RCBO, PME & Surge Protection Consumer Units Compared | WCED Range
The WCED Range: Complete Comparison & Buying Guide
WCED is a manufacturer of protection devices, consumer units, and distribution boards, stocked by EcoHarmony and built to UK standards for next-day dispatch. This guide compares every product family side by side, so you can see exactly what's fitted, what options are available, and which standard applies before you buy.
RCBO + SPD Fitted Consumer Units
These are pre-wired consumer units combining an RCBO (or MCB) with surge protection in a single enclosure — the standard starting point for any new circuit or sub-board requiring BS 7671 Amendment 2 surge protection without sourcing and wiring the components separately. Available in IP40 metal (indoor) or IP65 plastic (outdoor/exposed) depending on the install location, and in single or 3-phase versions.
| Product | Fitted with | IP / Material | Rating | Phase | Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCBO + Surge Protection Fitted Consumer Unit — 3 Phase |
RCBOSPD Also available as MCB + SPD |
IP40, Metal | 32A or 40A | 3-phase | RCBO: BS EN 61009 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 Enclosure: BS EN 61439-3 |
| RCBO + Surge Protection Fitted Consumer Unit | RCBOSPD | IP40, Metal | 32A or 40A | 1-phase | RCBO: BS EN 61009 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 Enclosure: BS EN 61439-3 |
| IP65 Consumer Unit with RCBO + Type 2 Surge Protection | RCBOSPD (Type 2) | IP65, Plastic | 32A or 40A | 1-phase | RCBO: BS EN 61009 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 Enclosure: BS EN 61439-3 |
| IP65 Weatherproof 3-Phase Consumer Unit — RCBO + Surge Protection | RCBO/MCBSPD | IP65, Plastic | 32A or 40A | 3-phase | RCBO: BS EN 61009 MCB: BS EN 60898-1 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 Enclosure: BS EN 61439-3 |
RCBO + SPD + PME (PEN Fault Protection) Units
Where an EV charger is installed on a PME (TN-C-S) supply, BS 7671 Section 722.411.4.1 requires either an earth rod, continuous voltage monitoring, or an Open-PEN/PEN fault detection device. These units combine PEN fault detection with an RCBO and (on most models) surge protection in one enclosure — avoiding groundworks and giving a single compliant point of installation for the charger circuit.
| Product | Fitted with | IP / Material | Rating | Phase | Chargers | Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Phase PME PEN Fault Protection — 40A RCBO + Surge |
PMERCBOSPD Options: 40A MCB+SPD / 63A RCD+SPD / 100A MCB+SPD |
IP40, Metal | 40A | 3-phase | 1 | PME reg: BS 7671 722.411.4.1 RCBO: BS EN 61009 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 |
| Fitted Consumer Unit IP40 — PME + 40A RCBO |
PMERCBO Optional: Surge, kWh meter, Load balancing |
IP40, Metal | 40A | 1-phase | 1 | PME reg: BS 7671 722.411.4.1 RCBO: BS EN 61009 |
| PEN Fault Detection + Surge Protection Device |
PMERCBOSPD Optional: kWh meter, Load balancing |
IP65, Plastic | 40A | 1-phase | 1 | PME reg: BS 7671 722.411.4.1 RCBO: BS EN 61009 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 |
| 3-Phase PEN Fault Protection Unit — Tesla Compatible | PME | IP40, Metal | 40A | 3-phase | Up to 6 single-phase | PME reg: BS 7671 722.411.4.1 |
3-Phase Distribution
For commercial installs, multi-charger sites, or workshops needing a dedicated 3-phase distribution point. The TPN board provides the main switch and surge protection; MCBs and RCBOs are added separately to populate the board's ways to your circuit requirements.
| Product | What it is | Standards |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Phase TPN Distribution Board — 125A Main Switch & Type 2 SPD | The board itself: 4-pole 125A main switch, factory-fitted Type 2 SPD, ways for MCBs/RCBOs | Enclosure: BS EN 61439-3 Isolator/main switch: BS EN IEC 60947-3 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 |
| 10kA MCBs for TPD Distribution Boards | Individual MCBs to populate the board's ways | BS EN 60898-1 |
| 1-Pole 10kA RCBOs for TPD Distribution Boards | Individual RCBOs to populate the board's ways, where per-circuit RCD protection is needed | BS EN 61009 |
Solar & Heat Pump Specific Boxes
Heat pumps and solar PV installations have protection requirements that differ from a standard consumer unit. Heat pump inverters commonly generate high-frequency leakage current that trips a standard Type A RCD nuisance-tripping — a Type B RCD is the correct fix. Solar PV combiner boxes need DC-rated isolation and DC-rated surge protection, which is a different product family to standard AC surge protection.
