REVIEWED: BG CONSUMER UNIT 2021 updates - what's new?

[@glenwoofit]

I've always been a Wylex installer as I try to stay away from the cheaper consumer units but I do like that BG are listening to us and improving their products to suit.

[@efixx]

Thanks for commenting and watching 👍

[@travoltasbiplane1551]

Same. Although I'm not aware of a recall on the scale of what wylex had!

[@glenwoofit]

@@travoltasbiplane1551 True.

[@farmersteve129]

One improvement would be to have positive retention of the busbar shield via clips or screws - I've often had the shields fall out when removing covers on quite a few different boards. I think that I've previously mentioned that I'd also like to see proper clamping terminals for neutral and earth/CPC rather than screwing directly onto the copper conductors. Nearly every board I've looked at has at least 1 pinched conductor - often on 1 & 1.5mm conductors. MCBs & RCBOs have them, so why not the other terminals? Ditch the bubble because it isn't going to be reliable - any tradie that doesn't use an appropriate size level that can be tested against itself needs to be retrained!

[@tonyyoung8232]

Have fitted lots of these boards without issue. Solid and well finished. The old wylex fusewire boards fitted millions and they are still about today. We have come a long way !

[@efixx]

Great comment

[@callumthomson2154]

Im new to industry and have been recently installing a load of these. Love the built in Gary Neville. Find them great, loads of room, nice screws, easy to make them dressed properly and neat. I often wonder why they supply the B40 in these modern times, a lot of the flats / houses I work on would benefit from a B20 or two or an extra B16 instead. Not experienced many different brand of boards so forgive me if I'm just in a honeymoon period with these.

[@brianwood5220]

Nice work BG.I'll be recommending this to friends and colleges from now on. Thanks for sharing guys.

[@efixx]

Thanks as always Brian 👍

[@iScoTT29]

Biggest improvement I can see is the lid being hinged from the middle instead of the bottom. This will make running trunking under the board possible now without block the lid from opening 👍

[@carlrobson5745]

Liking the spinal tap reference.

[@efixx]

Goes to 11

[@ajmelectricalcontractors]

One thing I've noticed about the BG consumer units is you have to take the busbar out to fit an additional MCB and the lids a little trickier to get on, on the whole though I think its a pretty solid consumer unit

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

Removing the busbar just to replace an MCB, ? why - that seems a bad design.

[@pwoody8587]

I’ve installed a few BG boards, they seemed to be a good quality and well built, but that plastic grommet for the back cable entry comes loose very easily, as soon as cable touches it, it pops loose. What I do now is drill 4 holes 3mm around the edges of the grommet and use some mini tie wraps to hold it in place jurying installation. Makes life easier

[@efixx]

Great tip 👍

[@Ant86744]

Mount it to the back so when pulling/ pushing the cables through the hole it holds better in place then as your pushing the plastic on the base

[@Ant86744]

Not away from the consumer unit

[@rayc1503]

Small dab of super glue works all the time for me.

[@Dog-whisperer7494]

Nice to see there is a lot more room for dressing in the circuit cables 👍 And another great video from team eFix thank you guy’s

[@HAelec1]

Another good thing about these CU’s is there’s a stop on the right hand side to push the main switch up against that some others don’t have which can be a pain if you’re not fully loading the board and you put the lid on there’s a gap and you then have to go back and slide everything along and potentially redress some cabling. Fitted many of the previous version of these before I changed over to there RCBO units and can’t fault them on the price and quality

[@raymondbrooke4334]

7kp

[@raymurphy9749]

Do you still have to allow 6 hrs added on top of a board change to get the lid on?

[@andrewscott6078]

Been there got the t shirt

[@dimitrakisaimegia3852]

Ahahhha gold

[@johnoreilly7052]

Hi Gary thanks for sharing your video with me and I would love to see a lot more of your videos and also I love using BG boards and they are a good space to terminated the conductors into the board

[@altinbasha9511]

All the ways I’ve been using BG, I think it’s a great product.

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

The projections on the sides of the base keep the base away from walls etc, thus allowing the lid to be fitted easily. Other videos have commented about various brands where installers had forgotten about the lid overlapping the base and had to butcher the lid or adjacent wall or cabinet simply to fit the lid.

[@waynio67]

Still no use as I never fit split RCD CU’s any more, RCBO boards for me now

[@Ant86744]

They do rcbo boards with spd, and go up to 55a in the rcbo

[@thattoolguy9432]

I tend to only fit Wylex boards, but that BG boards looks solid and neat enough, only thing i spotted is the 32mm knockout at the bottom wasnt directly below the gap at the side of the main switch, would make it a lot easier fitting tails bottom entry and just look nicer overall.. nothing that cant be sorted with a starrett

[@stuartbrown2567]

Always liked BG because there front dropped down but noticed you now have to lift it up, which I find a bit of a pain when refitting, but glad to see they have now add SP. May be yo could do a video on the one with the MCBOs. Keep the videos coming.

