Single phase (SPN) double door distribution board, Xylo range, 4 to 16 way — hinged outer door, inner cover with MCB window and a 35 mm DIN rail.
- Sizes of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16 ways — one way is one single pole MCB position.
- Double door build: a hinged outer door in front of a screw-fixed inner cover that leaves only the MCB handles exposed.
- White sheet-metal door and cover framed by dark grey moulded end caps.
- Outer door closes with a catch and swings on brass-finish hinges.
- ON/OFF marking beside the MCB window and a numbered label strip for naming each circuit.
- Warning label on the door: turn off and isolate the supply before removing the cover.
- Sold empty — the MCBs, isolator and RCCB are chosen to suit your circuits and bought separately.
A distribution board (DB) is the box where the incoming supply is split into separate circuits, each protected by its own MCB. This single phase board (SPN — single phase and neutral) suits homes, flats, shops and offices on a normal single-phase connection.
Double door means a hinged outer door in front of an inner cover: open the door to switch the MCBs, while the wiring and terminals stay behind the cover. A single door DB has only the cover, so the MCB handles are always exposed.
Example layouts (count every way)
- 4 way: a DP MCB or DP isolator as the main switch plus two SP MCBs.
- 6 way: a 2-pole RCCB plus four SP MCBs.
- 8 way: a DP isolator, a 2-pole RCCB and four SP MCBs.
- 12 way: a DP MCB, a 2-pole RCCB and eight SP MCBs.
Examples only — your electrician plans the circuits. Leave spare ways for later.
Where to use it
- Main board of a single-phase home, flat or villa.
- Shops, clinics, small offices and showrooms.
- Sub-boards for a floor, a rented portion or an outhouse.
- Separate boards for AC, kitchen and water pump circuits.
How to install
- Plan the ways with your electrician: main switch, RCCB and one MCB per circuit, plus spares.
- Fix the board level at an accessible height, away from water, and bring the cables in neatly.
- Snap the MCBs, isolator and RCCB onto the DIN rail, connect the supply, neutrals and earth, and tighten every terminal.
- Refit the inner cover, close unused ways with blanking plates, label each circuit and close the door.
Electrical work should be done by a licensed electrician with the supply switched off. The board itself does not protect anything — protection comes from the MCBs and RCCB fitted in it.
Frequently asked questions
- What does "way" mean in a DB?
- It is the number of single pole MCB positions on the DIN rail. An SP MCB takes one way; a DP MCB, DP isolator or 2-pole RCCB takes two. Count every device, including the main switch.
- Single door or double door DB — which is better?
- A double door DB has an outer door in front of the MCB cover, so the MCBs stay clean and are not switched by accident, and the board looks neater on the wall. A single door DB leaves the MCB handles exposed.
- How do I work out the size I need?
- Count one way per circuit (for example lights and fans of each room, socket circuits, AC, geyser, kitchen and pump), add two ways for the main switch and two for the RCCB, then add spares.
- Are MCBs included?
- No. The board is sold empty so you can fit the devices your circuits need — see our SP and DP MCBs, DP isolators and 2-pole RCCBs.
- Do I need an RCCB as well?
- For homes, yes: the CEA safety regulations (2023) call for a residual current device of 30 mA or less in domestic installations. An RCCB trips on earth leakage to protect people from shock, which MCBs do not do.
- Can I use it on a three-phase supply?
- No. It is a single-phase board. For three-phase, choose our three phase double door DB, phase selector DB or 7 segment (phase segregated) DB.
Buy single phase double door DBs (Xylo) online from Electric Market, Chennai. For site, contractor or bulk quantities, contact us for a quote.