Consumer Unit Changes - What make & what price?

[Ianw3291]

I'm based in Wigan and i usually charge £300-350 for a CU swap. Usually thats a 10way dual RCD MK board as they're well priced and i find them easy to install along with tails and main earth.
Bonding to water and gas would be more and dependent on length of cable runs and install method which is normally agreed with client prior to start of work.
I budget a full day for a CU swap to make sure i've got time to fix any little niggles.

I always offer an EICR (PIR) before a board change as you're supposed to. Anyone who wants it done without i'll still complete but explain that its a possibility if i find any potentially dangerous conditions i won't reconnect/energise that circuit until remedial works have been completed. I find people in general just want the board changed and so take the risk on me not connecting a circuit. Thankfully I've only had 3 i can think of where this has been the case and after I've explained and shown them whats wrong they've agreed the remedials.

I've lost out on work offering the EICR before the change in the past as people are so aware these days of cowboys they think you're trying to pull a fast one and get more money out of them. And of course there's always bodgit and scarper from the pub who've said you shouldn't pay more than £100 for the swap and they offer "to do it for a pint pal"

I think in the current economic climate its hard to price jobs based on you earning a decent wage but competing with the other "registered" sparks who don't give any paper work. The public need more education on whats required from all trades after works completed so they can recognise good quality workmen from billy bodgit.

 

[oldtimer]

I read a lot on these posts about £--- for a CU change that does not include earthing so tell me if you are part P or registered how do you get away with not earthing the gas & water

 

[Spazz]

I charge £250 supply and install + Travel (£0.45 per mile)

Supply only costs £75 max

Install Profit £175 - all insurance, NAPIT, Notification, etc

Might go upto £300 in the next month or so - we will see


Extra if:
extending cables
Bonding
Tails more than 500mm

 

[Spazz]

Just seen this:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]My Pricing :[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]House re-wire from[/FONT]​	[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]£ 1500[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Replacement fusebox from[/FONT]​	[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]£ 200[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Additional sockets from[/FONT]​	[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]£ 30[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Outside lights from[/FONT]​	[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]£ 60[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]No obligation inspection and test from[/FONT]​	[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]£ 60[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Free advice and estimates[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]DIY work checked - I work with you, as well as for you[/FONT]​

This is a company near me

Not sure how they make their money! or about the check DIY work - sparky does not work for LABC

 

[Octopus]

Just seen this:

My Pricing :
House re-wire from​	£ 1500​
Replacement fusebox from​	£ 200​
Additional sockets from​	£ 30​
Outside lights from​	£ 60​
No obligation inspection and test from​	£ 60​
Free advice and estimates DIY work checked - I work with you, as well as for you​

This is a company near me

Not sure how they make their money! or about the check DIY work - sparky does not work for LABC

I would be very wary of the word "from"

I do CU installs "from £150" but that would be a new 2 way CU and henley block!!

 

[Tonkatoy27]

I read a lot on these posts about £--- for a CU change that does not include earthing so tell me if you are part P or registered how do you get away with not earthing the gas & water

I'm with ELECSA and regulaly have customers where I've changed the consumer unit, tested and found no earth bonding to water or gas or both. Obviously then we inform the customer straight away but if they don't want to pay you the money to do it then you can't force them! I've had some sucess giving out Electrical Safety Council leaflets on earthing and bonding to try and make the customer understand but sometimes they just won't stump up to have it done. I know in a perfect world we would survey first and make them aware prior to the consumer unit but you run the risk of them thinking you are fishing for extra's. (I blame the cowboy builder programs)
No bonding gets noted on installation certificate and if we don't return to book it they get a follow up letter with said ESC leaflet. My ELECSA assessor seems fine with all this.
You can take a horse to water.........

 

[Octopus]

I'm with ELECSA and regulaly have customers where I've changed the consumer unit, tested and found no earth bonding to water or gas or both. Obviously then we inform the customer straight away but if they don't want to pay you the money to do it then you can't force them! I've had some sucess giving out Electrical Safety Council leaflets on earthing and bonding to try and make the customer understand but sometimes they just won't stump up to have it done. I know in a perfect world we would survey first and make them aware prior to the consumer unit but you run the risk of them thinking you are fishing for extra's. (I blame the cowboy builder programs)
No bonding gets noted on installation certificate and if we don't return to book it they get a follow up letter with said ESC leaflet. My ELECSA assessor seems fine with all this.
You can take a horse to water.........

Whilst I agree in part, my estimates show the bonding as an "extra" and I've explained to the client that they are required as part of the visit prior to doing the estimate.

I do how ever wonder why the ESC encourages us to add bonding for even the smallest change and allows every tom, dick and harry to buy/install in perfect ignorance.

 

[oldtimer]

Whilst I agree in part, my estimates show the bonding as an "extra" and I've explained to the client that they are required as part of the visit prior to doing the estimate.

I do how ever wonder why the ESC encourages us to add bonding for even the smallest change and allows every tom, dick and harry to buy/install in perfect ignorance.

Totally agree Murdoch when you survey the job thats when you find that there is no earth going to either gas or water or both and always draw their attention to this but to do the job and then tell them or worse hold this information back well thats just plain wrong plus with assesors they seem to make it up as they go along

 

[Spazz]

What I find is a good way of dealing with customers with no earth bonding is tell them you have an obligation to issue them with a Electrical Danger Notice and a copy must go to the LA Public Safety Department.

