Crabtree have published a concise Starbreaker Consumer Unit catalogue that provides designers installers and employers with 10 (or more) good reasons to Specify Starbreaker Consumer units. From speed of installation through to personal safety during installation this document gives valuable insight into the necessary standards that all consumer units should meet but only Starbreaker offers all of these.

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Since its formation in 1919, Crabtree has been acknowledged as one of Britain’s leading manufacturers of circuit protection equipment. Its reputation for pioneering concepts and turning them into reality is second to none.

The Starbreaker range of consumer units brings sought after user benefits to the electrical installation market, having been conceived to make installation even safer, simpler and speedier, saving valuable site time, while additionally helping the designer and installer meet the requirements of 17th edition regulations.

Perhaps the best way to see how Starbreaker delivers on its promise is to break down its user and specifier benefits.

Starbreaker consumer units use a fully insulated busbar with permanent factory fitted insulation (unlike other consumer units that have removeable sleeving or detachable covers) on the busbar the permanent Starbreaker busbar insulation brings guaranteed levels of personal protection and reduces the risk to the installer when live working is unavoidable e.g. during testing.

For the Specifier, for the employer and for the installer this is an important Health and Safety consideration.

This bus-bar system contains the socket apertures for the Starbreaker plug in devices (MCBs and RCBO’s) this design provides instant guaranteed factory quality connections as standard. There are no screws to tighten on the incoming side of the devices and this not only guarantees the connection it also reduces the risk of installer error.

Starbreaker quick fit plug in devices help to reduce the overall install time too. Instantly completed plug in connections are easier and faster. Time is money, and anything that saves installation time is of value to the installer. Easier faster installation will help to control costs which in turn helps with quotes, the overall cost of installation and profit margins.

In a recent time trial, which can be viewed below, Starbreaker units were quicker to install than typical competitor products.

 

Upgrades, additions and repairs can be carried out easier (unlike competing products where the busbar has to be removed from a complete row of devices to allow an extra device to be added or replaced) Starbreaker’s innovative design allows installers to add upgrade or replace a circuit without disturbing any of the other devices in the consumer unit, this means adding in a circuit or carrying out repairs is quicker and safer. For those specifiers who consider lifetime costs this can be a very important feature.

The Starbreaker busbar is positioned beneath the DIN rail, this position allows DIN rail devices such as bell transformers, timers, contactors etc to be positioned adjacent to the MCBs and in any position that is required. The busbar remains unchanged, fully in tact and insulated (unlike competing products where the installer has to cut off exposed live parts to install a small Din device) Starbreaker caters for this type of installat6ion circumstance without compromise.

The plug in system also provides the devices with Fixed Positive Location ensuring that the devices don’t move along the DIN rail once they are plugged into position. The DIN rail clip gives added fixing security that keeps the devices locked in position. It may seem a minor point but when MCBs drift along the DIN rail it makes it harder to fit the lid and slows the completion times.

Starbreaker’s raised busbar position allows bottom entry cables to be routed under the DIN rail to the upper section and the terminal spaces which is ideal when installing bottom entry cabling. In addition Starbreaker enclosures have hidden open cable access points on the rear for invisible flush cable entry, and remove-able cable access points on 5 sides for surface wiring, these cut-outs are designed to match surface mounting mini trunking requirements.

The Starbreaker range includes insulated or metal enclosures (one or two row metal enclosures) and skeleton units for use in existing enclosures e.g. Mantel or Bristol cabinets.

The range of consumer units includes all of the models necessary to meet the requirements of the 17th Edition such as Main Switch, Split Load, Hi Integrity, Dual RCD

The range of Starbreaker devices includes B & C Curve MCBs and 30mA RCBOs with ratings from 6A to 50A all 100% tested and all incorporating Siemens technology.

Starbreaker is available as either fully assembled ready to install consumer units, or can be supplied in component format for bespoke assembly on site. This approach gives the widest choice of how to apply the flexible benefits that only Starbreaker can offer. In the fully assembled versions in the new catalogue incoming devices and RCDs are already fitted wired and connected when the board is delivered. Plug in mains devices utilise much less interconnecting wiring and allow more wiring space for the installer.

So, in summary, • Fully insulated busbar • Permanent non-remove-able busbar insulation • No need to cut busbar • No exposed busbar prongs • Less exposure to live parts (e.g. when testing etc) • Consistent levels of safety assured in all models • Plug in instant connection • Factory quality connections • 25% fewer manual connections • Easy to plug in an extra circuit – without disconnecting the rest of the devices • DIN control devices in any location • Plug & Din clip give positive device location • Raised busbar for easy routing of cables • Large Earth & Neutral terminal capacity • Large capacity terminals on Main Switch & RCD’s • Insulated, metal or skeleton units • All 17th Edition variants available • Factory assembled (ready to install)  or self assembly

The latest range of Starbreaker circuit protection systems couples high levels of safety and ease of installation with proven Crabtree quality and design with for a winning combination.

Specify Starbreaker we think that you will find it is Easier, Faster & Safer.  As we said at the beginning 10 (or more) good reasons to Specify Starbreaker Consumer units.