ELECTRIUM SALES LTD
LAKESIDE PLAZA
WALKMILL LANE
BRIDGTOWN
CANNOCK
STAFFORDSHIRE WS11 0XE
Tel: 01543 455000
Fax: 01543 455001
Suppliers of: Consumer Units, Electrical Accessories,
Electrium brings together five of the leading brands in the electrical industry to offer a complete range of Low Voltage installation products from a switched socket to the main switchgear in an industrial installation. The Company employs around 800 people and has manufacturing operations in the UK and throughout the world with its UK Head Office in Brownhills, West Midlands.
CRABTREE
The name behind one of the widest ranges of wiring accessories, circuit protection and control equipment, covering residential, commercial and industrial markets worldwide. Known for innovative new products and concepts, Crabtree’s uncompromising approach to quality has long established this brand as a market leader, with everyone who takes pride in a job done professionally. The Crabtree range includes:
- Wiring Accessory & Domestic Circuit Protection
- Industrial Electrical Products
- Crabtree Consumer Units
- Warwick PVC Trunking
WYLEX
The clear market leader in residential circuit protection, with the largest range of consumer units and RCDs in the UK. This gives designers and installers the flexibility to create an almost infinite variety of systems, tailored to individual applications and blending with any surroundings. Easy nationwide availability adds to convenience whenever Wylex is specified. The Wylex range includes:
- Solar Photo Voltaic PV Switchgear Solutions.
- Circuit protection.
- Wylex Three Phase Circuit Protection.
- Wylex Consumer Units and Wylex Flexible Consumer Units.
VOLEX
A name synonymous with reliability and value. Committed to adding extra quality features and contemporary aesthetics to its designs, Volex has recently launched a new generation of products which provide the latest looks with the value for money and product features Volex customers expect. The Volex range includes:
- Volex Accessories and Circuit Protection.
- Weatherproof Wiring Accessories.
- Decorative Metal Plate Wiring Accessories.
APPLEBY
Switch and socket boxes manufactured from galvanised steel and PVC dry lining boxes suitable for domestic and commercial applications, for the mounting of any flush accessory. The range includes moulded enclosures for extreme conditions and steel adaptable boxes as a cost-effective alternative. Appleby also produces an extensive range of
- Amenity lighting and long life
- Energy efficient fluorescent luminaires
- Switch and Socket boxes
- PVC dry lining boxes
SIEMENS HEATING CONTROLS
Our heating controls offer our customers a wide range of choices, from the simplest weather compensator to advanced central heating controls, thermostats, boiler and domestic hot water control.
BRITMAC
The Britmac underfloor power track system consists of a series of fully enclosed single phase busbar module units and is an ideal pairing with the popular Britmac fast-fit floor box. Designed to be assembled directly onto the floor slab of a cavity floor installation using the integral floor fixing brackets. The track modules have a simple and quick push fit connection allowing for rapid on site assembly. The modules are available as standard 2P+E, Clean Earth 2P+E+CE and dual system 4P+E+CE. The system has been designed with minimal parts to assist the contractor fitting out on site. The Britmac product range includes:
- POWER TRACK UNDERFLOOR SYSTEM
- FLOOR BOX DISTRIBUTION
Wylex Single Module Arc Fault Detection Device recognised as industry top product
The single module arc fault detection device from Wylex has been crowned a Professional Electrician & Installer 2019 ‘Top Product’ award winner.
These awards are recognition for those manufacturers that have made a real difference to the electrical contractor’s ability to get the job done efficiently, safely and professionally, whether this is in the form of innovative products, tools or time-saving solutions.
The single module arc fault detection device from Wylex is just another innovation for the brand, part of Electrium, which continues to provide customers with products that provide the highest levels of electrical safety for professional installers and their clients.
What is an Arc Fault Detection Device?
This clever little device detects and disconnects arc faults which could lead to an electrical fire in the home.
It also does the job of an MCB and an RCD, and it is able to detect arc faults that other types of technology simply can’t. What’s more, it is the same size as a standard MCB and that means that it can be retrofitted into existing boards to upgrade the levels of protection against electrical fires.
Wylex AFDDs carry out a self-test function when initially powered up, and the AFDD repeats this self-test function every 15 hours. They also have a test button (just like an RCDs or RCBOs), which you can use during the initial verification or EICR. Model certificates now include AFDDs among the devices listed, with space for test results.
