Best option for a new consumer unit (with networks)
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pimlico
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Best option for a new consumer unit (with networks)

Post by pimlico » Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:51 pm

Hi all my first post!

I have a home network using Belkin Powerline HD units that you plug into the wall sockets. Currently four around the house on differnt ring circuits, and all places get networked up very easily.

However the only way to get HIGH (e.g. >200Mbit/sec) speed is to have my computers connect via Powerline kit, on the SAME RING CIRCUIT as the ROUTER (which is connected via POWERLINE HD of course).

In practice this is not possible as there are 5 ring ciruits in this house at present dependent on location, and cannot move every device to one ring.

I am having a garage extension in APRIL, and will be replacing the Main Consumer Box - THE QUESTION IS - IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK A SPECIFIC NEW UNIT that would make the Powerline kit work better - ideas?

cheers for all advices!!!!!!!!

ericmark
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Post by ericmark » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:52 pm

I have looked at the Belkin Powerline HD units my self but the problem is the more computers you have the more you need to split the power into more and more ring mains and radials to get around the problem of the leakage current tripping the RCD’s when there is really no fault.
So best with loads of computers is all rings and radials on there own RBCO (That’s a MCB and RCD combined) but that does not work well with the Belkin Powerline HD units.
So it is a trade off between both. But add to that of course you have the problem of if the supply to freezer trips then you can lose a lot of money.
Now there is an automatic resetting RCD but at £350 per unit likely it would be far cheaper to hard wire the LAN and put the Powerline in the bin.
There was in the trade papers a RCD and RCM combined and when leakage hit 50% mark it lit a LED which changed colour at 80% and did not finally trip unto between 90% and 100% which is better than normal can’t remember make but again expensive.
So we return to the phrase trade off.
There is a difference between type A and type AC as far as RCD’s go but again the more specialist the more it costs.
To use a Belkin Powerline HD unit as a temporary fix until just before you next decorate or to a non essential hardly used device is great.
But think you need to reverse the question “What can a replace a Belkin Powerline HD unit with that will work on multi radials”.
I intend to replace my consumer units with a consumer unit able to use all RCBO's instead of the twin RCD's used at the moment.

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