Re: English electrical standards
- From: Dan Mills <dmills@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 11 Jul 2007 01:18:48 GMT
On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:06:35 -0700, Lloydj wrote:
Clive and Co;
I'm tasked with specifying electrical service for an installation we'll
be doing at Heathrow and need to know the amperage of a standard wall
receptacle, and what I could expect to find for commercial service
breakers in any "standard" panel.
13A @240V for a normal standard socket, often wired as a 'ring circuit'
(multiple sockets wired in a ring with 2.5mm cable, and fed from a 32A
breaker, we get away with this because all plugs contain fuses).
For heavier things, CEE connectors are used, in 16,32,63 & 125A single or
three phase, and above that camlock, powerlock or tails rules.
There are multiple, more or less compatible, distribution board
manufacturers, see the sort of thing shown here
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Distribution_and_Switchgear_Index
(Plus other manufactures), as far as breakers go, its pretty much all MCBs
of various types (And most public buildings will have RCD (GFCI)
protection for sockets in public places, which will be at 30mA
sensitivity for final circuits).
Obviously, it's all 230vac,
Or 400V three phase.
Also, if you are doing things with incandescent bulbs, be aware that most
of it is still really 240V!
and what kind of grounding (earthing) requirements do you have that are
peculiar to the UK?
See BS 7671 for the nearest thing we have to a NEC.
make sure you get the latest version as colour codes have changed, and
note that this applies only to fixed installations.
Any info on codesIf you are doing fixed installation (I suggest hiring a local firm to
cover this!), then BS 7671 for the requirements (plus whatever the local
people demand), you will probably have to supply installation test
certificates to the building owners, as per the appropriate guidance note
which probably means purchasing some specialist test gear or hiring it
done.
There is (mostly, for non domestic premises), no 'electrical inspector' in
the sense US municipalities have one, but you may need to comply with the
building regs.
or union issues you guys/gals can offer for working
over there is most appreciated.
Seldom any union issues, our unions do not deal with supplying labour in
the way some of the American ones do, so there is no business office as
such and the sort of 'union house' arrangement that sometimes exists in
the US is actually illegal here.
There are a few exceptions to this (usually not official), but it is
seldom to never a problem in practise.
There is not anything particularly UK specific about the design of the
gear to hang on the end of all this, but it will need to pass a Portable
Appliance test before most places will let you plug it in, and should be
designed to meet the standard EU requirements for such things (Exact
standard number depends on exactly what your load is).
HTH.
Regards, Dan.
.
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