Any tips when quoting for CU upgrades

[aliensbrains]

Quoting for a CU upgrade soon and it's the first time I've actually quoted one myself.

Any tips on how best to approach it? I get the principle of materials + time, but is there another stuff to watch out for that might not be obvious. Things that may have tripped (no pun intended) people up in the past that I might also miss.

Also I'll be testing before doing the upgrade so global IR L+N to E, Ze & Zs, confirming end to ends & R2 tests, borrowed neutral etc. Clearly can't realistically doing this on first visit for quote. I appreciate all jobs are different but do you do any bacic Zs etc. at the quoting stage? Or pre-empt the customer that the first part of the job is testing the installation's suitability for a new RCBO/SPD board, and that might affect the end price.

All help appreciated - thanks!

 

[Jock from the north]

Yeah from what I've read, I believe it's most likely 30A Line and either a fused or bridged neutral. Either way DNO needs to come out and that's what I've advised initially. There's no way I'm touching them.

I've asked for an isolator too.

What's the most likely course of action from the DNO do you think? Replace the whole lot with iso and PME or do I need to get involved to specifically request that?

Obviously 30A is no good for the EV installation either so the customer really needs this sorting.

It seems if it is a fused neutral on main cut out they have a directive from hse to replace it within 21 days .whether that means a new 100 amp pme supply I'm not sure .they will soon tell you

 

[Jock from the north]

It's actually an Edwardian terrace in an urban area.

I've never been to Newcastle under Lyme, seen the signs on way to alton towers

 

[Jock from the north]

It's actually an Edwardian terrace in an urban area.

I don't think you will have to get involved but if the customer needs the issue explained over the phone to begin with then you would be best placed to do that.once dno is on site they will know what to do

 

[Jock from the north]

Quoting for a CU upgrade soon and it's the first time I've actually quoted one myself.

Any tips on how best to approach it? I get the principle of materials + time, but is there another stuff to watch out for that might not be obvious. Things that may have tripped (no pun intended) people up in the past that I might also miss.

Also I'll be testing before doing the upgrade so global IR L+N to E, Ze & Zs, confirming end to ends & R2 tests, borrowed neutral etc. Clearly can't realistically doing this on first visit for quote. I appreciate all jobs are different but do you do any bacic Zs etc. at the quoting stage? Or pre-empt the customer that the first part of the job is testing the installation's suitability for a new RCBO/SPD board, and that might affect the end price.

All help appreciated - thanks!

Also leave a note or get the customer to request the metre guy to actually fit an isolator ,most of the time there flying thru there day and moan cos it holds them up for 10 mins..last guy I asked moaned like hell saying there not obliged to fit one .don't know if customer got charged or not

 

[Hakuhou]

Totally agree. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems!
I've actually just been to look at this job and this is the main cut out situation.

Customer wants an EV charger after the CU upgrade too.

View attachment 119336

From my revision that’s an example of a fused neutral cast iron (« coffin ») DNO cutout.
Which should be reported to the DNO for replacement, from what I understand the DNO will do this on an urgent basis.
One should also get an isolator switch installed at the same time by the DNO.

 

[Tom256]

Yes fused neutral. Good spot.

 

[Jock from the north]

Yes fused neutral. Good spot.

I think that may have been established earlier in post .

 

[Bluetit]

Also leave a note or get the customer to request the metre guy to actually fit an isolator ,most of the time there flying thru there day and moan cos it holds them up for 10 mins..last guy I asked moaned like hell saying there not obliged to fit one .don't know if customer got charged or not

Last DNO interaction I had was a relocation. They just banged in a new 80A 1361 head in and said the rest was up to me or the energy supplier, no obligation to fit an iso. The work was subbed though rather than being the DNO themselves, client said when they previously spoke with the DNO directly they said they would fit an iso.
The subbies did accidentally leave some nice DNO meter seals though, which was awfully careless of them.

Personally I have a tiered fixed price for a CU swap based on # of ways. This typically works for me, if I am fitting an iso the cost of that goes on top. I will always talk it all through with the customer first, and definitely visit the property rather than going off photos alone. I also explain my price includes some pre-lim testing, the results of which may impact the job, and result in additional works to actually facilitate the CU change, typically I try and lay this out for them using a borrowed neutral as an example. I include this in the terms at the bottom of my quote too.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I think that may have been established earlier in post .

Well if you are going to be pedantic about it, I think you mean "earlier in this thread" even if you did mean thread and referenced post, you forgot the preposition.

 

[Jock from the north]

Well if you are going to be pedantic about it, I think you mean "earlier in this thread" even if you did mean thread and referenced post, you forgot the preposition.

Yes I did mean that and was being pedantic.i once dared to tell my journeyman he was being pedantic because I threw away the cardboard lid from a box of screws .didn't go down well ,he made me look for it the rest of the afternoon even though I new it was crumbled up in the bin .