Consumer Unit Move

newsparky · Feb 17, 2013

Hello can I have some advice please.

I have been asked to move a consumer unit by a family friend.
It needs to be moved 3m which is fine.

The 2 problems that I have -

1. No main protective bonding conductors - which will obviously need sorting before I can change the board.

2. It is a student house and shower cubicles have been put put in all of the bedrooms and there are sockets within 3m of all the cubicles.

The board will need to be changed to a split load dual RCD board as there is no RCD protection for any of it and I will need to carry out a periodic first as there is no previous certification for any of the work (this was originally done 4 years ago).

The main question is can I change the board knowing that there are sockets within 3m of the shower cubicles and code it as a C2 on the periodic or do I have to blank these sockets off before carrying out the board change?
There is no way that the sockets will stay blanked but I need to cover myself.

Many Thanks

BrianDB9 · Feb 18, 2013

Sounds like your falling for what lots of people fall for - what if it wasn't a "family friend" ?

Anyone who respects you as a profesional will understand - providing they have it explained to them professionally and they see you as providing solutions.

So it sounds like you've had a look round maybe to price up the EICR so whats wrong with telling them that there are problems that are obvious - the client might not understand but if an electrician installed the showers ? then the possibility of being a latent defect exists ? Suggest they get them back ?

It is a difficult one and i bet if i had a look i'd find other issues too maybe overloading ? and further latent defects ?
I might even consider walking away from this one especially if i didn't have a considerable amount of experience , or at the very least drafting in the help of someone with that experience that you can maybe strike up a reciprocal arrangement with ?

Something you have to learn in this game is nobody knows it all and only a fool thinks they do - we are dealing with lives or the potential for death.

I might be a bit ---- but everything i put in writing is usually ready for court, cover your *rse cos your best mate will sue you if the right buttons are pressed.

telectrix · Feb 18, 2013

BrianDB9 said:
Sounds like your falling for what lots of people fall for - what if it wasn't a "family friend" ?

Anyone who respects you as a profesional will understand - providing they have it explained to them professionally and they see you as providing solutions.

So it sounds like you've had a look round maybe to price up the EICR so whats wrong with telling them that there are problems that are obvious - the client might not understand but if an electrician installed the showers ? then the possibility of being a latent defect exists ? Suggest they get them back ?

It is a difficult one and i bet if i had a look i'd find other issues too maybe overloading ? and further latent defects ?
I might even consider walking away from this one especially if i didn't have a considerable amount of experience , or at the very least drafting in the help of someone with that experience that you can maybe strike up a reciprocal arrangement with ?

Something you have to learn in this game is nobody knows it all and only a fool thinks they do - we are dealing with lives or the potential for death.

I might be a bit ---- but everything i put in writing is usually ready for court, cover your *rse cos your best mate will sue you if the right buttons are pressed.

well, i've learnt something today. before today i didn't know they spoke english in huddersfield.LOL. :smilielol5:

TAZ · Feb 18, 2013

telectrix said:
well, i've learnt something today. before today i didn't know they spoke english in huddersfield.LOL. :smilielol5:

They do have a very nice town hall as well

GLENNSPARK · Feb 18, 2013

newsparky said:
Hello can I have some advice please.

I have been asked to move a consumer unit by a family friend.
It needs to be moved 3m which is fine.

The 2 problems that I have -

1. No main protective bonding conductors - which will obviously need sorting before I can change the board.

2. It is a student house and shower cubicles have been put put in all of the bedrooms and there are sockets within 3m of all the cubicles.

The board will need to be changed to a split load dual RCD board as there is no RCD protection for any of it and I will need to carry out a periodic first as there is no previous certification for any of the work (this was originally done 4 years ago).

The main question is can I change the board knowing that there are sockets within 3m of the shower cubicles and code it as a C2 on the periodic or do I have to blank these sockets off before carrying out the board change?
There is no way that the sockets will stay blanked but I need to cover myself.

Many Thanks