They usually tell you to crack on with it.

Personally that is the first thing I check

NO BONDING - NO STARTING WORK!

 

[oldtimer]

What I find is a good way of dealing with customers with no earth bonding is tell them you have an obligation to issue them with a Electrical Danger Notice and a copy must go to the LA Public Safety Department.

They usually tell you to crack on with it.

Personally that is the first thing I check

NO BONDING - NO STARTING WORK!

Hence why I ask how can you put in a CU as you are obliged to highlight it plus Schemies should not be telling their members to send a get out of jail letter reminding them it needs done after the fact

 

[Tonkatoy27]

"NO BONDING - NO STARTING WORK!"


I'd love to be so busy I could turn down work because the customer does not want me to install it! I've even had cases of customers not wanting it because it wouldn't look nice and regulaly have to paint the cable black to keep them happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm strongly advising it all the time but people just seem to be suspicious of my motives. They are happy to pay to get what they want but don't want to pay for essential safety precautions. I even tell them about the poor lady in Cornwall last year found dead in the bath by her daughter because the taps were live.
I had a strange installation for a friend last weekend, no internal stopcock, no idea where the incoming pipe entered the house. Plastic under the kitchen sink and in bathroom but metal pipes to the new washing machine and copper pipes feeding electric 'wet' heating system. Only one earth wire at conunit. (6mm) disapearing under kitchen floor (polished floorboards) and no sign of earth stake. (TT)
Got to presume 6mm goes to earth stake under kitchen floor due to Ze being reasonable but god knows about the water earthing. Can't lift kitchen floor to inspect without damage. Can't get an earth cable to visible copper pipes at rear of property without running cable surface front to back internally. Just had to recommend it but not heard anything yet about doing it and thats a friend!

 

[Tonkatoy27]

Hence why I ask how can you put in a CU as you are obliged to highlight it plus Schemies should not be telling their members to send a get out of jail letter reminding them it needs done after the fact

ELECSA didn't tell me to send a letter. I decided to draft one and send it because:
a. I'm worried that their electrical installation isn't bonded and as safe as it could be.
b. I would love the oppotunity to return, install bonding and make some money
c. I want to make it plain in the event of a shock or fire that I did everything possible to try and persude the customer to have it done short of doing the job for free.

Whats safer. An old wylex wooden board with rewirable fuses and no RCD with no bonding or a 17th board with MCB/RCD protection and no bonding?

 

[Welchyboy]

"NO BONDING - NO STARTING WORK!"


I'd love to be so busy I could turn down work because the customer does not want me to install it! I've even had cases of customers not wanting it because it wouldn't look nice and regulaly have to paint the cable black to keep them happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm strongly advising it all the time but people just seem to be suspicious of my motives. They are happy to pay to get what they want but don't want to pay for essential safety precautions. I even tell them about the poor lady in Cornwall last year found dead in the bath by her daughter because the taps were live.
I had a strange installation for a friend last weekend, no internal stopcock, no idea where the incoming pipe entered the house. Plastic under the kitchen sink and in bathroom but metal pipes to the new washing machine and copper pipes feeding electric 'wet' heating system. Only one earth wire at conunit. (6mm) disapearing under kitchen floor (polished floorboards) and no sign of earth stake. (TT)
Got to presume 6mm goes to earth stake under kitchen floor due to Ze being reasonable but god knows about the water earthing. Can't lift kitchen floor to inspect without damage. Can't get an earth cable to visible copper pipes at rear of property without running cable surface front to back internally. Just had to recommend it but not heard anything yet about doing it and thats a friend!

I really dont see this as such a problem , I just quote to do it with the board, I also give them the Niceic customer earthing and bonding sheet and explain why I'm doing it, yeah it's a pain Sometimes but I wouldn't carry on with the install without installing it, it's a direct contravention of the regs and your leaving yourself wide open issuing a cert and signing it too!!

Bad practice and unproffessional IMO! What's next no rcd protection as the customer wont pay for it and you can't afford to loose the work?!

Customers like that you don't want or need, if the worst happens they will be the first to take you to the cleaners!

 

[PC Electrics]

I'm with ELECSA and regulaly have customers where I've changed the consumer unit, tested and found no earth bonding to water or gas or both. Obviously then we inform the customer straight away but if they don't want to pay you the money to do it then you can't force them! I've had some sucess giving out Electrical Safety Council leaflets on earthing and bonding to try and make the customer understand but sometimes they just won't stump up to have it done. I know in a perfect world we would survey first and make them aware prior to the consumer unit but you run the risk of them thinking you are fishing for extra's. (I blame the cowboy builder programs)
No bonding gets noted on installation certificate and if we don't return to book it they get a follow up letter with said ESC leaflet. My ELECSA assessor seems fine with all this.
You can take a horse to water.........

Who's your assessor then? Mine's Russ Prestidge and I'm 99.9% certain he would pull you up sharp if you showed him that.
MPB is a basic safety requirement, not an optional extra.
Your new CU install must conform to the regulations including MPB.

No MPB is a C2 on an eicr! That means unsatisfactory. How can you do work that leaves an install in an unsatisfactory condition?

I suggest you check guide 6 here:
Best practice guides : Electrical Safety Council
especially the flow chart inside the back page.

 

[Ponty Massive]

You shouldn't change the CU unless the bonding is in place !!!