100A DP isolator with double terminals?

[Steve Walker]

Is there such a thing?

I am considering fitting an isolator between the meter and my consumer unit, to ease future work. However, I am likely to need a separate small unit to supply an EV charger in the future and there is limited space to fit it.

There is enough space to fit a small CU and Henley blocks to feed both CUs or enough space for a small CU and an isolator, but probably not space for all three, so I am looking if there are any 2-in, 4-out isolators, to remove the need for the Henley blocks.

[Owain Lastname]

I don't know, but have considered using a Wylex REC4 4-pole isolator, taking the supply into the middle 2 poles, and using pieces of busbar on the load terminals to make a double output.

Or use a small CU as the isolator, with MCBs for the submain and the EV charger. Modern CUs are pretty well shielded internally.

Owain

[ARW]

I am not sure if you could get the busbar to fit in the REC4 box - never tried it.

But a 4 way CU with two MCBs is a brilliant idea.

[Theo]

I had assumed that was the main point of the REC4: allows separate isolation of the main CU and a secondary CU, or a main CU and a grid tied solar inverter? What else do people use them for?

(or are both sides ganged together?)

I thought this thing was called a solar isolator, but searching for that comes up with the 32A rotary switches instead. Theo

[Andy Burns]

yes it's normally used between a 3ph meter and consumer unit.

[Colin Bignell]

Could you use a four pole three phase isolator to do what you want? Rotary ones can be padlocked off for safe working.

[Steve Walker]

It's very tight in there unfortunately and I'd have to link the poles into two pairs. It may be possible though.

[Robin]

I agree. Just wonder if you would code on an EICR a 63A MCB (the highest I've seen in single width) between an 80A/100A main fuse and a fully loaded CU?

[Andy Burns]

Eaton do 100A and 125A type C single width MCBs but they specify they're only for use in their 250A distribution boards ... somewhat chunkier than a 4-way CU.

[Robin]

Not just a mater of what Eaton specify. They are wider than a domestic MCB (27 mm vs 18 mm) so I doubted if one would squeeze into a 2 Way CU even if you could bodger round the difference in height.

[ARW]

I do not see anything to code unless you are expecting the fully loaded CU to be taking well over 63A for a prolonged period.