alternatives?

[shadewakka]

Just fitted a 17th edition CU in a clients house.

the old cu was a metal clad old style, the house electrics have had extensive DIY work by the previous owner, had nothing but problems fitting this, RCD kept tripping, circuits not working etc, pain in the arse, various circuits with incorrect size cables, and about 4-5 wires in one 32 breaker as the previous owner has ran 'spurs' for there.

could not pick up a continuity reading as the tester kept going to 2000.
could only get reading from certain circuits at approx 1.58

In my opinion seeing the installation state id say its a disaster waiting to happen, and a rewire would be most appropriate.

Client would rather not rewire and i cannot think of any alternative, solutions??

 

[shadewakka]

The consumer unit is not unsafe - the way the DIY div that wired it is boardering on dangerous.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Just fitted a 17th edition CU in a clients house.

the old cu was a metal clad old style, the house electrics have had extensive DIY work by the previous owner, had nothing but problems fitting this, RCD kept tripping, circuits not working etc, pain in the arse, various circuits with incorrect size cables, and about 4-5 wires in one 32 breaker as the previous owner has ran 'spurs' for there.

could not pick up a continuity reading as the tester kept going to 2000.
could only get reading from certain circuits at approx 1.58

In my opinion seeing the installation state id say its a disaster waiting to happen, and a rewire would be most appropriate.

Client would rather not rewire and i cannot think of any alternative, solutions??

I've learnt my lesson here Shad (very recently!!). Always do a few basic tests before that will spot any potential problems then you can let the homeowner know that some remedial work has to be carried out before the board change.

Your only option now is to locate and find all the faults and also make sure all circuits have correct sized conductors etc etc before you can sign it off. Plus you'll have to think how much you are going to charge the homeowner for this (if anything) as you should really have given them some pre-warning.

Good luck chap and dont get too disheartened when some of the other threads start laying into you, try and ignore the unhelpful ones and learn from the useful, constructive replies

 

[Sintra]

Sintra, i am away it needs to comply and be certified etc, didnt mention it was the customers fault, i mearly asked for solutions other than a rewire.

Solutions are find the faults then rectify that's all I can advise.

 

[dazza1981]

The consumer unit is not unsafe - the way the DIY div that wired it is boardering on dangerous.

But listen you knew the" diy div" wired it unsafe so what are you doing fitting a new board thats full of non compliant circuits.
Makes you just as dangerous dont it??

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Laugh - I nearly cried.
6 hours to change a nightmare CU?
It takes me 6 hours to change every CU, that includes the correct testing, and rectifying faults.
Whats wrong with feeding sockets spurs straight from the 32A CB?

You do realise you have broken the law now by leaving it unsafe.
Have a look at the H&S Regs, and get back there sharpish to rectify the faults.

It takes me a whole day and the next morning!! I'm not joking! But I end up with a thing of beauty!!

Nothing is wrong with one unfused spur coming from the 32A MCB (ring), but not 2. (appendix 15 - table 15A)

 

[R G]

Congratulations !!
You are now responsible for the whole installation ,
By carrying out the work and not identifying the faults and non compliances before hand this puts you in an un enviable position , in that you need to certify your work , You have to carry out a pre test so that all faults are identified prior to work , if its in a state as you say ,I would have gone as far as an EICR .
The only way now is to identify the faults and non compliances and talk to the customer ,and put the faults right,,

 

[alanl]

Nothing is wrong with one unfused spur coming from the 32A MCB (ring), but not 2. (appendix 15 - table 15A)

Not quite.
You can only have one double socket outlet on each unfused spur, but there is no limit to how many spurs there are on a circuit, so long as they are either fused, or only have one accessory/SO on each radial spur.
If you can get 5 cables into the CU, then you can have 5 double sockets supplied by radial circuits from the one 32A CB.

 

[Plonker 3]

Probably not the right time but next time read this first http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...ctrical-regulations/12971-cu-changes-you.html

 

[Plonker 3]

So what plans, if any have you got to resolve the issues?

 

[dazza1981]

So what plans, if any have you got to resolve the issues?

Are you not going to go and sort it for him Dillb.... pmsl

 

[Plonker 3]

What's the going rate for fault finding on here?

isnt it £1000 per fault?

 

[dazza1981]

What's the going rate for fault finding on here?

isnt it £1000 per fault?

Thats it but check for them flapping leaves as there a nuisance

 

[uksparks]

FFS, test the bloody thing properly in the first place and you won't have these damn problems!

 

[uksparks]

Laugh - I nearly cried.
6 hours to change a nightmare CU?
It takes me 6 hours to change every CU, that includes the correct testing, and rectifying faults.
Whats wrong with feeding sockets spurs straight from the 32A CB?

You do realise you have broken the law now by leaving it unsafe.
Have a look at the H&S Regs, and get back there sharpish to rectify the faults.

I know, I was just going to say, 5 - 6 hours to do a proper job on a CU change, fully test and issue cert.

 

[Silly Sausage]

So what plans, if any have you got to resolve the issues?

I think he's gone to drown his sorrows at the prospect of working all weekend for £0ph!