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  • Con Unit

    Abbreviation of Consumer unit, Fusebox in a Domestic or Light Commercial Property

  • Consumer Unit

    Consumer unit, Fusebox in a Domestic or Light Commercial Property Ceramic Rewireable Fusebox New Amendment 3 compliant consumer unit Wylex Pluggable MCB Fusebox Wylex Pushbutton Plugin MCB Fuseboard Wylex BS3036 Re-Wireable fuse consumer unit

  • Dis Board

    Abbreviation of Distribution Board, Fusebox in a Commercial or Industrial Premises

  • MCB

    Miniture Circuit Breaker, On-Off switch with a current rating similar to a fuse to prevent overload. Except it can be reset when tripped, unlike a fuse. Modern MCB’s should comply with BSEN60898. Older MCB’s may have had pushbutton operation and were designed to BS3871. Not to be confused with an RCD Pushbutton MCB's BS3871 MK MCB BS60898 Merlin Gerin MCB BS60898 Crabtree MCB BS60898 Wylex New Style MCB BS60898

  • MCCB

    Moulded Case Circuit Breaker, Similar to MCB available in higher current ranges. Not seen in domestic situations

  • RCD

    Residual Current Device, This is the type of device that you can plug in for your lawnmower, it monitors the current flowing in to a circuit and ensures almost the same flows back to neutral. If a difference is detected IE. You receiving a shock (some current passes through you to Earth) the device turns off the circuit or circuits it protects. When specified and installed correctly, this device can save your life. It can be found as a plug in unit or as part of your consumer unit, most installations should now have one or more of these fitted in the consumer unit.

  • RCBO

    Residual Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection, A combined RCD & MCB all in one unit, becoming more commonly used in many properties as the price has dropped in recent years. If installed in place of MCB’s these devices will reduce the inconvenience caused when a fault occurs leaving you with only a single circuit switched off until the fault is rectified.

  • Cartridge Fuse

    Lighting circuits (5amp) are a standard fuse found in plugtops (plug) the higher ratings 15,20,30 & 40amp were specialist fuses designed for the job they should comply with BS1361. These were popular in the 1980’s, they came after fusewire and re-wireable fuses but just before MCB’s were fitted as a standard. These give close protection but have to be replaced like for like, a real pain on a friday night if you don’t have a spare!

  • Re-Wireable Fuse

    Does what it says on the tin, a fuse unit that you can thread a new piece of wire into, some minor issues! Easily abused, as many times the wrong size fuse wire is inserted accidently or in an attempt to cure a fuse that keeps blowing. Also easy to get a shock if you wrap your fingers around the ends as you insert the fuse or have left a bit of fuse wire hanging out. Some old ceramic fuses have asbestos linings Poor response to small overloads for long periods Designed to BS3036, no longer fitted although many remain in use.

  • PIR Sensor - Also See PIR Testing

    Passive Infra Red, A sensor designed to pick up differences in temperature in the area its pointed at. Commonly found in Security alarm sensors to detect people, also commonly used to turn on lights outside (and sometimes inside) when a person enters the sensors area. This is what turns on all those outside lights on the front of people houses when walking at night. Properly setup ones should reduce nuisance illumination and remain lit for the time required to get to the front door etc.

  • PIR - Periodic Inspection Report

    Testing and inspection of an electrical installation recommended at regular intervals for all installations. This has been replaced with the EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) essentially the same inspection which gives the client a written report and test results on the installation tested. Often asked for by surveyors or purchasers when buying a property.

  • EICR- Electrical Installation Report

    Testing and inspection of an electrical installation recommended at regular intervals for all installations. Previously known as Periodic Inspection Report (PIR). Often asked for by surveyors or purchasers when buying a property. Recommended if you have any doubts to the suitability or safety of your wiring.

  • Twin & Earth

    Cable commonly used in domestic and light commercial installations. Made up of two insulated cores (live & neutral) and an uninsulated (smaller in diameter) earth wire (CPC) covered in a PVC sheath.

  • Three Core

    Cable commonly used in domestic and light commercial installations. Made up of three insulated cores and an uninsulated (smaller in diameter) earth wire (CPC) covered in a PVC sheath. Commonly used in 2 way lighting, boiler, thermostat or fan circuits

  • SWA - Steel Wire Armoured

    Cable designed to be buried in the ground or mounted on the surface in areas where it is expected the cable may be subject to damage. Two or more insulated centre cores are surrounded by a series of steel wires which are then covered by a PVC outer sheath to keep water and dust out.

  • Singles

    Single conductor cable usually stranded copper with PVC insulation commonly used in electrical panel wiring or within conduit.

  • Mini Trunking

    Plastic boxing designed to protect and make running cables on the surface more aesthetically pleasing. Can be used for good and bad! Can tidy up some untidy cables, but often looks tired after it has been installed for a few years. Available in sizes from tiny 1x0.5cm up to 10x10cm.

  • Trunking

    Metal or plastic boxing designed to enclose a number of cables keeping them tidy and enabling access for future additions or alterations.

  • Cable Tray

    Perforated metal sheet upon which cables can be laid and cable tied to, supporting them thoughout their length and keeping them neat plus allowing for future additions or alterations.

  • Conduit

    Available in Plastic, white or black also black steel or galvanised steel in comercial and industrial installations. Circular tubing in 20, 25 & 32mm designed to carry single cables which are pulled into the conduit after it has been installed. It is excellent when it comes time to rewire, as the old wires can be pulled out and replacements pulled straight back in assuming it has been installed correctly. Can be buried in the wall, ceiling, floor or mounted on the surface. Galvanised finish is popular in buildings looking for an industrial look, think new york loft apartment.

  • Sparky

    Sparky or Sparks, often used on site to identify the electrician.

  • Class 1

    A Class 1 or Earthed appliance, such as a Metal Kettle or Electric Heater. Class 1 means the appliance has metal parts which could become live under fault conditions. The metal parts are connected via the earth pin in the plug to the electrical installations earth wiring. If a live part touches the earthed casing, a large current will flow causing the fuse in the plug to blow or an RCD to trip, disconnecting the power and ensuring you don't receive a shock.

  • Class 2

    A Class 2 or Double Insulated appliance, such as some vacuum cleaners and electric drills, do not have an earth wire. This is because they have plastic casings, or they have been designed so that the live wire can not touch the metal casing. As a result, the casing cannot give an electric shock, even if the wires inside become loose.

  • CPC

    CPC, Circuit Protective Conductor. The earth wire specific to a particular circuit. In most houses the centre of the three conductors making up a piece of Twin & Earth Cable

  • Special Location

    A special location as defined by IET Wiring Regulations and Part P of the building regulations is any of the following:

    • Locations containing a bath tub or shower basin
    • Swimming pools or paddling pools
    • Hot air saunas
    • Electric floor or ceiling heating systems
    • Garden lighting or power installations
    • Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems
    • Small scale generators such as micro-CHP units
    • Extra-low voltage lighting installations, other than pre-assembled, CE-marked lighting sets