Consumer unit change, only 1 lighting cct for 3 bed house

[Miketwinny]

Hi
A customer of mine wants a new CU with RCBO`s installed. The old FB has 3 RFC & 1 Lighting ccts. Should I change it with no alterations or recommend a new light cct for one of the floors first.
Ta....

 

[shocking_eg]

change like for like, could note it down on EIC.

this was common practice back in the day

 

[Top Cat]

Try giving him a choice!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

as has been said....note it by all means but the cert should be self explanatory...

 

[kingeri]

When I moved into my house all the lights were on one circuit. Four storey building. Would have been fine when installed in yesteryear, what with a single pendant in each room. But there had been numerous additions and alterations over the years, spotlights etc. I calculated that the total current draw on the circuit (without diversity) was about 17amps! Split it down, now have four lighting circuits. Could have got away with 2 or 3 but it's my house so I did what I wanted

 

[Octopus]

FFS, there are millions of houses not wired to the current regs so if you feel it necessary, put a comment on the EIC.

As for recommending a new circuit, if theres nothing wrong with the existing one, why would you?

 

[KFH]

Offer a new circuit as an option. Explain that MCBS/RCBOs are more sensitive than fuses and provide a much better level of protection but can cause nuisance tripping when bulbs blow so splitting across two circuits will mean not all the lights go out. Also offer a emergency light near to the CU so if there is a trip then they can see what they are doing. Difficult to get the balance right between offering good advice and causing alarm/ appearing to be trying to con more money out of them.

 

[Rockingit]

You may well find that you've got two circuits in one CPD anyway, so give the customer the choice of splitting it out or not - ffs it's a £30 option to fit another RCBO or not, not the end of the world.