17th Edition CCU

[mattcos1972]

Does a CCU have to have dual RCD to be deemed 17th edition.
I am asking as I have been asked to change a CCU on a one bed flat and there are only 4 circuits. Does there really need to be 2 RCDs.
I know that RCBOS would be the answer but, at £20 odd a pop, I dont think that's particularly viable; It's way cheaper to put in a 10 way dual split Wylex and just blank off all the unused ways, but it does seem rather a big board to put in for 4 circuits.
Any ideas chaps?

Cheers.

Matt

 

[pennywise]

Put a 10 or 6 usable way unit in and RCBO the 4 ways, how much extra is it really going to be. Explain to the customer that it will reduce the amount of inconvenience when they have only one circuit trip not the whole of one side of the board, then they can make the value judgement.

 

[mattcos1972]

Put a 10 or 6 usable way unit in and RCBO the 4 ways, how much extra is it really going to be. Explain to the customer that it will reduce the amount of inconvenience when they have only one circuit trip not the whole of one side of the board, then they can make the value judgement.

Ah well you see. I just so happen to have an unopened 10 usable way split rcd wylex board left over from a job where I decided to use a High Integrity board instead
So its basically £2 a pop to fill it it up with MCBs versus £20-25 a pop for the RCBOs and a new shell. I was thinking of getting one of these NH1104 11 way boxes (see below) and use the RCDs from the big board I have (I've got oodles of new wylex breakers too)....fitting 2 RCDs will leave me with 7 ways. So 3 spares for future circuits, if necessary. I've not seen inside one of these so I don't know what the neutral rail set up is, although I presume there must be 2 as it does say in the spec that its 17th edition when used with RCDs. And at only £18.50 inc main switch, I might just get one anyway!!

 

[pennywise]

well if it's not going to cost you much do it your way . Personally in a 1 bed flat i would be wanting it all on separate RCBO's just a bit more discrimination, every man has a different way of doing the job

 

[mattcos1972]

well if it's not going to cost you much do it your way . Personally in a 1 bed flat i would be wanting it all on separate RCBO's just a bit more discrimination, every man has a different way of doing the job

I read you chap. Its just that the place has been bought as a rental and the new landlord, although he wants to be compliant, doesn't have the deepest pockets in the world. With 4 circuits and 2 RCDs you've almost got RCBOs anyway!

Thanks for the input, mate.

Matt

 

[ezzzekiel]

pay what it costs to do the job or get some one else in (just my way)

 

[GT1]

Wylex NH box with 4xRCBOs

The RCBOs were 28.80 each from CEF

 

[pennywise]

Thats expensive get down to neweys £21-22 each.

 

[Des 56]

You could always take the view that what goes around comes around

A 3 year old split board with main switch and Rcd is less compliant under the 17th than an installation that may be 20 years old and has one Rcd over the whole of the installation (bathroom circuits and buried cables etc )

The dual Rcd board is a cheaper botch up method that the industry has adopted, to overcome the inconvenience issue, when it decided to seemingly Rcd everything that exists in the world and suddenly finding that it needed a way to pretend that Granny needn't fall down the stairs when the washer bites the dust,hence the up sockets with the down lights nonesense

If there are concerns about granny, Rcbo the lighting and Rcd the rest

 

[rocker]

Go main switch to one RCBO with one circuit on it, then have all the rest on MCBs under one RCD.

 

[mattcos1972]

pay what it costs to do the job or get some one else in (just my way)

Yeah....cheers for that "helpful" advice, mate......only I'm trying to keep costs as low as possible for the client, whilst at the same time staying fully compliant (just my way)...and there was me thinking this forum was about helping out fellow electricians. I must remember to be more sarcastic and less helpful in future!
Cheers for the tip, anyway.

 

[cbw]

ezzzekiel does have a point though, I do get a bit hacked off with customers trying to save just a couple of quid.

If they dont want a proper job let some one else have it!

 

[mattcos1972]

You could always take the view that what goes around comes around

A 3 year old split board with main switch and Rcd is less compliant under the 17th than an installation that may be 20 years old and has one Rcd over the whole of the installation (bathroom circuits and buried cables etc )

The dual Rcd board is a cheaper botch up method that the industry has adopted, to overcome the inconvenience issue, when it decided to seemingly Rcd everything that exists in the world and suddenly finding that it needed a way to pretend that Granny needn't fall down the stairs when the washer bites the dust,hence the up sockets with the down lights nonesense

If there are concerns about granny, Rcbo the lighting and Rcd the rest

Go main switch to one RCBO with one circuit on it, then have all the rest on MCBs under one RCD.

Cheers guys.
That's a top solution. I'll RCBO the lights and RCD the rest that way the client won't have to fork out a cart load of money. Honestly though, the cost of RCBOs is so prohibitive; its not a problem with larger installs as folk are happy with a split RCD board and you can do 10 circuits with a Wylex NH for £65 odd. But get a smaller install with say 4 circuits and you are looking at £125 on parts alone....go figure.
Anyway thanks very much guys...much appreciated, and I have my solution.

Matt

 

[mattcos1972]

ezzzekiel does have a point though, I do get a bit hacked off with customers trying to save just a couple of quid.

If they dont want a proper job let some one else have it!

Oops. I thought he was having a dig at me!!


SORRY ezzzekiel!