What is a Split Load Consumer Unit?
A Split Load Consumer Unit is also known as High Integrity Consumer Unit which contains both RCD’s and RCBO’s. The single pole MCB’s and associated circuits are protected and controlled by the RCD’s side while the RCBO’s are controlled by the main switch side.
The split load consumer unit is a safest panel box as compared to simple main switch, simple RCD type consumer unit or dual RCD’s consumer unit. It is because split load consumer units provide protection against overload, overcurrent & short-circuit and earth leakage.
Split load consumer unit is the combination of RCBO “Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current”, RCD “Residual Current Device” and MCB “Miniature Circuit Breaker”. You may need more about the protection devices in the previous post under the title of “differences between MCB, MCCB, ELCB & RCB, RCD or RCCB/RCBO Circuit Breakers”.
The protection devices in a split load CU do the following functions.
MCB = Overload and overcurrent protection
RCD = Earth Fault Protection (to avoid electric shock)
RCBO = MCB + RCD = Earth Fault + Overload and Overcurrent Protection
Good to know:
RCD (Residual Current Device) and RCBO (Residual Current Device) is the term used in the UK while the same protection device named as GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter), GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter), LCDI (Leakage Current Detection Interrupter) and ALCI (Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter).
In addition, for arc fault protection (mentioned first time in the IET Wiring Regulations 18th edition “BS 7671: 2018”, AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Device) is the term used in the UK while it is known as AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) in the US.
How to Wire a Split Load Consumer Unit?
First of all, disconnect the Fuse between kWH energy meter and the utility pole to cut-off the main power supply. Now, connect the service cable (two wires as Phase and Neutral from the utility pole and energy meter) to the single phase two poles main switch.
Now, connect the output Neutral wire from the main switch (as blue color) to the common Neutral Busbar terminal in the consumer unit. Moreover, connect the output Phase wire from the main switch to the RCBO’s via common busbar segment.
In addition, connect the RCD to the output phase wire of the main switch through jumper wire (as brown color). Additionally, connect the single pole MCB to RCD through a common busbar segment as shown in fig. In short, there should be two phase wires from the same line terminal of MCB. The first one for RCBO’s common busbar and the second one for RCD and common busbar for associated MCB’s.
Keep in mind that RCD should be properly installed i.e. the Neutral wire should be connected through Neutral Terminal (The symbol “N” is printed on the RCD nameplate to identify the Neutral terminal.
There are two additional Neutral busbars in the consumer unit viz for RCBO’s and RCD’s (for simplification and illustration). No worries, you may use a single Neutral busbar for this purpose.
The load points and circuits on the RCD + MCB side can be connected via three wires i.e. Phase from single pole MCB, Neutral from Neutral busbar and Earth wire from the Earthing/Grounding busbar.
The case is a little bit different in the RCBO’s case as follows.
There are two built-in wires namely FE “Functional Earth” as white colored wire and N “Neutral” as blue colored wire. The FE should be connected to the main earth terminal block while the N as neutral should be connected to the main neutral terminal.
For load circuits wiring, there are two terminals on the output side of an RCBO viz Phase and Neutral. Keep in mind that load points and circuits can be connected directly to these two terminals i.e. No need to connect the Neutral wire from the main neutral terminal in the consumer unit. In addition, the earth wire should be connected from the main earth terminal. This way, a single phase load circuit is connected through three wires viz Phase, Neutral and Earth wire. The whole process is shown in the fig below.
Split Load Consumer Unit Wiring – Old UK Wiring Color Codes
The same wiring of split load consumer unit for RCD and RCBO’s is shown in the following fig having the old UK wiring color codes (prior 2004). This may be helpful for the readership outside the UK and EU who still follow the old UK wiring color codes i.e. Black for Neutral, Red for Phase or Hot and Green for earthing.
Wiring 230V Single Phase Circuits in a Split Load Consumer Unit
In a combination of RCD + RCBO distribution board or single phase 230V split load consumer unit, the load circuits should be connected via three wires i.e. Phase, Neutral and Protective Earth. In single phase supply, the voltage between phase and neutral is 230V AC.
The following fig shows how to wire and install single phase 230V load circuits in split load CU. For example, the LED lamp and ceiling fan is controlled and protected by RCD + MCB’s. While the socket outlet and washing machine has been fully protected by RCBO i.e. RCD +MCB in a single unit. To control the ON/OFF operation of the electrical appliances, an SP or DP switches can be used in the sub circuits and final sub circuits.
This way, the protection to the load points is as follows.
LED lamp & ceiling fan are protected by Main Switch => RCD => Single Pole MCB
Ceiling Fan & Socket Outlet Protected by Main Switch => RCBO = (RCD + MCB)
IEC Wiring Color Codes – 1-Φ, 230V – UK & EU
Keep in mind that we have used IEC wiring color codes for illustration purposes only. If not applicable, please follow the local area codes or general practiced color codes related to specific regions.
In the tutorials above, we have used the IEC wiring color codes (applicable to EU, UK and other countries) as follows.