[@rayc1503]

With the lid dropping down over the switchgear. The CU has an improved fire rating. A bit of a pain if you have to hold it up, but hey-ho.

[@conradknightsocksknight1590]

Love that the RCDs are type A you should say why this is better. Tails grip and a gland for the tails would be nice. Pity about the cheap nasty plastic blanks.

[@marcusshipley3935]

A lot of people are down on the BG boards, they're very similar to Hager in design (I believe the same designer) I do regularly fit these and there are only three improvements I'd like to see implemented. They are a welded bracket to clamp the tails into position, metal blanks as standard and fire retardant grommets supplied as standard.

[@Spark101.]

Good video guys. Unfortunately, BG are at the cheaper and nastier end of the market in my opinion. Even with the changes. Everything screams cheap.....and nothing about it looks high end. On a positive note....I started using Lewden recently and I am pleasantly surprised. The quality feels great!

[@efixx]

Thanks for adding your thoughts K C 👍

[@andrewscott6078]

Lewden is great value and nice tall board

[@rayc1503]

Agree, Fusebox by CP electrics are also pretty decent, good value CU's. Hager wins as they're readily available.

[@user-wc1nd9ie6x]

You lads should have a look at the ‘Live” fuse board, put one in the other day for the first time- I like them! Reasonably priced and come with all the mcb’s

[@crumps84]

I'm just here to read the DIY Dave comments...

[@phillee2171]

BG boards are absolute crap. Wylex or CP boards are much better

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

@@phillee2171? In what way(s) ar BG boards unsatisfactory ?

[@darrencoll6782]

where do u buy this new version only see old versions on line

[@alpachino468]

What's the difference between the 'Fortress' and the non-'Fortress' range?

[@triplerjm2353]

Never been a fan of BG Board but since your last video about GB Board and was tempted to try it, which I did use few board but didn’t like, was finding it difficult to close the cover.

[@dimitrakisaimegia3852]

Always problems with the cover. Contactum is the best when it comes to the cover.

[@danf6491]

Is there a meter tails clamp? Will we ever see a wago consumer unit to match that amazing socket outlet you own

[@andytap560]

Id fit bg over mk,have done on budget restriction jobs with no problems but generally stick with contactum or fusebox.

[@efixx]

Thanks for commenting Andy 👍

[@efixx]

Andy an I correct in thinking the fuse box RCBO’s are to be tightened to 1.2 Nm of torque...?

[@andytap560]

@@efixx yes they write the figure on rcbo’s and earth/neutral bars.

[@johnnythefixer]

Have you taken a look at the EnviroBurst fire suppression system yet. I've seen some videos on it, and it looks pretty good for extinguishing any internal fires before they get out of hand.

[@aspudkicker]

Why are BG glands so expensive? A set of BG glands costs nearly as much as the c.u.

[@efixx]

Thanks for commenting

[@Ant86744]

Ask the retailer you are buying from as its there mark ups 60% upwards that sadly make the product more expensive

[@rayc1503]

Wylex glands fit amongst others.

[@Spark101.]

Why not make both RCD’s 100amp?

[@efixx]

We ask that question 👍

[@AndyK.1]

Cost! And it’s really not needed! 80 is plenty

[@Spark101.]

@@AndyK.1 There is no cost difference, and it is needed in many cases

[@AndyK.1]

@@Spark101. They need thicker wire around the ferrite, so material costs are more even if they sell individual units to the public at the same cost.

[@Spark101.]

@@AndyK.1 but if they sell them at the same cost, they must be able to afford to make them all 100amp at that cost

[@desmondyoung5963]

The boards are first class quality. I would like to have an option of knockouts to take electrical trunking into the board. example 50MM x 50MM

[@dg2908]

Nothing wrong with keeping spare MCBs on the van; why would you leave breakers in the board that aren't required in the installation? Preloaded boards will always encourage compromise- installers need to plan their work before doing it. The last BG boards (metal with hinge at bottom) needed the board lid shut to get it on then open to do up the screws so it wasn't ideal. Never fitted a BG board- I'm happy with other makes that have been selling me DP Type A RCBOs and SPDs without dedicated breakers for 18 months. I've never seen a BG board with its bubble level. Is it the product or the installer that's poor?

[@lewis94uk]

BG quality has always been okay the problem with them is that BG seems to be the kitchen fitter board of choice.

