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Code
Description
A Guide to Hager Consumer Unit Codes
Hager Consumer Unit Prefixes
VC - Insulated Hager Consumer Units
VH - Metal Hager Consumer Units
VC2 - Insulated Hager Consumer Units with Main Switch
VH2 - Metal Hager Consumer Units with Main Switch
VC4 - Insulated Hager Consumer Units with RCD
VH4 - Metal Hager Consumer Units with RCD
VF - Flush Hager Consumer Units
Hager Consumer Unit Suffixes
H - Standard Hager Consumer Units
C - Configurable Hager Consumer Units
G - Hager Consumer Units with Glazed Door
Why Choose Hager?
It seems, certainly to us in the industry, that every man and his dog is now producing consumer units, and at ever lower prices. We would advise, however, that you steer clear of anything not manufactured by a circuit protection specialist.
It’s not that these cheaper, unbranded products are unsafe necessarily but there is no guarantee that in years to come these ranges will still be in production; which gives you a big problem if you need replacement MCBs, RCBOs or RCDs for example.
Hager are one of the most respected names in circuit protection, not just in the UK but all across Europe. Established in 1955 and with over 55 years experience in manufacturing circuit protection devices, Hager put huge investment into research and development and offer a huge range of protection devices and accessories. Their product offering far exceeds anything of the other major manufacturers and with a strong presence in 55 countries their future is assured.
Hager Consumer Units – A Buyer’s Guide
There is now such a wide range of Hager consumer units that choosing the right one for your project can be bewildering. This jargon busting article will help the domestic buyer.
‘Number of Ways’
The first consideration in choosing a Hager consumer unit is deciding how many separate circuits you have. For example, Upstairs Ring Main (main power circuit), Downtairs Ring Main, Upstairs Lighting, Downstairs Lighting, Cooker, Shower, Smoke Alarms, Freezer etc etc. These are all separate circuits.
In the consumer unit these circuits are protected by one of two ‘protection devices’; either an MCB or RCBO. The amount of these devices that a consumer unit can take is known as the ‘Number of Usable Ways’.
So, quite simply a '10 way Hager consumer unit' is one in which there are 10 usable ways which can take 10 MCBs or RCBOs and consequently will protect 10 separate circuits.
The Five Basic Types of Hager Consumer Unit
Main Switch Hager Consumer Units
The simplest form of consumer unit, the Main Switch board is supplied with a 100A mains isolator only. When the 17th Edition Regulations first came into being it seemed to many that the days of the main switch board, which is supplied without RCDs, were numbered.
However, Main Switch consumer units, when used in conjunction with a full bank of RCBOs are now being considered the single best way to satisfy 17th Edition, as this allows for complete separation of circuits thus preventing nuisance tripping.
The downside to this installation is the cost as using individual RCBOs are considerably more expensive than using RCDs with MCBs. Many homeowners however are willing to pay the extra cost for the peace of mind that RCBOs provide.
High Integrity Boards
A 'High Integrity Consumer Unit' is one which allows for superior separation of circuits whilst still protecting all circuits from earth leakage. It does this by using three neutral bars which allows for the use of 2 RCDs and a whole bank of RCBOs.
The user may therefore protect all 'non-mission critical circuits like lighting and ring main on the RCDs whilst protecting all mission critical circuits independently with RCBOs. In this situation a problem with the fridge freezer will not affect the smoke alarms or, for example, the alarm system will not cut power to the tropical fish tank. High Integrity boards provide very good compliance to the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations.
Split Load Hager Consumer Units
A split load consumer unit, in common parlance, is one which is supplied with a Main Switch and RCD. Now that we operate under 17th Edition regulations the implied loading of a split load unit is that MCBs should only be put on the RCD side while RCBOs are fitted on the main switch side.
A split load consumer unit, used in this way satisifies the 17th Edition Regulations particularly well and cost effectively as it protects all circuits against earth leakage whilst decreasing the risk of nuisance tripping on mission critical circuits through good cricuit separation.
Hager Garage Consumer Units
The term 'Garage consumer unit' is applied to smaller consumer units and there isn't anything else particularly special about these consumer units. Most normal domestic environments have only a small number circuits in its garages, garden sheds and outhouses and therefore does not require the larger 10 - 36 way consumer units used in the main household.
Garage units are normally between 2 and 5 ways depending on what is being used in the outhouse. A normal shed with lighting and a couple of sockets would use a 2 way unit whilst a workwhop using a lathe and power tools might opt for a 5 way unit.
Fully Loaded Hager Consumer Units
These consumer units typically come with 2 RCDs and a full bank of MCBs and usually have between 10 and 15 usable ways. Whilst very cost effective care, and fully 17th Edition compliant they do not provide very good separation of circuits.
Metal or Plastic?
This is fairly simply answered by ascertaining where the fuseboard is intended to be situated. If, as is normal, it’s going in the house it’s normal to use plastic, which is also known as ‘insulated’. If it’s to be sited in an outhouse, workshop or garage then its common to use metal. There are no rules governing this and is just a matter of preference. However, in cases where an armoured cable is to be terminated in the consumer unit then metal should be used as a plastic unit will snap under the load.
