1/26/17 DIY Wiring a Three Phase Consumer Unit-Distribution Board and Wiring Diagrams

Electrolesk A Guide to Practical

Electrical Installation Work.

Wiring of A Three Phase Distribution

Board
or a Consumer Unit

Background

Wiring a Three Phase Distribution Board [DB] is of a necessity when the

Power Distribution requirement cannot be handled by a Single Phase Power
Supply. Since the Utility distributes power from a Three Phase
Transformer, a prime requirement regarded by the Utility company is to
make sure that the three phases of the transformers to be balanced in
load distribution. Though a 100% balanced load cannot be achieved most
of the time, a higher percentage of a balanced load is necessary for the
transformer to give the highest efficiency. The consumer has an obligation
to have his power utilization in the three phases to be balanced in a
practically acceptable manner. He can achieve this by distributing his
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1/26/17 DIY Wiring a Three Phase Consumer Unit-Distribution Board and Wiring Diagrams

Single Phase power loads to the three phases so that a maximum possible
load balancing will be achieved inside his premises. The example power
distribution cited here for 3 Phases is based on the earlier Single Phase
Consumer Unit wiring for ease of understanding.

Installation work described here is according to British Standards [ IEE

Regulations and Practice ].

Accessory Requirement

12 Way Three Raw DB with facility to fix a 60A 3 Pole Moulded Case Circuit
Breaker-01 nos

2 Pole-60A-30mA Trip Current RCD-03 nos

2 Pole -60A- MCB-03 nos

1 Pole-10A-MCB-15 nos

1 Pole -20A-MCB-6 nos

1 Pole-16A-MCB-3 nos

Cu MCB Bus Bar segment-8 way- 3 nos.

60A- 3 Pole MCCB [fixed type or Adj. Type ]

Bus Bar Link for Neutral Cable Connections

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Preparation

We are considering that the DB used here will power 5 nos. Lighting Sub
Circuits,2 nos 13A Radial Circuits for Socket outlets and 01 nos. 16A
Circuit for an AC units on each Phase.That is to say, here we are having a
power utilization twice more than in the Single Phase power distribution.
But we don't have any Three Phase loads (items using three phase
power, for example. 3 ph motors etc) connected to this power distribution.

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1/26/17 DIY Wiring a Three Phase Consumer Unit-Distribution Board and Wiring Diagrams

Method of Wiring

Sub Circuit wiring has been discussed in detail for 1W Light, 2W Light,5A
,13A and 16A Socket outlets etc. These needs to be wired prior to wiring
of the DB unit so that when the DB is installed, these circuits can be
connected to the DB.

DB Wiring and Installation.

The DB used will either be Surface mount or Flush Mount [ embedded]

type. The enclosure will have entry points for connecting feeder cable and
sub distribution cables on top and bottom sides. There will be many types
of DBs in market but the example used here will enable the practitioner to
handle any type with ease.The DB has a DIN rail for installing RCCB,and
MCBs. It also has four Cu Connector Bars , three for connecting Neutral
cables of the sub circuits of Red, Yellow and Blue phases separately and
the other to connect all Earth cables used in socket outlets and electrical
lighting fixtures etc. Compare the earlier single phase DB wiring with this
one. You will see the similarities between the two in sub circuit wiring.

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The Practical Way of Wiring the

Three Phase 60A Distribution Board
with a MCCB.

Wiring Diagram according to Old Colour Code

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1/26/17 DIY Wiring a Three Phase Consumer Unit-Distribution Board and Wiring Diagrams

The MCCB used here is a 3 Pole ,60A unit. An MCCB with 4 Poles also can
be used and the Utility Neutral then first needs to be connected to the
bottom side extreme right connector. The outgoing Neutral then needs to
be connected to the Neutral Bus bar link provided and wired as shown.

Wiring Diagram according to New Colour Code

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1/26/17 DIY Wiring a Three Phase Consumer Unit-Distribution Board and Wiring Diagrams

The MCCB used here is a 3 Pole ,60A unit. An MCCB with 4 Poles also can
be used and the Utility Neutral then first needs to be connected to the
bottom side extreme right connector. The outgoing Neutral then needs to

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