Building electrical cabinets - Construction?

[rahkko]

I have bought an old apartment where the electrical panel is very visible right at the entrance. I would need some tips on how to make it look nicer to cover it but still keep it functionally okay...

Here is a picture of what it looks like:

 

[Johan Gunverth]

First and foremost, you must have 60 cm free in front of the fuses. Don't know how it is with circuit breakers.

 

[Fredrik.engdahl]

Johan > why do you need to have 60 cm free in front??

 

[bonnier]

Our electrical panel is admittedly smaller than yours, but I can take a photo of our "cabinet" if you want... I'll attach a photo later...

there are not even 60 centimeters in front of it at least, but a hatch that opens and the cabinet itself "hangs" on the panel and can just be lifted off

 

[ByggPutte]

Usually take an appropriate kitchen cabinet and modify it to fit. Otherwise, if it is very special, MDF works fine.

Best regards, Putte

 

[rahkko]

Bonnier, it would be fun to see your cabinet, please attach a picture.

The old man who owned the apartment before me only had a chipboard sticking out from the wall and then a curtain hanging in front of the electrical cabinet. Not particularly glamorous

I am a sheet metal worker myself, so a box isn't really that hard to put together, but I think it would look nicer with a box in MDF or something like that instead.

 

[Johan Gunverth]

Johan > why must there be 60 cm free in front??

Against possible sparks from fuses. I was in the exact same situation as rahkko two years ago when I was renovating my own BRF. The meter board was resolved by the association moving all of them down to the basement. My panel, which was then installed, I thought to build into a niche, but according to the electrician, it wasn't possible. There must be at least 60 cm in front.
Therefore, I replaced the entire panel with a stylish Eldon with circuit breakers, RCD, and an enameled exterior.

 

[Johan Gunverth]

It may indeed depend on whether you use flammable material or not. A metal cabinet should not be a problem to place close by.

 

[Lekkamraten]

I have purchased an old apartment where the electrical panel is very visible right at the entrance. I would need some tips on how to make it look the best to cover it but still make it functionally okay...

Here is a picture of what it looks like:

My advice is to buy a new electrical cabinet with a residual-current device and circuit breakers. Biltema of all places has pre-wired cabinets which in my opinion are the nicest and also have good circuit breakers. Then you call the electrician and ask him to connect it, which he should be able to do in 1 hour.

Then I would make sure to get rid of that visible wiring, it doesn't look good even though it is very common in older apartments. A bit more work to solve this though.

 

[bonnier]

Here is not a very good picture...

 

[rahkko]

My advice is to buy a new electrical cabinet with a residual-current device and circuit breakers. Biltema, of all places, has pre-wired cabinets that I think are the nicest and also have good circuit breakers. Then you call an electrician and ask him to connect it, which he should be able to do in 1 hour.

Then I would make sure to remove that visible wiring, it doesn't look good even if it's very common in older apartments. A bit more work to solve this though.

What could the total cost be approximately? Around 3000kr?
I've actually considered replacing the central, but what does the BRF say about that, are they usually okay with it?

 

[Lekkamraten]

What could the total price be? Around 3000 SEK? I have actually considered replacing the central unit, but what does the BRF say about it, are they usually okay with it?

I have another discussion with an electrician in another thread about Biltema's electrical panel. I can only say that it has worked perfectly for me.

Biltema Sverige

Normally, the association is responsible for connections that serve more than one apartment, and the condominium owner for the rest.

It usually states something like:

"The condominium owner is thus responsible for the maintenance and repairs of among other things:
· connections for drainage, heating, gas, electricity and water – to the extent that these are located inside the apartment and do not serve more than one apartment

To be sure, ask someone on the board or read what is stipulated in your association. Most likely, it is your responsibility, as in most other associations.

However, the condominium association is responsible for the main line into your apartment as it is not located inside the condominium, but it does not need to be replaced when you change the main electrical panel/electrical cabinet.

 

[klaskarlsson]

It might depend on whether you use combustible material or not. A metal cabinet shouldn't be a problem to place closely.

In some apartments, I've even seen the cabinet built-in with a metal door as original, so I don't think you need to have 60 cm between the fuses and any door.

However, I can imagine you need to have 60 cm of free access to change fuses, repair work etc. !?

/K

 

[Ingenjören]

Unaware of this thread, I asked almost the same question in the electrical forum and got the answers that there are no rules about this for standard panels in homes.
However, one should be able to work in the panel without requiring too much demolition work....

http://www.byggahus.se/forum/el/61133-bygga-elcentral.html#post413244

/Ingenjören

 

[Fredrik.engdahl]

just had a kitchen I've been working on where the electrical cabinet was built into a cabinet and the electrician didn't mention that it needs to be 60 cm from combustible materials

you learn something new every day