Hi there,

I'm at the point of rewiring my DB board, 3-phase coming in, splitting it into essential loads on one phase,  and spread the other loads across the other two phases. The DB board is currently a mess, I thought I might as well replace all the switches while I am busy.

I'm actually not happy for the latest CBI switches as I had many new ones fail, do you guys have experience with these other makes? Chint, Hager, Scneider and Gewiss? Offcourse, I am not trying to break the bank either. Chint seems to cheap to be honest, don't trust it unless I am wrong.

Should I perhaps consider putting a new surface mount DB box over my old panel cavity?

Thanks

31 minutes ago, d3nominat0r said:

I'm at the point of rewiring my DB board, 3-phase coming in, splitting it into essential loads on one phase,  and spread the other loads across the other two phases.

Slightly off topic, from your question but as you are doing this may I make a further suggestion as how to split the loads on the other two phases.

Certain loads for example geysers,  pool pumps, arguably freezers etc have to run "X" amount per day, but aren't really fussed about whether they run during the night or during the day.

To make the most of your solar you want them to run during the day, I suggest you also introduce that load distinction between the remaining phases as well.

I don't have a personal preference of MCB's, but I think you can buy pre-approved boxes, complete with E/L and several MCB's for cheaper than the component parts because the box is heavily subsidized by the govt.

I have no long term exposure to Gewiss but they are rated for AC and DC.

Edited April 26, 20197 yr by phil.g00

Hi

 

I had this done to my board.  Same as you. 3 phase in. One phase to lights and wall plugs and other 2 phases for geysers aircons etc. Used a surface mounted industrial board. Now have lots of space. Costs about R15k to do. One day job

9 hours ago, Merlin said:

Hi

 

I had this done to my board.  Same as you. 3 phase in. One phase to lights and wall plugs and other 2 phases for geysers aircons etc. Used a surface mounted industrial board. Now have lots of space. Costs about R15k to do. One day job

Would you mind sharing a photo of your final result? Trying out figure out which surface mount DB to get, big enough to cover my current cavity. Need something that is more or less 55cm (H) x 35cm (W). 

Edited April 27, 20197 yr by d3nominat0r

11 hours ago, d3nominat0r said:

I'm actually not happy for the latest CBI switches as I had many new ones fail, do you guys have experience with these other makes? Chint, Hager, Scneider and Gewiss? Offcourse, I am not trying to break the bank either. Chint seems to cheap to be honest, don't trust it unless I am wrong.

I prefer DIN-mount too. I use Hager quite often and it seems like a good mid-range breaker. My house came with heaps of ABB breakers which I reused, and those are obviously a step above. If your bank account can handle going to ABB, that would be my recommendation. Schneider is a reputable brand too, and Gewiss is not bad except the local agents are AC/DC and they charge too much for it in my opinion.

I have just done mine with Schnider easy 9 domestic range . ABB are great but as @plonkster said they are not cheap . I would look at hager or Schneider for a cost effective solution . 

26 minutes ago, Mstott said:

I have just done mine with Schnider easy 9 domestic range . ABB are great but as @plonkster said they are not cheap . I would look at hager or Schneider for a cost effective solution . 

 

Tell us about that Arduino relay board on top??

1 minute ago, Elbow said:

Tell us about that Arduino relay board on top??

I have a Samsung smartthings platform running , this board connects to smartthings and is used to switch the contactors in my DB .

I use for swiming pool , geyser control , and have 2 spare for now .

38 minutes ago, Mstott said:

I have a Samsung smartthings platform running , this board connects to smartthings and is used to switch the contactors in my DB .

I use for swiming pool , geyser control , and have 2 spare for now .

The contactors are neat - are they Schneider too?

1 hour ago, Elbow said:

The contactors are neat - are they Schneider too?

Yes , Hager also do them . 

The DB Board costs about R1500 but its Industrial. There are smaller ones on the market.

 

I have used timer switches for the freezers etc

 

5 hours ago, Mstott said:

I have just done mine with Schnider easy 9 domestic range . ABB are great but as @plonkster said they are not cheap . I would look at hager or Schneider for a cost effective solution . 

Very very neat, compared to my current mess. This is more or less where I want to end up. Where did you buy the DB Board and rest of the kit?

I'm considering getting one of these from Hager. http://www.em.co.za/Home/Distribution-Boards/VS318TJ.html. I guess it should do the job 3x18 (54 slots).

7 hours ago, d3nominat0r said:

where I want to end up. Where did you buy the DB Board and rest of the kit?

I got the DB from ACDC , the switches are available from Voltex . I really like that DB you are looking at . You should do a full hager install . 

5 hours ago, Mstott said:

I got the DB from ACDC , the switches are available from Voltex . I really like that DB you are looking at . You should do a full hager install . 

Thanks, Hager is where my mind is. Will look nice and neat.

12 hours ago, d3nominat0r said:

getting one of these from Hager

I  have the two-row one. What I like about it is you stick a Phillips screwdriver into those plastic clips on the 4 corners, then the entire front comes off leaving you with all the space in the world to work.

Has anyone used https://online-electrical.co.za/ before? Their pricing on Hager really looks good,  I also see them listed on CBI's site as a Distributor.

Edited April 28, 20197 yr by d3nominat0r

i do like these with a door... wish my sparky went for them... to late now though.

I might yank out the switch + timer combo on the geysers, and ditto at the pool and rather go with the contractor I can control from a relay... like the idea I can change the timing easily, and switch them on off remotely.

How much were they, what current can they carry, any chance you can share a link to them ?

G

Edited April 28, 20197 yr by georgelza

The schnider ones are not cheap ! I only took them due to my OCD , Hager and Chint also do them for a much better price . Mine are 25A . 

I used a Chint for over a year with no issue at all .

14 hours ago, Mstott said:

The schnider ones are not cheap ! I only took them due to my OCD , Hager and Chint also do them for a much better price . Mine are 25A . 

I used a Chint for over a year with no issue at all .

I'm trying to find the Hager ones but no luck, can you perhaps share a link?

I see ElectroMechanica also does the Hager DB and CB's : http://www.em.co.za/Home/Distribution-Boards/VS318TJ.html

Does anyone have experience with them? I want to get this one. It is completely oversized for my application, but I have a lot of wall to work with, and would rather have too much space instead of too little...

On 2019/04/27 at 4:30 PM, Mstott said:

I have just done mine with Schnider easy 9 domestic range . ABB are great but as @plonkster said they are not cheap . I would look at hager or Schneider for a cost effective solution . 

@Mstott just checking your board layout again,  would you mind summarising what is happening on each row?

Deleted double post

Edited May 7, 20197 yr by d3nominat0r
Double Post

On 2019/04/29 at 11:53 AM, CarlT said:

I see ElectroMechanica also does the Hager DB and CB's : http://www.em.co.za/Home/Distribution-Boards/VS318TJ.html

Does anyone have experience with them? I want to get this one. It is completely oversized for my application, but I have a lot of wall to work with, and would rather have too much space instead of too little...

Those DB boards are rather sturdy and I prefer them over the cheaper ones at Voltex or ARB. They're a bit more expensive but very good quality. 

1 hour ago, SilverNodashi said:

Those DB boards are rather sturdy and I prefer them over the cheaper ones at Voltex or ARB. They're a bit more expensive but very good quality. 

I bought it. Very nice. Now I would like to get some additional busbars that fit in it. EM doesn't seem to have all of the accessories. Don't really know where to look for them.