Consumer Unit with RCD as Main Switch?

[Dipzy]

Hi All,

Went to see a "leaking blue / green liquid" from the consumer unit problem today.

It is a TN-S system with a 16th Edition board using an RCD as the main switch, would this be allowed today (?) in that it doesn't comply with reg 415.1.2

Have made a recommendation to EICR the installation as the client is hoping to rent out the property.

Any help/advice from my learned colleagues would be much appreciated.

Regards Dipzy

Apologies meant to write 15th edition board:6:

 

[telectrix]

all you can do about the CU is recommend improvement. it's at worst a C3 on your EICR.

 

[Octopus]

You are spot on that you wouldn't do this now, but as tel says its a c3

 

[davesparks]

So deal with the green goo and move along.

When was the CU installed? It may be that the installation is not even due for a periodic inspection yet, the 16th edition was current less than 10 years ago!

 

[trev]

So deal with the green goo and move along.

When was the CU installed? It may be that the installation is not even due for a periodic inspection yet, the 16th edition was current less than 10 years ago!

I'm doing one on Thursday that had a new CU a few months back. Proper bloody cowboy job.
Apparently the guy who threw it on the wall told the couple that he "was almost as good as an electrician but cheaper".
Obviously, not being an electrician (but cheaper) there'll be no certification.

 

[Resu]

"leaking blue / green liquid"

What's the craic here, never heard of this before?

 

[trev]

Loads of threads on here about it mate It seems to be cyclical, there's none of it for months then a spate of it all at once.

 

[davesparks]

I'm doing one on Thursday that had a new CU a few months back. Proper bloody cowboy job.
Apparently the guy who threw it on the wall told the couple that he "was almost as good as an electrician but cheaper".
Obviously, not being an electrician (but cheaper) there'll be no certification.

I see your point, but there was a lot less of this Electrical Trainee nonsense when the 16th edition was alive.
And curiously enough less of this CU's needing to be replaced just because they aren't brand new Chinese plastic tat.

 

[Resu]

Loads of threads on here about it mate It seems to be cyclical, there's none of it for months then a spate of it all at once.

Interesting, will search!

 

[davesparks]

'Green goo' is a product of a reaction between early plastic insulation and the copper conductors.
It doesn't have any detrimental effect on the cable and is pretty much harmless. The only real problem is the mess it makes as it dribbles out of the bottom of switches etc.

 

[telectrix]

it's a reaction between the copper and a plasticiser in the insulation, cables affected were installed 60's and 70's. the green goo is a copper compound, similar to the green copper you see on old church roofs. that is if tidy boiler's not been there first.:smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5:

 

[trev]

I see your point, but there was a lot less of this Electrical Trainee nonsense when the 16th edition was alive.
And curiously enough less of this CU's needing to be replaced just because they aren't brand new Chinese plastic tat.

I see what you mean about the 5WWs mate but the cowboy and the dilutey have always been with us. When I finished my time the skillcentre trained bloke was going to be the death of civilisation as we knew it. The skill centres used to give them 6 months.

 

[davesparks]

I know there were still cowboys around every corner.

But at least they couldn't buy a nice shiny badge from mr scam to con people in to thinking they were legit!

 

[Dipzy]

it's a reaction between the copper and a plasticiser in the insulation, cables affected were installed 60's and 70's. the green goo is a copper compound, similar to the green copper you see on old church roofs. that is if tidy boiler's not been there first.:smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5:

but doesn't the migrating plasticiser leave the pvc in a brittle condition?

 

[telectrix]

nope it dribbles out like snot.