Can you use a wylex RCBO in a MK consumer unit

Jelj360 · Oct 22, 2009

Can anyone tell me if this is against regulations or unsafe? An electrician has just fitted a 6A Wylex RCBO to an MK sentry consumer unit ( the old type not the split load dual RCD type) in my house. im sure ive read that you should use the same make MCBs, RCDs, and RCBOs as the make of the consumer unit.

steamboatwilly · Oct 22, 2009

Jelj360 said:
in that case john, i know for a fact that he didnt do required tests at all, i think ill call H.A tomorrow to get someone to come test it all.

How do you know? These are quick tests. He'd have needed a test instrument for most of the required tests.

Can't believe a H.A. sparky wouldn't test an RCBO covering a special location. Worth querying with the H.A.

leekemp85 · Oct 22, 2009

If the bloke had gone to the effort to fit a rcbo I would be quite sure he would have done the tests.
just because john used a large font in his post this should not worried you. There is no way to can prove that the electrician did not do the tests, as steamboat said its a quick test to check a rcbo. but if your worried give them a call tommrrow.

Jelj360 · Oct 22, 2009

steamboatwilly said:
How do you know? These are quick tests. He'd have needed a test instrument for most of the required tests.

Can't believe a H.A. sparky wouldn't test an RCBO covering a special location. Worth querying with the H.A.

he didnt have any testing equipment with him, the only test he possibly did was push the test button on RCBO. Definitely no testers came out at any time, before or after fitting it.

Trust me , my H.A are doing everything they can to save money on repairs etc, and theve got some real cowboys on the firm too, even the surveyors.

like you said im gonna call em back tomorrow and get it sorted. cheers again

leekemp85 · Oct 22, 2009

sorry jelj I missed the post that you were in the trade. As you are you would know what a tester is, and if the electrician did not have one give them a ring to ask why.

Jelj360 · Oct 23, 2009

hello chaps,

Just an update on this one, today I turned the bedroom light on which is on same circuit as the bathroom (controlled by said RCBO), the lamp blew and tripped the RCBO- the first lamp to blow upstairs for a few years now - coincidence??

Anyway, Ive got onto H.A and there gonna send a different sparks round monday with his 2391 and do a full inspection and test.

By the way, should pressing the test button on RCBO trip the main switch as well?

andyb · Oct 23, 2009

The problem with fitting an rcbo or mcb of another make is that if it ever failed and caused injury the manufacturer would just say that it was fitted into the wrong equipment and therfore incorrectly installed and you would be responsible.

Don't worry Jelj, the lamp blowing will just be a coincedence, but I must admit that the 'main switch tripping' is odd. It sounds as if the main switch is an rcd in which case the electrician has fitted two rcds in series.

Can you post a photo of it?

steamboatwilly · Oct 23, 2009

Jelj360 said:
hello chaps,

By the way, should pressing the test button on RCBO trip the main switch as well?

That's weird.....is it a simple mains switch or an RCD?

The bulb blowing will often cause an RCBO/RCD to trip, quite 'normal' especially if it's an old bulb. Don't worry unless it happens again soon. Sounds like you've got the H.A. thinking anyway and the new sparks should unearth anything unusual. Well done.

roukel01 · Oct 23, 2009

Going back to the original question,you shouldn't be fitting different makes of MCB/RCBO's into different consumer units unless they are designed to do so. There is a specific reg for this now (Can't remember off hand exactly where it is but it came up in conversation in my last ELECSA inspection)

calv68 · Oct 23, 2009

so does that mean if you cant get the same make rcbo or mcb for a paticular board you will have to change the complete c/u

Jelj360 · Oct 24, 2009

evening chaps,

Firstly, Id just like to say thanks to everyone whos shown interest in this post, glad to see Ive got some support at least.

anyway- as a couple of you asked it, yes the main switch is an RCD as well (30mA), and I asked my lecturer at collegege today( im doing 2330 level 2, 1st year( but I ave got Part P eal domestic installers cert, 17th edition, pat testing, 12 years + experience blah blah and ive had a drink!)) and he agreed that if theres already a RCD 30mA then an RCBO didnt need to be fitted.

even so, he should have run tests afterwards shouldnt he?

it might sound like im being a bit over the top here but it just f***s me off when theres half job bobs out there happily going about their business without a care for the customer and giving sparks a bad name and people like me who wanna get on with the career, and do a proper job and cant get a job just cos I aint got certificates....