only manufacture
electrical products that meet the very stringent requirements of British Standards.
Thank-you for reading, we trust you found this helpful. If you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to contact us here at CWS Birmingham on 0121 439 8010.