Consumer Unit Change - EIC, MWC, ECR ? | Page 2 | on ElectriciansForums

Discuss Consumer Unit Change - EIC, MWC, ECR ? in the Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations area at ElectriciansForums.net

Customer: my electrics keep tripping after you did your work
Kent: that's because I didn't test ccts properly and now it will cost anything up to ÂŁ2000 to stop it tripping. Hell, you may need a full rewire.
Customer: so are my electrics unsafe?
Kent: yeah probably.... Dunno really.

Not the best way to approach business.

If you are upgrading from a possibly fine 3036 board to a RCD board then the new DB will pick up on faults that the 3036 would have not have done. Also as others have mentioned Zs maximums have probably changed.. End to end on RFCs may be open, etc, etc...so you should insist on testing so both you and the client know where you are. It would be really unprofessional to turn a ÂŁ400 job into a ÂŁ2400 job just so the client can have no nuisance tripping.

There is nothing in the regs saying an EICR is mandatory prior to a board change, but it is 100% a better option. As a bare minimum do some Zs tests and a global IR test, and warn customer of possible extras upon full testing.
 
Those who spout on about EICR's before a CU change are talking rubbish. Yes,in an ideal world. But consider that a full EICR on say a 3 bed semi is likely to take at least half a day. Most CU changes are a request for a quote,NOT just go ahead and do whatever is required,so you are going to spend half a day doing a pre-quote survey for a job you might not even get?Yeah right.
In the real world that 'EICR' amounts to a check of earthing,bonding and a global IR test,and a general condition assessment.Most electricians can sum up whether there are likely to be any issues within ten minutes of arrival. The quote will then state that a full test will be carried out during the CU change and any other faults found will be at extra cost.
 
Those who spout on about EICR's before a CU change are talking rubbish. Yes,in an ideal world. But consider that a full EICR on say a 3 bed semi is likely to take at least half a day. Most CU changes are a request for a quote,NOT just go ahead and do whatever is required,so you are going to spend half a day doing a pre-quote survey for a job you might not even get?Yeah right.
In the real world that 'EICR' amounts to a check of earthing,bonding and a global IR test,and a general condition assessment.Most electricians can sum up whether there are likely to be any issues within ten minutes of arrival. The quote will then state that a full test will be carried out during the CU change and any other faults found will be at extra cost.

I agree with you. We would use our experience to make a judgement and check the vitals. I suppose it becomes different when someone who lacks in experience wants to do the replacement and does not carry out some basic upfront checks.
 
I agree with you. We would use our experience to make a judgement and check the vitals. I suppose it becomes different when someone who lacks in experience wants to do the replacement and does not carry out some basic upfront checks.

Which explains the abundance of 'CU change RCD wont stay in but I've done everything right' threads on here!
Of course upfront checks are vital before a CU change/Quote....but I'm fricked if I'm going to do a full EICR for nothing when I get a CU change quote request.
 
well said wirepuller experience is what is needed, i have said many times a few basic tests , work out when the original install was done as this will possibly highlight a shared neutral ,full test after the boards done an EIC at the end of the day when the boards changed and form filled in its basically a check list for you
 

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