Consumer Unused Spare ways

[seftonbarn]

I am fitting a new dual CU that comes with 10MCBs. For those that are unused is it acceptable to just leave them installed but switched off and identified as unused. Or should they be removed and replaced with blanks?

 

[Swicade]

We all have our different way of doing things,aslong as we do them within the regs and a safe manner alls good at the end of the day.

Regarding any consumer unit, aslong as there's no gaps (filled in with MCB or Blanks (preferably modular blanks IMO)) and labelled correctly and clearly then everything should be fine and dandy.

 

[oldtimer]

Could be worse I have either sen the blanks missing or a bit O phase tape across the space

 

[StuSpiers]

Horses for courses.

 

[sparky-s-w]

Could be worse I have either sen the blanks missing or a bit O phase tape across the space

yea sorry bout that didnt have black tape :cheesy:

 

[Lucas]

Didn't say I do that, I just put blank's in, I don't but consumer units that come with X amount of breakers, I buy them as I need. By some of the peoples here's logic Blank plates are pretty much pointless because you can just put a socket on and because its not doing any harm its ok, just pointless and makes no sense

 

[bradder]

Some years ago I fitted a 40amp mcb as a blank,returned to the job some time later to find the stairlift installer had moved the immersion heater circuit to the 40amp and used the 16amp for his lift! Since then I never fit mcb's as blanks.

 

[sparky-s-w]

some years ago, i knew a guy who fitted spares then the house blew up, i also knew a guy, who fitted blanks and guess what, the house blew up. i also knew a guy who fitted laminated wall charts and guess what, no the house was fine & scam assor was happy.

my point is each to their own

 

[Jimmy Boy]

Some years ago I fitted a 40amp mcb as a blank,returned to the job some time later to find the stairlift installer had moved the immersion heater circuit to the 40amp and used the 16amp for his lift! Since then I never fit mcb's as blanks.

Now that is a really good point actually !
J

 

[1shortcircuit]

I ALWAYS remove and only for one reason... To stop silly DIYers taking a new circuit into a spare breaker.

Here's an example.

My consumer unit cupboard is rather dark... I know, I'll wire a light in there. That working on a fuseboard looks really easy after watching that spark. It's only a few wires it'll be fine.

Yep, until those few pieces of a 1.5mm scrap cable, ancient light and switch found in the garage end up in a 32A breaker.... One day... BOOM!!!!, neee naaaaa neeeee naaaaaa. Oh hello fireman Sam, not sure what that electrician did when he was here but my fuse board is on fire now, Plleeeeeeeeaaaaase Help????

As I have mentioned here, I don't fit the spare MCB's. Just because "I" don't doesn't mean that I am right and others who do are wrong. It's just the way I work. Also, I do not leave the spare breakers. I keep them on the van for when customers require additional circuits to which I will supply them FOC if I have fitted the board.

I price my Consumer Unit replacements at a standard rate. The price does not alter whether I use 3 breakers or 10 breakers in the CU I provide.

It's nice to see members reasons as to why they do and why they don't but I will still continue as I do... Because "I" am my own boss, and "I" am the one signing my name on the certificate :thumbsup



Someone could well throw a 1.5mm t&e cable in with my 50A breaker for the cooker at the CU but then again the same could be done for an extractor hood from the cooker Isolator lol Far less cable required from this point lol

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

 

[Knobhead]

Taking things to the extreme.
A contractor installed a new board for us at work. Knowing what this guy was like I went and had a nose around what he’d done. To my surprise there was nothing wrong with the new board or the 25mm 4C SWA feeding it.
The switch room was a different matter, I hunted high and low on the auxiliary switchboard for the feed. First thoughts he’s not labelled it, then I noticed a new label on another board. He’d only fed a 25mm off an 800A fuse switch!
He got a very cordial invitation to an arse kicking party.

 

[johnboy6083]

Taking things to the extreme.
A contractor installed a new board for us at work. Knowing what this guy was like I went and had a nose around what he’d done. To my surprise there was nothing wrong with the new board or the 25mm 4C SWA feeding it.
The switch room was a different matter, I hunted high and low on the auxiliary switchboard for the feed. First thoughts he’s not labelled it, then I noticed a new label on another board. He’d only fed a 25mm off an 800A fuse switch!

He got a very cordial invitation to an arse kicking party.

maybe he was feeding heaters, and didnt require overload protection, only short circuit! lol

( for the even more pedantic than me, i have not carried out an adiabatic check, to see if the 25mm could handle the fault current that would occur before the 800A fuses operated)

 

[jonnyboy1]

I know a couple of very experienced sparks that have had a warning from the scam assessors about this it's a minor they still got their ticket but hey ho
J

beat this 1

no calibration certs for testers
wrong readings on sheet to what was on meter 0.22ohms on sheet 13.2 on meter!!!!! communal close supply (scam provider guy standing with meter in hand)
but still got approved for this provider (the big 1)
so yes they are a scam and only after your cash

 

[oldtimer]

beat this 1

no calibration certs for testers
wrong readings on sheet to what was on meter 0.22ohms on sheet 13.2 on meter!!!!! communal close supply (scam provider guy standing with meter in hand)
but still got approved for this provider (the big 1)
so yes they are a scam and only after your cash

So when did you realise that the scams are not here to raise standards but subscription you should look at them the same way as the big PAT testing companies just put stickers on anything that moves where they badge anything that pays. I have said it before it will take a death for these clowns to start doing their job

 

[Octopus]

beat this 1

no calibration certs for testers
wrong readings on sheet to what was on meter 0.22ohms on sheet 13.2 on meter!!!!! communal close supply (scam provider guy standing with meter in hand)
but still got approved for this provider (the big 1)
so yes they are a scam and only after your cash

My Elecsa assessor wouldn't let this past him.

 

[Silly Sausage]

no calibration certs for testers

The first :-------: I worked for used to 'calibrate' (word used in its loosest sense) our DMMs in his garage, F knows what on. Come back with a crappy little hand written label on. This is on a major NW chemical site.