8-Way Metal Distribution Board

Name: 8-Way Metal Distribution Board
SKU: ELE-0079

Product type	Metal distribution board
Ways	8
Material	Metal

Choosing and specifying this item

Size it before you fix the count

Start from the circuit schedule and work out what each device actually costs you in module positions. A single-pole MCB takes one way; a double-pole RCBO, a surge protection device or a time switch usually takes more than one. On a board of eight ways the spare capacity disappears quickly, so agree the spare allowance the specification demands before the size is locked. Adding a circuit to a full board means a new enclosure, not a new breaker.

Single phase or three phase and neutral

Eight ways spread over three phases leaves very few outgoing circuits per phase and makes load balancing awkward. Where this is a small sub-board taken off a TP&N riser, test the split on paper first; often the honest answer is to step up a size rather than fight the imbalance later.

Settle these before requesting a quotation

Rated voltage and system arrangement, the ingress protection needed for the room the board will occupy, and the mounting method - surface or flush, and if flush, the wall build-up and recess depth available. Ask as well whether the quoted way count includes the incoming isolator position, and whether the board is offered bare or with protective devices fitted, since those are very different scopes.

See what else is available in Metal Distribution Boards & Electrical Enclosures, Electrical. See also: Earthing and Bonding: The Part Nobody Sees.

Frequently asked questions

Does the eight-way count include a position for the incoming main switch?

Manufacturers count ways differently. Some quote the usable module positions beside the incomer, others include the incoming device position inside the total. Confirm this in writing against your circuit schedule before ordering, together with the module pitch. A board that arrives one position short of the schedule is almost always a way-counting difference rather than a manufacturing fault.

Can I fit RCBOs in all eight ways?

Only if the module width suits. Some RCBOs occupy a single module position and others occupy two, so a full set of double-width devices can roughly halve the usable circuits. Confirm the module pitch, the busbar or pan assembly arrangement, and the neutral bar terminal count for the devices you intend to use, and check the manufacturer permits those devices in this enclosure.

Can this board go outdoors or in a wash-down area?

The catalogue does not hold an ingress rating for this item, so it has to be confirmed for the project. Remember that an external position in the Gulf brings more than rain: fine airborne dust, ultraviolet exposure on any non-metallic parts, and direct solar gain that pushes the internal temperature well above the shade ambient. Outdoor positions usually need a suitable rating and shading together.

What should I send with the enquiry?

The circuit schedule with the number of outgoing ways and the spare allowance, whether the supply is single phase or three phase and neutral, the mounting arrangement, the ingress protection the location requires, and whether you want the enclosure only or a populated board. Listing the protective devices you intend to install helps confirm they fit the module positions available.