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Memshield 3 sets new standards in distribution board design
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In one of its most significant product launches in recent years, Eaton is introducing Memshield 3, a new generation of final distribution boards and associated circuit protection devices for commercial, industrial and public buildings. Memshield 3 forms a vital element in Eaton’s PowerChain Management® solutions which offer an integrated approach to the efficient distribution and control of electrical energy in buildings, from the main supply intake to the point of use.
Memshield 3 breaks new ground in the range of functions it can perform. It retains all the features that have made Memshield 2 the preferred choice of electrical contractors for more than 15 years but introduces innovative features that will enable specifiers and installers to offer an even wider range of power distribution solutions in modern buildings. In particular 125A Type B boards are now offered with a 250A option in the larger sizes while 250A boards can be used instead of MCCB panelboards for some applications.
Memshield 3 distribution boards are offered in Type A (single-phase) and Type B (three-phase) versions with up to 24 outgoing TPN ways. Single-pole and triple-pole miniature circuit-breakers, available in ratings up to 63A, have a 10/15kA short-circuit rating (10kA to IEC 60898 and 15kA to IEC 60947-2). Previously these devices were offered as two separate ranges with 10kA and 15kA short-circuit ratings. Memshield 3 RCBOs are offered in a choice of trip sensitivities, from 10mA to 100mA and have a 10kA short-circuit rating to IEC 61009.
Type A distribution boards are now offered with a higher-rated, 125A switch-disconnector incomer in five sizes from 4-way to 16-way. They embody a number of special safety features including unique full-form blanking modules for unused ways (which also provide secure shrouding of unused busbar stabs) and fully shrouded neutral busbars. The main busbar assembly can be removed for easier installation. An optional coupling kit allows two Type A boards to be linked together vertically to increase the number of ways.
Type B boards come in two ratings – 125A and 250A with up to 24 outgoing TPN ways.
Memshield 3 also breaks new ground with its new 250A Type B ”High Load” distribution boards. Two of the outgoing TPN ways are designed to accommodate larger – 80A, 100A or 125A – miniature circuit-breakers. This means that the boards can handle larger individual loads or even feed additional distribution boards; a 250A Memshield 3 board can sometimes be used in place of the more expensive MCCB panelboard to feed downstream boards.
Visually Memshield 3 has a more modern styling than its predecessor with rounded edges. The boards are slightly larger to provide ample wiring space, even when using RCBOs to meet the latest requirements of the 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations.
Among installer-friendly features that are retained from the Memshield 2 design is the welded end plate construction which prevents distortion of the enclosure when mounting on an uneven surface, even when the gland plates are removed. Doors are removable, making it easier to fix the boards, and hanging the doors is easier because one hinge pin is longer than the other so that the two hinges do not have to be aligned together.
Another time-saving feature offered with Memshield 3 distribution boards is the availability of a ‘Cable trunking interface kit’ for use when boards are mounted on cable trunking. Contractors often make their own interface plates to protect the cables from damage caused by the sharp cut edges in cable trunking. Eaton’s plastic interface can also be used as a template when cutting and drilling the trunking.
Separate transient voltage surge suppression (SPD) units, developed to meet the requirements of the new lightning protection standard BS EN 62305, are included in the Memshield 3 range. These provide Type 1/Type 2 protection as part of a coordinated solution.
Eaton’s innovative Smart metered split-load distribution boards, introduced earlier this year, are also offered in the new Memshield 3 styling, along with separate meter packs and Type A boards with integral metering. These all help meet the energy conservation requirements of the UK Building Regulations Part L2 by providing separate measurement of grouped lighting and power loads. The Smart boards use a unique smart summing meter in conjunction with a high-integrity busbar with embedded voltage transducers. This provides separate measurement of the two grouped loads, plus total load.
“We held contractor clinics around the country while developing Memshield 3. These revealed a number of features of the existing design that were even more important to our customers than we realised” says Mike Lawrence, Eaton’s Product Line Manager for Commercial Assemblies. “We believe that in Memshield 3 we have a worthy successor to Memshield 2 that sets new standards in final distribution board design.”
