Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

Looking to rewire my garage for new lighting and plug sockets, and want to replace the old grey type consumer unit with the current units they sell on the market now.

Just a little confused with these 2 models:-

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/63138/...-Consumer-Unit

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/33248/...-Consumer-Unit

Which one will provide me with basics for fluorescent lighting, and 6 internal double sockets, 1 external floodlight, and maybe a separate circuit for outside usage for lawnmower/pond pump?

The main consumer unit in the house, is the old rewireable type fuses that pull in/out and look like dominoes. :(

Should I upgrade this unit first, before changing the garage unit? or shouldn't it matter.

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

Those two units don't have a 32A breaker which you will need for the socket circuit.
You'll need a 32A breaker for the sockets and probably a 6A for the lights. The pond pump could be supplied from a spur on the socket circuit depending how much current it uses.
What size/type of cable is supplying the garage at the moment?

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

If you use a 32 A mcb m8 then you will have to wire the sockets as a ring main.

You could just use the 16 amp mcb which is supplied and wire the sockets as a radial circuit in 2.5 mm twin and earth cable, and wire your lights in 1.5 twin and earth cable off the 6 amp mcb.
you can put your pond pump on your radial socket circuit via a fused spur unit.

it wont matter about changing your house unit just yet as the protection you need for the garage is in the new unit.

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

32A breaker Really? I thought the the 16A would be suffice of the sockets. TBH with you DarrenSV650S, I don't know the size of the cable coming from the house to the garage, and would need to double check this. What would be the minimum size required here? and for the above specification you suggested?

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

are you taking the supply for the garage from one of the ways from your house unit ?

if so 6 mm twin and earth cable would be sufficient to supply the garage unit, protected by a 30a fuse.

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

I doubt I'd do this myself, as I wouldn't want to blow myself away, but just understanding what I need to get - then call out a local "sparky" for labour only would suffice.

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

Yes, the supply in coming from the main house consumer unit, but I don't think it is protected at this end, so my question is do I need to put the garage cable on a protected RCD 1st on the main consumer unit first, or can i work back from the garage?

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

Hmm it really depends if you want to do things properly. You could wire it as a radial and it would work. It depends how much load you will be using. Do you want 6 double sockets because you have a lot of equipment? Or is it just to have sockets available in lots of places?

If you're not going to be putting a lot of load on the circuit then you could get away with just a single 2.5mm cable supplying the garage with the lights spurred off it

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

As long as you have an RCD in the garage it will be fine

Re: Garage Electrics, Consumer Unit - Which One?
 

So what are pros and cons with raidial circuit ( which could be sufficient for me) or ring main?