Things to know BEFORE starting on a Switchboard

There's always lots to learn, and switchboards are no exception to that. I've gone through some basics in this video, but there is still a vast amount of regulations surrounding switchboards. Insuring that they are installed properly and safely. Switchboards are coved in the wiring rules all throughout, the main of which is from section 2 onwards. I would highly recommend having a look to see what you can find for yourselves.

I always found when I was an apprentice that there was a real lack of videos and online resources to help me. I think that most electricians are visual learners, I know I definitely am. So it's hard when we are expected to do 75% of our training in books. Because if this I've set out to start making a library of training and explanations to help my fellow electrical workers in areas they might be having trouble.

Remember, this setup was performed in a controlled environment
by a qualified electrician for learning purposes only. Electricity is dangerous and can kill you. If you are not
qualified, please do not try this at home, just enjoy the learning experience.

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[dalescott]

Straight info and no bollocks. Thats what i like. Cheers nz tradie🤙

[shmayazuggot]

Great little lesson though an RCBO can protect subsiquent MCB’s on a TN-S system if one bonds Earth and Neutral on the RCBO from source. It trips correctly <30Ma on all of them. Also RCD is a family of which RCCB and RCBO are part of.

[boltonky]

Appreciate clued up people like yourself.
As sadly there are registered professionals/companies that can barely do the basics inlc keeping things safe but also inlc lots of material being out of date.
The stories i have inlc recent stuff done to my property if wasn't for me checking I or someone else would of probably died and def wouldn't pass inspection but someone still signed off on it.

[TheChipmunk]

Interesting to see how things are done in NZ. In the uk we're not supposed to mix brands of breaker and only use the same breaker make as the manufacturer of the enclosure

[UKsystems]

You mentioned how when using a bus bar the heights of the terminals can be an issue do you not have any regulation like how the UK does on type testing where you have to use the same brand range of products or compatible models to ensure they will work with things like a bus bar and to ensure they won’t interfere with each other operation or your regulations worded differently such that using different brands that would cause an issue with a bus bar would that be under a regulation of just installing it to a safe standard rather than a specific one telling you that?

I do find your limit of three breakers per RCD quote practical because it helps prevent nuisance tripping and does greatly minimise the amount of circuits that can be affected if the RCD trips as well as being quite cost-effective which I think a good balance there.

Your use of an men link is quite interesting as in the UK the supply authority generally connect the Earth and neutral together at your property inside the main cutout fuse which is sealed off

[Arnast]

What goes into the one next to the main the you wrote sub on (you didn't mention that.)

[jacksonwoolley]

Whats the clause number for the minimum size of switchboard wiring to be 4mm between the breakers?

[TradieTrev]

You make me feel dumb as an electrician

[Happy-mhxq]

Such a bad setup uk so much better for fuseboards