[@user-wk7wv8rn8h]

As soon as I see one I prepare for the worst; like you say its the screwfix special but the quality isn't inherently bad just the installation most the time

[@phillee2171]

Worst board of the lot.

[@MS-Patriot2]

@@phillee2171 do elaborate please..

[@phillee2171]

@@MS-Patriot2 board is filmsy, has to mounted tons perfect surface. MCBs don't sit square when torqued to specs, which you struggle to fit the lid on. No A type RCDs easily available on the split load boards. The quality of the manufactured crimped neutral connections is poor. As a brand I generally avoid.

[@MS-Patriot2]

@@phillee2171 Thanks Phil, I was about to use a metal 5 way with type A in a garage, looked ok to me for that job. Probably not for indoor. As you imply, plenty of choice nowadays. What is your preference?

[@Chris_In_Texas]

Being in the US, what is the average cost difference between a dual RCD vs just springing for the fully RCBO based consumer unit? I am surprised that the demand is still high for dual RCD instead of just moving to RCBO based CU. I must say with our load centers with neutral bus bars now for the breakers installing our AFCI/GFCI breakers are so much cleaner without all the extra tails in there. Personally we have 240V 400A (dual 200A panels) service feed with 80 breaker spaces, and in ours 72 breakers are being used. Its funny to see houses with 60/80 or 100A feeds and have the amount of high draw devices like electric showers, boilers, ovens, stoves and even EV chargers etc. It would seem the UK will soon burst into flames in 2030! 😁😁🍻 With all the extra loads of EV's going in and the state of some of the service entrance cables I have seen on some videos, I assume the power companies have to gear up for all these changes as well?

[@AndyK.1]

Rcbos are at least £15 each. Mcbs almost free.

[@jblaze260]

hate bg boards with a passion always there for 3 hours trying to get the cover back on lol, i always go hager

[@AndyK.1]

Only thing it’s missing is tail clamps which is the latest rage

[@markhedley8587]

Certainly not board of choice, I can see some improvements but still wouldn't choose this over a Hager even if it is cheaper. Most common fault I've come across on the BG boards have been failed RCD's,

[@acelectricalsecurity]

BG get a bad rap only because of Screwfix. They have been around years and I think their stuff is ok, yes the din rail would drop down, but that was the same with mk and others. I have never been a fan of twin RCD boards, but it looks ok on the face of it.

[@barrett407]

Someone listening to feedback

[@efixx]

👍

[@scott1506]

hope they not kept the old cover design. was shocking quality . even to get it to fit and screw on was a task.

[@michaelwhite28]

Who still installs dual RCD boards in 2021?

[@efixx]

See Instagram

[@travoltasbiplane1551]

I'd be more concerned about who'd install BG full stop... It's down there with chunt. Nasty DIY kit.

[@markyd2633]

Maybe they will listen to feedback about their accessories, switches and sockets total crap

[@andytap560]

@@markyd2633 so re MK now,utter shit

[@AndyK.1]

Sadly lots. Including brand new houses

[@utherpen69]

First again! This getting to be a habit :-)

[@ColinRichardson]

But why not make 10 louder?

[@liamjordan5935]

What's the point if you do tell us the price . U just made me watch this and no price , Toilet paper no toilet paper yeh I no They had to make those adjustments cus u couldn't get lid on and s-level rubbish, also how many have u two fitted ?? None in the last 5yrs fact Keep up the good work

[@TeamSimpsonRacing]

Plastic blanks supplied for a metal clad board 😏

[@efixx]

What are the MCBs made of?

[@TeamSimpsonRacing]

@@efixx plastic but not super wafer thin like the blanks.

[@markyd2633]

Now to sort out their switches and sockets.......rubbish

[@splodders]

They were an ok board, but split load CUs are a thing of the past. We shouldn’t be fitting them now.

[@Xoreaf]

Why are you guys still promoting split load boards? People need to stop putting this archaic rubbish in.

[@amatchmadeindevon2005]

No decent sparky should be fitting these anymore, with the price of fusebox RCBOs, look at the size of the bloody thing, needs its own council tax band

[@efixx]

See Instagram - you don’t see many full RCBo Hager boards!

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

Thanks for the size comment, made me laugh out loud!

[@curtismal1726]

Why is anyone still fitting split load?!?! Hate BG with a passion after fitting better brands

[@efixx]

Most new builds still use split load boards.

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

What has made you hate BG. ? were they plastic or metal cases ? other problems.

[@garethmcguire632]

I hate BG boards. They are just 💩

[@madhatter61]

I wish you'd stop all this dressing of cables nonsense. Cables get routed not dressed.

[@oldbutstillcurious3615]

Either way, there's not much through traffic through a distribution board.