What is a Split Load Consumer Unit?
A Split Load Consumer Unit is also known as High Integrity Consumer Unit which contains both RCD’s and RCBO’s. The single pole MCB’s and associated circuits are protected and controlled by the RCD’s side while the RCBO’s are controlled by the main switch side.
The split load consumer unit is a safest panel box as compared to simple main switch, simple RCD type consumer unit or dual RCD’s consumer unit. It is because split load consumer units provide protection against overload, overcurrent & short-circuit and earth leakage.
Split load consumer unit is the combination of RCBO “Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current”, RCD “Residual Current Device” and MCB “Miniature Circuit Breaker”. You may need more about the protection devices in the previous post under the title of “differences between MCB, MCCB, ELCB & RCB, RCD or RCCB/RCBO Circuit Breakers”.
The protection devices in a split load CU do the following functions.
MCB = Overload and overcurrent protection
RCD = Earth Fault Protection (to avoid electric shock)
RCBO = MCB + RCD = Earth Fault + Overload and Overcurrent Protection
Good to know:
RCD (Residual Current Device) and RCBO (Residual Current Device) is the term used in the UK while the same protection device named as GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter), GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter), LCDI (Leakage Current Detection Interrupter) and ALCI (Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter).
In addition, for arc fault protection (mentioned first time in the IET Wiring Regulations 18th edition “BS 7671: 2018”, AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Device) is the term used in the UK while it is known as AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) in the US.
How to Wire a Split Load Consumer Unit?
First of all, disconnect the Fuse between kWH energy meter and the utility pole to cut-off the main power supply. Now, connect the service cable (two wires as Phase and Neutral from the utility pole and energy meter) to the single phase two poles main switch.
Now, connect the output Neutral wire from the main switch (as blue color) to the common Neutral Busbar terminal in the consumer unit. Moreover, connect the output Phase wire from the main switch to the RCBO’s via common busbar segment.
In addition, connect the RCD to the output phase wire of the main switch through jumper wire (as brown color). Additionally, connect the single pole MCB to RCD through a common busbar segment as shown in fig. In short, there should be two phase wires from the same line terminal of MCB. The first one for RCBO’s common busbar and the second one for RCD and common busbar for associated MCB’s.
Keep in mind that RCD should be properly installed i.e. the Neutral wire should be connected through Neutral Terminal (The symbol “N” is printed on the RCD nameplate to identify the Neutral terminal.
There are two additional Neutral busbars in the consumer unit viz for RCBO’s and RCD’s (for simplification and illustration). No worries, you may use a single Neutral busbar for this purpose.
The load points and circuits on the RCD + MCB side can be connected via three wires i.e. Phase from single pole MCB, Neutral from Neutral busbar and Earth wire from the Earthing/Grounding busbar.
The case is a little bit different in the RCBO’s case as follows.
There are two built-in wires namely FE “Functional Earth” as white colored wire and N “Neutral” as blue colored wire. The FE should be connected to the main earth terminal block while the N as neutral should be connected to the main neutral terminal.
For load circuits wiring, there are two terminals on the output side of an RCBO viz Phase and Neutral. Keep in mind that load points and circuits can be connected directly to these two terminals i.e. No need to connect the Neutral wire from the main neutral terminal in the consumer unit. In addition, the earth wire should be connected from the main earth terminal. This way, a single phase load circuit is connected through three wires viz Phase, Neutral and Earth wire. The whole process is shown in the fig below.
Split Load Consumer Unit Wiring – Old UK Wiring Color Codes
The same wiring of split load consumer unit for RCD and RCBO’s is shown in the following fig having the old UK wiring color codes (prior 2004). This may be helpful for the readership outside the UK and EU who still follow the old UK wiring color codes i.e. Black for Neutral, Red for Phase or Hot and Green for earthing.
Wiring 230V Single Phase Circuits in a Split Load Consumer Unit
In a combination of RCD + RCBO distribution board or single phase 230V split load consumer unit, the load circuits should be connected via three wires i.e. Phase, Neutral and Protective Earth. In single phase supply, the voltage between phase and neutral is 230V AC.
The following fig shows how to wire and install single phase 230V load circuits in split load CU. For example, the LED lamp and ceiling fan is controlled and protected by RCD + MCB’s. While the socket outlet and washing machine has been fully protected by RCBO i.e. RCD +MCB in a single unit. To control the ON/OFF operation of the electrical appliances, an SP or DP switches can be used in the sub circuits and final sub circuits.
This way, the protection to the load points is as follows.
LED lamp & ceiling fan are protected by Main Switch => RCD => Single Pole MCB
Ceiling Fan & Socket Outlet Protected by Main Switch => RCBO = (RCD + MCB)
IEC Wiring Color Codes – 1-Φ, 230V – UK & EU
Keep in mind that we have used IEC wiring color codes for illustration purposes only. If not applicable, please follow the local area codes or general practiced color codes related to specific regions.
In the tutorials above, we have used the IEC wiring color codes (applicable to EU, UK and other countries) as follows.
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