Changing Consumer Unit

[YoungScud]

How stupid can the UK get. Surely 1 set of regs would be best.... no wonder the incomers get confused then don't give a txss!

That would require a unified legal system. Not going to happen.

 

[YoungScud]

I haven't been involved in domestic as a rule but
Generally a competent spark would disconnect the tails from the Isco's , and carry out the consumer unit change without involving the NIE , as the demarcation line from the NIE is normally the tails going into the meter

...thus falling foul of EAWR Regulation 14.

 

[Pete999]

I am currently planning on changing the Consumer Unit in the Boiler Room of my home. The board is 17 years old, fitted with old cartridge fuse holders. I am planning on upgrading to a new amendment 3 (bs7671 - 2015) standard. The problem I am having is that I have no experience of working Live, the incoming tails from the meter box have no means of isolation. They are connected into Black connector blocks just before the Consumer Unit and then doubled together in both connectors and are connected on til 2 80A RCD's. If I can get the tails safely isolated, I know how to do all the rest.
Can anybody here advise me on what my safest option would be to give me peace of mind?

First year Trainee Oggymac, I wouldn't have thought that you have the experience to do this work on your own, maybe you could attempt it under the supervision of your mentor

 

[telectrix]

...thus falling foul of EAWR Regulation 14.

not in my book. if all precautions to prevent injury are taken, there's no reason to hold a job up several days to wait for someone else to wander up and work live, same as you would do yourself.

 

[djelectric]

Call your supplier and get them to fit an isolator switch. Then call your local building control, tell them what you want to do and they will check over it all for you and sign it off if satisfactory. This all costs money though..

 

[YoungScud]

not in my book. if all precautions to prevent injury are taken, there's no reason to hold a job up several days to wait for someone else to wander up and work live, same as you would do yourself.

Npw, you know that's not what the reg says, it's only one of three prerequisites. I'd love to have you argue in court that it was unreasonable to make the conductor dead.

 

[davesparks]

not in my book. if all precautions to prevent injury are taken, there's no reason to hold a job up several days to wait for someone else to wander up and work live, same as you would do yourself.

When making it dead is as simple as pulling the bullet then it is unreasonable to work live don't you think?

 

[Lazlo]

If you need to ask these questions then you really should get someone in to do the work who knows the answers......

 

[Tuttle]

How stupid can the UK get. Surely 1 set of regs would be best.... no wonder the incomers get confused then don't give a txss!

It's getting worse - I notice that AM3 OSG talks about the "Building Regulations of Wales" (OSG section 1.2.4) - "On 31 December 2011 the power to make building regulations for Wales was transferred to Welsh Ministers".

It says that the building regs for England and Wales continue to apply in Wales until Welsh Minsters make changes to them.

 

[YoungScud]

It's getting worse - I notice that AM3 OSG talks about the "Building Regulations of Wales" (OSG section 1.2.4) - "On 31 December 2011 the power to make building regulations for Wales was transferred to Welsh Ministers".

It says that the building regs for England and Wales continue to apply in Wales until Welsh Minsters make changes to them.

That doesn't seem to make sense to you? What regulations should apply until Welsh ministers make changes to them?

 

[telectrix]

That doesn't seem to make sense to you? What regulations should apply until Welsh ministers make changes to them?

something about mating with sheep?

 

[Tuttle]

That doesn't seem to make sense to you? What regulations should apply until Welsh ministers make changes to them?

I didn't say it didn't make sense. It just makes it more difficult if there are different regulations in different places, especially as they keep updating them.