Hi,
I have a early 90's house, the busbars are on top of the MCB's hence I would call this a top feed installation. In modern installations, I see the busbars on the bottom. Is this a specific requirement or can the MCB's and RCBO's etc be feed either top or bottom to the installers choice?
Top or bottom feed
Re: Top or bottom feed
There used to be a requirement to have either all-top or all-bottom (a long time ago);
but it wasn't really practicable then and certainly isn't now.
Nor is it based on any particular safety outcome; just what could be called "good practice".
Most domestic (and similar ) switchboards will top-feed the main switch / RCCBs, then bottom-feed mcbs so as to make best use of busbars.
Which is quicker, easier, and gives more reliable connections than making up wire loops.
Most commonly-available devices can be safely fed either way.
However always have to look, because some devices, particularly some RCDs, have to be fed only one way.
In which case it will be clearly marked; same as those that are A / N sensitive are clearly marked which terminal is N
but it wasn't really practicable then and certainly isn't now.
Nor is it based on any particular safety outcome; just what could be called "good practice".
Most domestic (and similar ) switchboards will top-feed the main switch / RCCBs, then bottom-feed mcbs so as to make best use of busbars.
Which is quicker, easier, and gives more reliable connections than making up wire loops.
Most commonly-available devices can be safely fed either way.
However always have to look, because some devices, particularly some RCDs, have to be fed only one way.
In which case it will be clearly marked; same as those that are A / N sensitive are clearly marked which terminal is N
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