This topic has been discussed on this forum in the past.
I am busy wiring up numerous distribution boards for a few different sites. I have given the customers the option of a cheapie and slightly better option, not quite ABB, but a product which has been around for a while (Hager).
I dont like using the standard copper Europa busbar at the top of the circuit breaker, I prefer the forked busbar, the reason it fits between the screw and clears the terminals for their intended use, the wire.
The problem is most din rail mounted circuit breakers are not designed to fit the busbar at the top. So the question I ask myself, should I not be using the product as per the manufacturers standard. I understand that we generally install the line in the top and the load out the bottom, but that is just because the old Heinemann type clip tray dominated the market.
Because in most cases, Heinemann are no longer the preferred supplier of circuit breaker, should we not be moving away from an old standard and wiring panels the way the breakers are designed to be wired?
I very bring wires in from the bottom of the panels, in fact I cannot tell the last time I did. 100% of the DB's I have wired in the past 10 years have all been top in the DB.
Another issue is making the nice neat loom around the side of back of the breakers, creates heat when you strap them all together.
What do you think, should we just stick to do it the old way just because CBI created the abnormal method?
Maybe you have proof that wiring a breaker into the top as the line and (out) the bottom (load) is in fact the correct method, please feel free to share.
Personally I think it time to start doing it right. It would make wiring DB's a lot neater, save money on wire and make fault finding a lot easier. There is nothing worse than trying to fault find over populated DB with a 4 terminal earth and neutral with 16 wires connected to themYes there I am sure there is reg which indicated that you shouldn't be putting 4 or 5 wires in one terminal, especially if it is a certain size.
Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.