So what happens with some DIN rail products, like timers, doorbell transformers, some PEN fault detection devices, etc. where the manufacturer doesn't make a enclosure? Surely they are made to fit into an enclosure from another manufacturer?
Thanks for watching mate! No, but at least you know you can use Verso and Navitas branded breakers in the same board lol because … well it’s just a rebrand lol. But using different brands makes you a manufacturer … that bit still blows my mind!
Not sure if it’s already available but would be good to have a detailed list of what is type tested to what so there is a standard that everyone can look and and say yes this is okay to use as a last resort
Agree but someone would still have to take responsibility. So if you match two brands that are actually the same product, one of them would have to agree to hold the warranty
Great video. I don't like mixing brands in CUs if I can help it, but there are times when it's the only sane way. Example is an old volex board where the breaker for the socket circuit had burned out, and there was no budget for a replacement board. Sometimes you've just got to get the job done and the power back on. Have you come across any real world examples of mixed brands causing problems?
Thanks for watching I’ve seen problems where the thermals from a particular brands rcbo were that high that it created message tripping on other devices in the board. I’ve also come across an issue on a housing association, where there was an issue with a board and there was a huge issue about who would cover the cost, as the sub contractor had used a different brand in board and the CU manufacturer wouldn’t honour warranties So it does happen, like you said some of can come down to a little common sense, but always check with the manufacturer to be sure. Worth covering yourself
I’d think in this scenario if something happened then your insurers wouldn’t cover you. A customers lack of budget isn’t your problem, you can only tell them the cost to do the job or walk away. Yeah, some other ‘electrician’ down the road would do the job but that’s up to the customer to make the choice, but you get to sleep easy at night. 👍
Sadly you’re probably right. It’s a tight spot really. I think it’s more frustrating in a situation where a company has moved on from a product design and then you can’t access replacement stock or their new series can’t be used with it due to a lack of type testing. Happens a lot with import brands
@@richardwilliamson3624 I hear what you're saying, and you're right - there would likely be insurance issues should a problem arise as a result, and the customer's budget isn't my problem. However, as in my example above, to leave someone without power to their sockets leaves them in a very vulnerable position - potentially without heating, hot water, and/or cooking facilities, depending what's on the defective circuit. Not ideal, but as I said, sometimes necessary to get the power back on.
It’s always a far less than perfect situation. And because it is always case by case you have to do what you think is right. I just wanted people to understand what responsibility the installer is taking on
I would say that it depends if the manufacturer gives you written documentation that they are compatible they it’s fine, but I would be very surprised if they will test and certify it for use + it’s interest for you to have to buy another board.
20 years would sit outside of any warranty I’m aware of 😂 Usually most import brands are two years. Companies like us, Hager, Wylex etc is between 5 and 10 years
@@navitascp my thoughts exactly. If a brand is so out of date that a device cant be sourced its time to change the whole unit. Any CU thats installed within lets say 10 years or less, isn’t getting random devices fitted, theres no need to at all
So what happens with some DIN rail products, like timers, doorbell transformers, some PEN fault detection devices, etc. where the manufacturer doesn't make a enclosure? Surely they are made to fit into an enclosure from another manufacturer?
And there was me thinking that they had bought out a new document that says we could cross pollinate boards 😂, great video cheers 👌
Thanks for watching mate!
No, but at least you know you can use Verso and Navitas branded breakers in the same board lol because … well it’s just a rebrand lol. But using different brands makes you a manufacturer … that bit still blows my mind!
Not sure if it’s already available but would be good to have a detailed list of what is type tested to what so there is a standard that everyone can look and and say yes this is okay to use as a last resort
Agree but someone would still have to take responsibility.
So if you match two brands that are actually the same product, one of them would have to agree to hold the warranty
Great video. I don't like mixing brands in CUs if I can help it, but there are times when it's the only sane way. Example is an old volex board where the breaker for the socket circuit had burned out, and there was no budget for a replacement board. Sometimes you've just got to get the job done and the power back on.
Have you come across any real world examples of mixed brands causing problems?
Thanks for watching
I’ve seen problems where the thermals from a particular brands rcbo were that high that it created message tripping on other devices in the board.
I’ve also come across an issue on a housing association, where there was an issue with a board and there was a huge issue about who would cover the cost, as the sub contractor had used a different brand in board and the CU manufacturer wouldn’t honour warranties
So it does happen, like you said some of can come down to a little common sense, but always check with the manufacturer to be sure. Worth covering yourself
I’d think in this scenario if something happened then your insurers wouldn’t cover you. A customers lack of budget isn’t your problem, you can only tell them the cost to do the job or walk away. Yeah, some other ‘electrician’ down the road would do the job but that’s up to the customer to make the choice, but you get to sleep easy at night. 👍
Sadly you’re probably right. It’s a tight spot really.
I think it’s more frustrating in a situation where a company has moved on from a product design and then you can’t access replacement stock or their new series can’t be used with it due to a lack of type testing.
Happens a lot with import brands
@@richardwilliamson3624 I hear what you're saying, and you're right - there would likely be insurance issues should a problem arise as a result, and the customer's budget isn't my problem.
However, as in my example above, to leave someone without power to their sockets leaves them in a very vulnerable position - potentially without heating, hot water, and/or cooking facilities, depending what's on the defective circuit.
Not ideal, but as I said, sometimes necessary to get the power back on.
It’s always a far less than perfect situation.
And because it is always case by case you have to do what you think is right.
I just wanted people to understand what responsibility the installer is taking on
I would say that it depends if the manufacturer gives you written documentation that they are compatible they it’s fine, but I would be very surprised if they will test and certify it for use + it’s interest for you to have to buy another board.
I would agree with you there.
Which then places the ownership of that liability on the installer.
A 20 year old consumer unit with a manufacturer still taking responsibility for it, never happening. All comes down to common sense.
20 years would sit outside of any warranty I’m aware of 😂
Usually most import brands are two years.
Companies like us, Hager, Wylex etc is between 5 and 10 years
@@navitascp my thoughts exactly. If a brand is so out of date that a device cant be sourced its time to change the whole unit. Any CU thats installed within lets say 10 years or less, isn’t getting random devices fitted, theres no need to at all