| Product | What it's for | Fitted with | Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Pump Protection Consumer Unit 20kHz Type B | Heat pump circuits with high-frequency inverter leakage | Type B RCD | BS EN 62423 (Type B, in addition to base BS EN 61008) |
| Heat Pump Protection Consumer Unit — Type B RCD + Surge + 2-Pole MCB | Heat pump circuits, with added surge protection | Type B RCDSPDMCB (2-pole) | Type B: BS EN 62423 SPD: BS EN 61643-11 MCB: BS EN 60898-1 |
| WCED Solar PV Combiner Boxes — 1000V DC | Solar PV DC-side isolation and surge protection, dual string | DC isolator + DC SPD | DC isolator: BS EN IEC 60947-3 DC SPD: BS EN 61643-31 |
Standalone Enclosures
For jobs where you're specifying your own combination of devices rather than buying a pre-fitted unit, our IP40 metal enclosure range covers everything from a bare empty case to a factory-wired surge-protected board — nine sizes, five configurations.
| Configuration | What's included | Sizes available |
|---|---|---|
| Empty (WME series) | Steel case, DIN rail, neutral/earth bar, blanks — configure from scratch | 4–36 module |
| Main switch (WME/MS100) | 100A double-pole main switch pre-fitted | 4–36 module (2–20 usable ways) |
| SPD-fitted (WME/SP) | 100A main switch + factory-wired Type 2 40kA SPD | 6–36 module |
| Twin RCD (WME TR) | 100A main switch + 2× Type A RCD (63A/80A/100A) — SPD versions available | 14–22 module |
| Twin tariff (WME/MS2) | Two independent main switches for dual-rate/Economy 7 metering | 12 or 14 module |
Standalone DIN Rail Modules
Individual protection devices for populating an empty enclosure or replacing a single faulty device — sold separately from any board.
| Product | Type | Sensitivity | Modules / Poles | Rating | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WCED 4-Pole Type A RCBO | RCBO | 30mA | 4 | 32A or 40A | BS EN 61009 |
| WCED 2-Pole Type A RCBO | RCBO | 30mA | 2 | 32A | BS EN 61009 |
| WCED 63A 4-Pole Modular Contactor | Contactor | — | 4 | 63A | BS EN IEC 60947-4-1 |
| DC Surge Protection standalone modules | SPD (DC) | — | 2 or 4 | 600V or 1000V | BS EN 61643-31 |
| WCED 100A 4-Pole Modular Contactor | Contactor | — | 4 | 100A | BS EN IEC 60947-4-1 |
| WCED 63A Time Delay Type A RCD | RCD, Time Delay | 100mA | 2 | 63A | BS EN 61008 |
| WCED Surge Protection standalone modules | SPD (AC) | — | 2, 3 or 5 | — | BS EN 61643-11 |
| WCED Type B RCD | Type B RCD | 30mA | 2 or 4 | 25A, 40A or 63A | BS EN 62423 + BS EN 61008 |
| Type A RCDs — WAR Series | Type A RCD | 30mA | 2 or 4 | 40A, 63A, 80A or 100A | BS EN 61008 |
| WCED Modular Contactors — DC | DC Contactor | — | Various | Various | BS EN IEC 60947-4-1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between an RCBO and an RCD?
An RCD only provides earth leakage (shock) protection — it needs a separate MCB for overcurrent protection. An RCBO combines both functions — earth leakage and overcurrent protection — in a single device, so one unit does the job of two. Most new domestic and commercial installs use RCBOs for per-circuit protection rather than a shared RCD covering multiple circuits.
Do I need Type A or Type B protection?
Type A covers standard AC and pulsating DC fault currents and is the default for most domestic circuits. Type B is required where equipment can generate smooth DC leakage current — commonly heat pump inverters and some EV charger installations — since a Type A device can fail to detect this and won't trip reliably.
Do I need surge protection (SPD)?
Yes, for virtually all new domestic installations and rewires since BS 7671:2018 Amendment 2 introduced the requirement. Any of the fitted units above with an SPD badge already satisfy this; for empty or main-switch-only enclosures, a standalone SPD needs to be added separately.
What is PME/PEN fault protection and do I need it?
PME (Protective Multiple Earthing) is the standard UK earthing arrangement (TN-C-S). If the neutral/PEN conductor develops a fault upstream, the earth can become live — a particular risk for EV chargers, which provide a direct conductive path outdoors. BS 7671 722.411.4.1 requires protection against this: an earth rod, continuous voltage monitoring, or an Open-PEN/PEN fault detection device. Our PME range provides the detection-device route without groundworks.
IP40 or IP65 — which do I need?
IP40 is the standard for dry, indoor locations — garages, utility rooms, plant rooms. IP65 is required anywhere the enclosure may be exposed to rain, spray, or condensation — outdoor EV chargers, exposed walls, driveways. IP65 can always be used where IP40 is specified (it simply exceeds the requirement), but not the reverse.
Can I mix and match standalone modules into an empty enclosure?
Yes — our empty and main-switch-only enclosures accept any standard 18mm single-module DIN rail device, including the WCED RCBO, RCD, MCB, and AFDD ranges we stock, as well as most other major brands sharing the same busbar pitch.
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