Extending cables to a consumer unit?,

Sep 22, 2026 Last reply: 6 hours ago 8 Replies

We've got to change the consumer unit we've got as its old and we needs extra ways etc. The new CU needs moving a few feet from the original one.



Now i know that TLC electrical market a "wiska" box but that isn't ideal for the number of cables and the size of them. Is it against Kings regs to get a plastic or metal box cut some slots or get some cable grommets or glands or similar and just form them out inside and crimp them with the right sized crimps and proper crimp pliers?.



Anyone else done that at all, or know if it is or isn't permitted?.



Thanks in advance..


Usual rules for junction boxes apply - so as long as you have a secure join, and adequate insulation and enclosure, then arguable anything within reason goes.

For elegance and order, I would suggest a small metal clad box with din rail inside, and a row of din rail mounted terminals. You can get Wago style ones, which make for quick and maintenance free joins.

You can also get (or could 3D print) clips for mounting sets of 3 wago

221 connectors stacked vertically, such that they will clip to a DIN rail.

e.g.

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+1 for The DIN rail mounted Wagos

Alternatively, can you get under the floor near the CU to use a Wagobox (or 2) to extend the cables?

I don't think I'd be tempted to print my own wago holders, rather use commercial ones that will have proper fire rating ...

Well if you can 3D print ones out of the same material, like ABS, its isn't an issue unless you have some regulatory authority breathing down your neck.

It is, as usual the difference between being fireproof, and having a bit of paper that says so (even if it lies)...

AS an aside once you have a 3D printer and have learnt to design in 3D its amazing what you can do. I got sent some RAACO cabinets without drawer dividers. Hardly the most complex thing to design and way cheaper than ordering the correct parts. OK they are not transparent polystyrene, but who cares?

I made containers for the daily pills, and tools and so on. These are again simple designs. The cost for the machine was steep. But the material is fairly cheap...

Thanks for that John. I think a metal enclose and DIN rail, got a lot of that around, and some WAGO connectors and sorted:-)

Haven't got one of they new fangled printing presses as yet!..

Nope, this is around 5 foot up on a wall!..

Bit of an odd arrangement not a wooden floor but concrete..

The fire rating mostly comes from the metal box.

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