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Posted

Now that my supply problems appear to have been sorted out, I plan to replace my consumer unit in the near future.

My current consumer unit has 6 breakers in it:

1: lights (16A)

2: sockets (20A)

3. air con (32A)

4. 3.5 kW shower (but will replace with 5/6 kW) (32A)

5.air con 2 (32A)

6. currently unused.I would use it for a second shower but then the consumer unit is full.

Are these breaker sizes appropriate? From what I've read on here the second aircon unit should only be on a 20A b
breaker because it's on 2.5mm2 cable?
I want to put a socket outside for the washing machine on its own breaker, so I need to get a bigger unit.

I also currently don't have a RCBO so is it a good idea to get a separate unit or can (should) I get a consumer unit with a RCBO built in?

What breaker sizes should I get for a 3 bedroom bungalow?

I assume I need to buy the consumer unit and then select appropriate breakers separately?

Any recommended brands? What budget am I looking at?




Thanks

post-24594-0-36935700-1435295333_thumb.j

Posted

It does not matter what you are running on a circuit; it's irrelevant to the circuit breaker size. You match circuit breakers to wire size. CB protect the wire from burning up in the event of a direct short. !6A for 1.5mm2, 20A for 2.5mm2. You can use a breaker that is smaller that the rating for the wire (like you can put a 16A breaker on a 2.5mm2 wire) but never go the other way. If you match your CB to the wire and they are tripping from overload, then you either need to cut the load or rewire the circuit with a bigger wire.

Since you are going to change the panel, why don't you put in a larger one to get you a few more slots?

Crossy is the man for the rest of your questions.

Posted

Unless very large the aircons will be fine on 20A and 2.5mm2 cable.

Your big water heater will need 4mm2 and that 32A breaker.

You can get plug in RCBOs both as single way units or as the front end switch so that's likely the cheapest way forwards, but an external Safe-T-Cut box may be the most convenient as far as actually getting one is concerned.

If you get a Square-D or Schneider replacement CU you can re-use some of the breakers, or retain the existing unit and T off the outlet circuit via one of the 500 Baht RCBOs for your outside washer.

Posted

If I understand what you've said, I can buy a new CU and get an RCBO device as the main breaker in the new unit. I can then also reuse some of my existing breakers and buy 20A breakers for the aircons. This would be my preferred option because it would look slightly better and provide room for expansion if I got a 10 or 12 body unit.

Alternatively I could install a separate SafeT Cut and install an additional rcbo on the sockets circuit solely for the washing machine.

Is this correct?

Posted

Yup^^^.

There's a couple of threads regarding getting Square-D RCBO main switches, not every outlet has them yet.

Posted

Thanks.

I've bought a new unit and rcbo from Home Hub.

Now just need to get the guy I've been recommended to fit it and everything should be sorted for a while.

Posted

If anybody wants a Schneider QO 2100 MBX (100 amp main breaker for Schneider Consumer Panel, PM me. I have one that I used for temp power when building the house. It never tripped. Don't think it was even turned off and on more than one or twice (I had a blade switch for that).

I couldn't use it in my final application because I went with a big Square D Classic Load Center, which I converted to single phase using part number QO3-CON1PH. That unit took different main breaker.

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