Search
Consumer Units Distribution Boards | 4-24 Way IP40 IP65 | Residential Commercial
KRIPAL Consumer Unit Series
KRIPAL manufactures consumer units and distribution boards for low-voltage power distribution in residential, commercial, and light industrial installations. Available in IP40 indoor and IP65 weatherproof enclosures from 4 to 24 ways, these units accommodate KRIPAL’s full range of modular DIN-rail devices including MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers), RCCBs (Residual Current Circuit Breakers), RCBOs (Residual Current Breakers with Overcurrent Protection), SPDs (Surge Protective Devices), and main isolators.Enclosures are fabricated from 1.2mm powder-coated galvanized steel (IP40) or UV-resistant PC/ABS housing (IP65), featuring a hinged, removable front cover for full wiring access. The series includes a 100A rated copper busbar system (up to 12 devices per row), separate earth and neutral terminal bars (up to 16 sq mm), and a removable chassis enabling electricians to mount the empty enclosure, pull cables, and fit the populated chassis on site.Certified to IEC 61439-3 (the international standard for distribution boards operated by ordinary persons), KRIPAL consumer units are supplied to electrical wholesalers and housing developers as ready-to-install assemblies or empty enclosures.
Get A Quote
UKE5W Aluminum Enclosure & Consumer Unit – IP66 Rated Combination Box
UKE5W Aluminum Enclosure Combination box, a versatile all-metal enclosure, crafted from durable aluminum for superior protection.
Ask a QuoteConsumer Unit Selection Guide for Safe Circuit Distribution
A consumer unit (also called a consumer control unit or distribution board) is the metal or plastic enclosure housing protective devices (MCBs, RCCBs, RCBOs) for an electrical installation. It receives incoming supply from the meter and distributes it to final circuits through individual devices mounted on a DIN-rail and connected to a common busbar. The enclosure provides mechanical protection, containment of internal arcing during faults, and proper segregation between supply-side meter tails and load-side final circuit wiring. This selection guide covers way count, enclosure material, IP rating, and busbar configuration to match your installation requirements.
Consumer Unit Series Technical Specifications
Way Count and Circuit Allocation
The number of ways (modules) required depends on the installation’s circuit count. A typical 3-bedroom house needs 10-14 ways: 2 for lighting circuits, 2 for socket ring mains, 1 for cooker, 1 for immersion heater, 1 for smoke alarms, 1 for EV charger, and 2-4 spare ways for future circuits. With standard RCBOs occupying 1 module each (featuring integrated switching of the live and neutral poles), a 14-way board can accommodate 14 RCBO-protected circuits plus a main switch. For installations with a split-load configuration (one RCCB protecting multiple MCBs), fewer modules are needed but discrimination is reduced. Always specify at least 20 percent spare ways for future circuit additions.
Busbar System and Device Compatibility
The busbar is a solid copper bar with tin plating, rated at 100A continuous, with pre-punched pin positions at 18mm (1-module) intervals. The busbar is supplied in single-phase or multi-phase configurations, with each row feeding up to 12 single-module devices. KRIPAL MCBs, RCCBs and RCBOs are designed with a busbar-compatible bottom terminal that accepts the busbar pin directly, eliminating the need for a separate busbar connector or adapter. The busbar is supplied with insulating end caps and a continuous insulating cover that provides IP2X finger protection along the entire length, exposing only the pin positions where devices are installed. Blanking pieces are supplied to cover unused busbar positions.
Enclosure Material and Fire Containment
The IP40 enclosure is fabricated from 1.2mm galvanized steel with a powder-coated finish, tested to contain an internal arc of 3kA for 0.1 seconds without ejecting molten particles or flames through the enclosure seams or the door gap. This arc containment is required by BS EN 61439-3 for consumer units in domestic premises, following concerns about plastic consumer units contributing to house fires. The steel enclosure also provides a Faraday cage effect that reduces electromagnetic interference from the switching arcs of protective devices, potentially reducing nuisance tripping of RCCBs in adjacent enclosures. The IP65 weatherproof variant uses a UV-resistant PC/ABS housing with a hinged, non-transparent door (ensuring robust UV stability and mechanical protection).
Cable Entry and Wiring Space
The enclosure provides cable entry knockouts on the top, bottom and rear faces, with sizes to accommodate meter tails through dedicated large knockouts and final circuit cables through multiple 20mm and 25mm knockouts. The wiring space behind the DIN-rail provides a minimum 50mm depth for cable routing, sufficient for looping the final circuit cables and dressing them to the device terminals without excessive bending radius. The enclosure includes a cable clamp bar near the top entry to secure the meter tails against mechanical stress from movement of the supply cable. Rubber grommets are supplied to protect cable insulation where cables pass through knockout holes, and the enclosure includes a label schedule inside the door for the electrician to record the circuit descriptions against each device position.
Specify Consumer Units for Your Project
- Board Configuration: Provide your circuit schedule and we design the layout with the correct way count, busbar type, and device placement.
- Pre-Populated Option: Order boards complete with KRIPAL protective devices factory-installed, wired, and tested, ready for site connection.
- OEM Wholesale Supply: Source enclosures and devices in bulk for your electrical wholesale business.
Consumer Units for Homes, Commercial Buildings and Outdoor Installations
KRIPAL consumer units and distribution boards are the central distribution point for electrical power in buildings of all types, from a 10-way domestic consumer unit in a new-build house to a 24-way distribution board in a small commercial unit. The enclosure protects the protective devices from mechanical damage and environmental ingress, provides segregation between supply and load wiring, and contains any internal arcing during a fault.