PE Editor, Richard Bowler said “Our annual awards are a great way to reward those companies that have come up with excellent ideas to help electrical installers and businesses overcome common problems in their everyday work, or to open up new profit streams. The Mini-AFDD from Wylex is therefore a very worth winner of one of our 2019 Top Product awards.”
Mike Cash, Head of Marketing at Electrium, is delighted that Wylex’s latest device has been recognised by the industry “We’re very happy that Professional Electrician have awarded the Wylex single module AFDD one of their top product awards. Here at Electrium we continue to innovate and strive to create products that provide electrical safety excellence at every touchpoint. We’re a business that wants to support professional electricians and enhance their reputations too. Not only by using quality products, but with devices & solutions that exceed expectations.”
Wylex’s single module arc fault detection device has been getting the industry talking. Discover more about this clever device on our dedicated site here.
Electrium - RCDs & the 18th Edition
Electrium - RCDs & the 18th Edition
People talking about RCDs and the 18th Edition is, most of the time, a good thing, but occasionally it’s a dangerous thing, says Electrium, home to brands such as Crabtree & Wylex.
Electrium has been hearing reports that one RCD company is encouraging its customers to standardise on one type of RCD. This type of advice doesn’t actually follow the requirements within the wiring regulations and it may prevent designers from carrying out proper electrical design assessments. Even worse, it could lead to the use of inappropriate devices that are not suitable for the intended purpose, a frightening thought.
So, what do the regulations actually say about types of RCD?
Types of RCD – Chapter 53 Selection and Erection of Equipment
Regulation 531.3.3, for example, is new to the regs book but the principle of this regulation is not new at all. For example, regulation 132.8 (17th and 18th editions) requires protective devices to operate at values of current, voltage and time that are suitably related to the characteristic of the circuits and possibilities of danger.
Four types of RCD are mentioned in regulation 531.3.3 which also requires the appropriate RCD to be selected from those four options - Type AC, Type A, Type F, or Type B. Each RCD type has different operating characteristics to suit particular applications - including those where DC components and varying frequencies are present.
The requirements here are clearly stated. Designers and installers must select and specify the correct device for each circuit or item of equipment being protected, and that choice must be made through a proper technical assessment.
However, Regulation 531.3.3 is only part of the story;-
30mA RCDs are used for additional protection (415.1)
for general purposes Type AC RCDs may be used (531.3.3)
for EV chargers Type A or B are required (722.531.2)
in some medical locations Type A or B are required - depending on fault currents (710.411.3.2.1)
installations in caravans require RCDs to break all live poles including the neutral (721.415.1)
There are many elements to consider in order to select the appropriate type of RCD, and so failing to factor all of the relevant circumstances and guidance from within BS7671 into a design assessment is very risky.
Putting this into perspective, the term RCD is used within the wiring regulations more than 250 times and the definition of RCD includes RCCB, RCBO, CBR and MRCD. Clearly, it’s essential to understand the full picture before making device selections.
Avoiding Unwanted Tripping – Chapter 53 Selection and Erection of Equipment
Regulation 531.3.2 is another ‘new ’ regulation that is intended to aid designers in making better design decisions. This supports the principles of Regulation 314.1 (17th and 18th editions) which requires every installation to be divided into the number of circuits required to avoid danger and hazards caused by unwanted tripping of RCDs – a single fault should not cause the loss of power to groups of circuits.
Regulation 531.3.2 gives designers two options to use to avoid unwanted tripping of RCDs from earth leakage (PE current) during normal operation.
Option 1
Divide the installation into individual circuits, each using its own 30mA RCBO
Option 2
Design the installation so that the PE current cannot be more than 30% of the rated trip current i.e. no more than 9mA for a 30mA RCD. But how easy is that to achieve?
Individual RCBOs provide a solution that also complies with Regulation 314.1 to avoid danger and hazards caused by unwanted tripping of RCDs. A single fault should not cause the loss of power to groups of circuits. The safety of the people within buildings can only be ensured when power continuity is maintained to healthy circuits by the initial design.
Footnote; The term RCD is used within the wiring regulations more than 250 times and the definition of RCD includes RCCB, RCBO, CBR and MRCD, readers are advised to follow the requirements of the IET Wiring Regulations BS7671:2018.
