Consumer unit replacement

[gavlar]

Hi , I'm currently planning a consumer unit replacement for my niceic assessment.

The property is a small 1 bed ground floor flat , with only 5 circuits

The installation is very old and I know I will need to make sure my earthing and bonding is up to scratch

Do I need to install a dual rcd 17th edition board , as I'm sure this type of board is too large for a small 1 bed flat ?

I am planning on installing something smaller with a single rcd protecting all circuits , will this be acceptable ?

I know that this may be a nuisance if the rcd trips but its only a small flat and I can't see how a large dual Board can be justified.

Any advice Appreciated

Thanks

 

[Richard Burns]

All RCBO board, be prepared for plenty of problems!

 

[RyanCheetham]

The best way is to fit an all RCBO board but can be expensive. Cheaper way is to fit a 10way dual rcd board. You should leave spare ways availabe for future work anyway, something like 20 percent of total circuits

 

[Octopus]

Single RCD board and a NICEIC inspection - now that would be fun being a fly on the wall!

 

[Fin170]

Just RCBOs on the circuits that need rcd protection, if it's a old flat it may all be done in pyro and rcd protection not needed

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Have you forewarned your client that due to the age of the installation you may find it falls down on inspection and test prior to replacing the CU, and may need a rewire? Dont get caught out, have you done an EICR prior to quoting for CU work.

Cheers.............Howard

 

[gavlar]

Thanks a lot for the advice, much appreciated.

 

[SensesFailYou]

Have you forewarned your client that due to the age of the installation you may find it falls down on inspection and test prior to replacing the CU, and may need a rewire? Dont get caught out, have you done an EICR prior to quoting for CU work.

Cheers.............Howard

This has happened to me recently, needed a CU change for a new kitchen installation and when i went to do board found loads of problems on Ring Circuits. One being someone had taken both legs for the downstairs Ring to a JB directly under the CU (under the floor) and then taken a further 2 from that JB to every socket downstairs. :-l great readings but it should be considering it was a 2 meter ring before going to another ring :-l.

Same thing upstairs I believe, Took a socket off separated cables, tested for ring continuity downstairs and we have a winner we still have continuity of 0.09 on the L-L and N-N :-l finding this is going to be fun with laminate flooring. Theres a moral to this story haha

 

[telectrix]

This has happened to me recently, needed a CU change for a new kitchen installation and when i went to do board found loads of problems on Ring Circuits. One being someone had taken both legs for the downstairs Ring to a JB directly under the CU (under the floor) and then taken a further 2 from that JB to every socket downstairs. :-l great readings but it should be considering it was a 2 meter ring before going to another ring :-l.

Same thing upstairs I believe, Took a socket off separated cables, tested for ring continuity downstairs and we have a winner we still have continuity of 0.09 on the L-L and N-N :-l finding this is going to be fun with laminate flooring. Theres a moral to this story haha

a fun day for you then, sorting that lot out.

 

[SensesFailYou]

The customer has asked me to wait until her daughter goes back to Uni next Monday before looking into it so no power for them upstairs at the moment because sadly there is also a N-E short also. So mr RCD won't be happy :-l what a life! I have an opportunity to work on undustrial instead of domestic but for some reason I like domestic more :-s

 

[telectrix]

??????? prefer domestic???? on your knees, crawling in fibreglass, competing in a cut-throat market. sod that. give me industrial any day.

 

[GT1]

Ditto.
#hatelofts

 

[Guitarist]

I am planning on installing something smaller with a single rcd protecting all circuits , will this be acceptable ?

I know that this may be a nuisance if the rcd trips but its only a small flat and I can't see how a large dual Board can be justified.

Any advice Appreciated

Thanks

I'm assuming that you will be let loose on the general public following your assessment. I think you need to reread the regs after that statement.

 

[gavlar]

Oh yes guitarist I can't wait to be let loose ! . I hope you play the guitar better than you give advice

 

[telectrix]

he does , actually. and his advice is good anyway. you have been told the best way, so either take the advice or bugger off.