MEM Gridwwitch 8000

[IMM]

This is a gridswitch that clusters all the kitchen appliances in one convenient gridswitch with all appliances having their own specially labelled rocker switch, and all together at one point.

One question is: Does this have to be in the kitchen, or can it be say a cupboard under the stairs. the cupboard is in the hall which is next to the kitchen.

The grid switch saves having ugly fused spurs for each appliance over the worktops. Another question. Can an electric oven also be taken off one of these gridswitches? Another question. Can an the kitchen sockets also be taken off one of these gridswitches?

[N. Thornton]

sockets dont have 2b switched at all, but can be. Sockets are also much more flexible than FCUs.

if the switches are sufficiently current rated, and the circuit supplying them. So yes if you do it right.

Regards, NT

[Dave Liquorice]

Common sense safety and the regs to some extent could say that sockets ought to be remotely switched if the plug is inaccessable in normal use and that the switches ought to be close (same room) to the socket/appliance they are controlling.

[IMM]

So, for e.g., can a gridswitch be at the back of a kitchen cupboard? Anyone know what the regs say about this?

A MEM Gridswitch 8000 eliminates the ugly collection of fused spurs over the worktops, which is a lot of work to install, electrical and tiling. It would be nice to have all aplinaces: oven, hob, w/m, etc on the gridswitch.

If this switch can be in the rear of say a top cupboard, maybe a small "sub" CU would be the better option, with "all" kitchen appliances and sockets, complete with microbreakers in CU fitted. Then the microbreakers can be labelled as normal. This may be a cheaper option. Would this have to be taken off the main breaker, rather than a large current microbreaker at the existing main CU?

[Christian McArdle]

Yes they can. The main issue is that a person servicing the appliances can be said to be in control of the switches. Otherwise, the switches have to have the facility to be padlocked off. You could possibly get round this by suggesting that the unswitched socket provides DP isolation instead of the grid switch, but it isn't best practice and can't be used if spurs are used instead of sockets, or the socket isn't easily accessible.

Believe it or not, there are many cretins^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hpeople, who seeing a tripped circuit breaker or isolator will simply reset it without determining that there isn't someone working on the circuit first.

Christian.

[IMM]

That is if the gridswitchis not in the same room, I assume you mean.

By removing the plug?

[Christian McArdle]

Yes, and sufficiently nearby to be possible to swear in time at the w*nker about to electrocute you.

Indeed. Also, many sockets now incorporate DP switching, so I suspect that such a modern switched socket would be appropriate too.

Christian.

[IMM]

You need double pole isolation away from the appliance, especially if it is integrated. So a gridswitch in the back of a normal cupboard should be fine? Or is it, with the Cornflakes up against it?

[Christian McArdle]

It is required for maintenance switching, not emergency use. So behind the cornflakes should be OK, provided said cornflakes are near by.

Christian.

[Andy Wade]

Can I disagree? Reg. 462-01-02 requires switches for mechanical maintenance to be "suitably located in a readily accessible position". At the back of a cupboard fails on both counts, IMHO.

[IMM]

How about in a cupboard under the stairs, in the hall next to the kitchen? Basically, kitchen wall then staircase on the other side of the wall with cupboard under.

Or in the cupboard under the sink.

[IMM]

Those ugly electric oven isolators? Can they be in a cupboard under a sink?

[Andy Wade]

None of the above. On a kitchen wall is where your grid-witch needs to go. "Readily accessible" is what the regulation says.

[IMM]

"Readily accessible", this sounds like the word "competent", which is open to interpretation. If a kitchen has a built-in walk in cupboard complete with door, and the gridswitch is on the walls there, I would say that is "Readily accessible".

[Frisket]

You are a strange, strange person. You asked a question and received a sensible, correct reply from Andy and yet you wish to argue. "Readily accessible" means just that. Not "readily accessible if you open the cupboard door, move the Heinz ketchup bottle, stand on tippy toes and reach to full stretch". However, you (as always) know best and I look forward to your explanation in court should there be an accident (you never know, you could get away with it if you can convince the jury to accept the laws of physics / grammar as applying on your planet)

[IMM]

far from it.

With the interpretation of the regs not with Andy.

You are odd!

[Jerry.]

How is that not the same ?!!!...

[Dave Plowman]

Why would you use fused spurs? All appliances come with a plug which is already fused.

[Jerry.]

Not very convenient if the fuse blows, haul out the appliance, un-plug and change fuse, heave appliance back into place - apposed to use removing fuse from face plate....

IMO all appliances should be wired in such a way. It's like plumbers placing shut off valves to washing machine flexible intake pipes (for example) behind the appliance - bloody useless if the flexible pipe leaks !...

[IMM]

You are now having a laugh.