Flexipower, Plug and Play Site Distribution, 400V and 110V

Overview

Towards the end of 2025 the Blakley team were heavily involved in helping to develop a plug and play site power and lighting system for one of the UK’s largest Civil Engineering Projects. The project was approaching a critical phase and, in order to stay on schedule, the on-site team were tasked with developing a power and lighting system, which was designed to adapt rapidly to the multiple project requirements but without compromising on site safety.

The on-site fitout is exceptionally complex and a major concern was that the use of conventional, hard wired, power and lighting equipment would be too restricting. It was therefore decided that all distribution equipment rated up to 400A would need to be easy to relocate, and 400V distribution assemblies rated up to 150A would need to be plug-in. To address these requirements the Blakley team developed a series of specialist distribution assemblies, starting with a 400A distribution assembly with a hard wired supply and 4 no. plug-in 150A sockets. In order to meet the requirement in BS7375 for interlocked sockets, it was decided to adopt Marechal plugs and sockets at 150A, as they include interlocked coupler sockets, allowing the safe use of extension leads between these high powered assemblies, which makes the 400V distribution system far easier to reconfigure on site.

The sub-distribution assemblies provide 400V and 110V plug-in outlets with the incoming supply connected via a 150A 5P 400V appliance inlet, which mates with the Marechal interlocked coupler sockets fitted to the ends of 50mm² tough rubber extension leads, which were also supplied as part of the package. The distribution assemblies were mounted within heavy duty crash frames, which can be relocated by pump-up, FLT or overhead crane. All outlets (400V and 110V) are protected by RCD. The lighting (not shown) utilises our Flori-67/3P plug-in lighting system featuring i-Site fittings, which incorporate integral movement and light level detection.