UK First consumer unit change.

Raptor0014 · Apr 11, 2021

Did my first consumer unit change yesterday.
A few dodgy things with the old board as I’m sure most will see.

Owner wanted bringing up to date with individual circuit RCD protection and surge protection.

So fitted a Fusebox 10 way RCBO board. Complete with surge protection.

Also removed the bell transformer that was being fed from a hole directly in the side of the CU and put the cooker cable into some conduit as the owner didn’t want it chasing in. I didn’t think it wise to leave it draping over the top of the CU like it was previously!

Any feedback is welcome as I’m always happy to learn from the more experienced amongst the forum.

Only thing I couldn’t seem to rectify is the slight leaning of the RCBOs/Main switch. No matter what I did as soon as I torqued everything up on the busbar it moved slightly.

One of the RCBO was a tad close on testing as you can see on the pic. But a pass is a pass and I tested that both at the board and at a socket (was on a Ring Final).

Anyhoo here are some pics.

[ElectriciansForums.net] First consumer unit change.

Soi disant · Apr 11, 2021

telectrix said:
it was realised about 30 yearsa go that the electricity did not leak out proportionaelyt to the length of the busbar

Does drop away though.

Admittedly not by very much......

telectrix · Apr 11, 2021

Soi disant said:
Does drop away though.

Admittedly not by very much......

youse bin counting electrons again? ?

Soi disant · Apr 11, 2021

I tried, but it got me all in a spin.

Flanders · Apr 11, 2021

loz2754 said:
The MEM add on RCD pods, MR30s don't like being tested at the board. They refuse to trip when tested. Apart from these, I always test RCDs at the board, preferably with no load connected.
But I also like to do a test at the other end of the circuit for good measure.

Yes correct the only way to test them at the board is to connect a short piece of cable to them . So general easy to test them at a socket on the circuit .

Dave OCD · Apr 11, 2021

For a first CU change that really is very good - as others have said, it's much neater than a heck of a lot out there done by very experienced electricians. It's really encouraging to see that there are younger tradesmen out there with a really good attitude , well done.

Raptor0014 · Apr 11, 2021

Dave OCD said:
For a first CU change that really is very good - as others have said, it's much neater than a heck of a lot out there done by very experienced electricians. It's really encouraging to see that there are younger tradesmen out there with a really good attitude , well done.

Thank you

Wouldn’t say I was younger though. I’m 43 this year ?

I just chose to have a different career previously before having a complete change of direction.
It helps I suppose that I am OCD. ?

Dave OCD · Apr 11, 2021

Ah well still younger than me. ?

Gavin John Hyde · Apr 11, 2021

The key to keeping mcbs,rcbos etc straight and avoiding the slant is a torque clamp costing around a tenner. Tighten them up woth this applied and they stay straight

Raptor0014 · Apr 12, 2021

Gavin John Hyde said:
The key to keeping mcbs,rcbos etc straight and avoiding the slant is a torque clamp costing around a tenner. Tighten them up woth this applied and they stay straight

Do you happen to have a link for one? Only ones I can seem to find are too big for a CU.