Residential Applications: New-Builds & Retrofits
New-build specifications for 3-bedroom homes typically utilize a 14-way IP40 steel consumer unit equipped with a 100A main isolator and 10 RCBOs covering vital circuits like lighting, sockets, cookers, heat pumps, EV chargers, and smoke alarms. Similarly, contractors performing retrofit upgrades in existing properties replace outdated rewireable fuses with 14-way enclosures populated with RCBOs to satisfy BS 7671 Amendment 2 standards. Delivered pre-populated and tested directly by KRIPAL, these units significantly reduce on-site installation labor by up to 4 hours per house, ensure consistent labeling to simplify inspections, and feature split busbar designs that allow phased circuit energization during testing.
Commercial & Small Industrial Distribution Boards
Small shops, cafes, and offices rely on robust 20-way IP40 steel distribution boards featuring a 125A 4P main isolator, a 300mA Type S RCCB for sub-main earth leakage protection, and a combination of MCBs and 30mA RCBOs for final circuits. Integrated with a UKD1 Type 2 SPD on the incoming side of the main isolator, these boards protect entire installations against transient power-line surges. Surface-mounted in utility rooms or back offices with lockable front covers to prevent unauthorized access, they combine reliable overload protection with organized circuit scheduling recorded inside the door.
Outdoor & Weatherproof Installations
Demanding outdoor settings—such as caravan parks, marinas, construction sites, and agricultural buildings—require IP65 weatherproof enclosures constructed from a UV-resistant PC/ABS housing coupled with a non-transparent door for robust mechanical and ultraviolet protection. Closed-cell neoprene door gaskets maintain exceptional sealing performance across extreme temperatures ranging from minus 25 to plus 60 degrees Celsius. Cable entry is managed through bottom-face IP68 cable glands to preserve the overall ingress protection rating, while wall or post mountings keep the unit safely accessible for routine operation while avoiding vehicle or livestock impacts.
Garage & Workshop Sub-Distribution Systems
Detached garages and home workshops powered via a 40A sub-main feed from the main house utilize an 8-way IP40 enclosure fitted with a 40A main isolator and dedicated MCBs tailored for specialized equipment, including 6A lighting, 16A socket outlets, 32A D-curve welders, and 20A C-curve air compressors. Selective coordination between the house protective device and the garage board is achieved naturally through cable impedance, which limits fault currents at the garage end below the main instantaneous trip threshold. Clearly labeled for homeowner reference, these sub-distribution boards deliver safe, localized power control.
Configure Your Consumer Unit
- Board Design Service: Our engineers design the board layout from your circuit schedule, providing a 3D CAD drawing showing device positions and cable routing.
- Pre-Populated Boards: Order enclosures complete with all protective devices factory-installed and tested, shipped with an individual FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) certificate.
- Housebuilder Programs: Dedicated production scheduling and JIT (Just-In-Time) delivery for housing developments with standardized consumer unit specifications.
KRIPAL Consumer Unit Manufacturing: Quality Enclosures
KRIPAL consumer units and distribution boards are manufactured in a panel-building workshop where the DIN-rail chassis is assembled, the busbar system is fabricated from tinned copper, and the enclosure is fitted with a hinged door and blanking plates. Each consumer unit undergoes a dielectric test and visual inspection for global residential and commercial electrical installation markets.
Enclosure Fabrication and IP Rating Verification
Sheet steel enclosures are CNC-punched, formed, and powder-coated with epoxy-polyester finish. IP40 rating is verified on sample enclosures using an IP test dust chamber. The hinged door, latch mechanism, and blanking plates are assembled and checked for smooth operation and positive closure on every unit.
Tinned Copper Busbar and Neutral/Earth Bar Fabrication
The main busbar comb is fabricated from high-conductivity copper with tinned finish, punched to align with MCB terminal positions. Neutral and earth terminal bars are fabricated with tunnel-type terminals accepting up to 16 sq mm cable. Busbar short-circuit withstand is verified at the rated conditional short-circuit current (typically 10kA or 16kA).
Pre-Configured Circuit Arrangements
Consumer units are assembled in standard configurations (4-way, 6-way, 8-way, 12-way, etc.) with or without pre-installed main switch and MCBs. Split-load configurations with separate RCD-protected ways are available. Each configuration is tested for busbar alignment and DIN-rail engagement before packaging.
Final Dielectric Test and Visual Inspection
Each completed consumer unit undergoes a dielectric withstand test at 2500V AC between live busbars and the metallic enclosure, and between separate busbar sections. A visual inspection checklist covering door alignment, labeling, terminal torque, and earth continuity is completed for every unit before packaging.
Distributor Stock Holding Programs for Consumer Units
KRIPAL supports distributor inventory programs with agreed stock levels for standard consumer unit configurations. Empty enclosures and pre-populated units are available, with shipments planned based on demand data and scheduled replenishment.
Private Label and OEM Branding for Consumer Units
Custom front cover branding, door labels, circuit identification schedules, and OEM packaging are available. KRIPAL supports the supply of consumer units configured to local market standards with appropriate terminal arrangements and labeling.
Multi-Region Certification and Compliance Support
CE, UKCA, and IEC 61439-3 compliance documentation is provided according to target export markets. Technical documentation files are maintained and updated in line with evolving wiring regulation requirements including BS 7671 and local equivalents.
Direct Technical Access to KRIPAL Production Engineers
Your technical team communicates with the engineers who designed and assembled your consumer units, not a distributor’s sales engineer reading from a catalog. Application questions including wiring regulation compliance receive answers within 24 hours during China business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore FAQ >Direct from Manufacturer
How Can We Assist You?
Tell us a bit more so we can route your request to the right engineer. Get factory-direct pricing and custom specifications within 24 hours.
