Installing a fused connection unit (FCU)

• Cut off the power supply to the relevant circuit from the consumer unit.
• Remove the fuse or switch off the MCB protecting the circuit you will be working on. All appliances connected to the circuit should be unplugged.
• If the FCU is replacing an existing socket outlet, remove the face-plate of the socket and release the cores from the terminals.
• Alternatively, if the FCU is being fitted on a new spur, plan the cable route to where the FCU mounting box is to be positioned. Fit the FCU at a convenient height e.g. above a worktop, so it is easily accessible.
• If the cable from the FCU to the appliance is to be concealed in the wall, use two-core-and-earth cable and not flex.
• The mounting box for an FCU is the same type used for socket outlets.
• Prepare the end of the cable, flex and cores.
• If any Earth cores are bare, cover the exposed end with a green-and-yellow sheath.

An FCU is fitted with two sets of terminals. The Live and Neutral terminals will be marked Load or Out and Mains or In. Be aware that the Mains terminals can also called Feed or Supply.

• Feed the flex from the appliance into the FCU mounting box.
• Connect the brown (live) core from the flex to the Live terminal marked L and Load (or Out).
• Connect the blue (neutral) core from the flex to the Neutral terminal marked N and Load (or Out).
• Connect the yellow and green core from the flex to one of the Earth terminals. Some FCUs may only have one Earth terminal in which case delay connecting the earth core from the flex until you are ready to connect the earth core from the cable, and connect them at the same time.

Now connect the spur cable to the FCU.

• Feed the spur cable into the FCU mounting box, pull enough cable through to connect it to the face-plate.
• Prepare the ends of the cable and the cores.
• If any earth cores are bare, cover the exposed end with a green-and-yellow sheath.
• Connect the red (live) core from the cable to the Live terminal marked L and Mains.
• Connect the black (neutral) core from the cable to the Neutral terminal marked N and Mains.
• Connect the earth core fitted with a yellow/green plastic sheath from the cable to the second earth terminal. If there is only one earth terminal connect the earth cores from both the cable and the flex to it. 
• If you have a metal mounting box, ensure it is earthed by fitting a flying earth from the terminal in the face-plate to the mounting box using a small length of cable core covered in yellow/green sheath.
• Carefully fold the cables into the mounting box.
• Screw the face-plate to the mounting box.
• Fit the appropriate fuse for the appliance (3 or 13 amp) into the fuse holder in the FCU face-plate.