Electrician Jobs Looking for electrical check and possible new consumer unit - Airdrie

[martinw]

Moving into a new (to me) property, looking for someone to give install once over from safety perspective.

Longer term maybe looking to replace consumer unit with one with RCBOs (current has MCBs not sure if any RCD).

Would prefer a small firm to large one. Would be looking to get check done on Tuesday 26th June(afternoon)

 

[Pete999]

Moving into a new (to me) property, looking for someone to give install once over from safety perspective.

Longer term maybe looking to replace consumer unit with one with RCBOs (current has MCBs not sure if any RCD).

Would prefer a small firm to large one. Would be looking to get check done on Tuesday 26th June(afternoon)

Whereabouts?

 

[martinw]

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

 

[Pete999]

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

To far for me Mate, anyway don't have a current passport.lol

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

To far for me Mate, anyway don't have a current passport.lol

Also you might not speak the local lingo and get lost on the way.... went to glasgow once ... barely understood a thing they were saying...

 

[telectrix]

Also you might not speak the local lingo and get lost on the way.... went to glasgow once ... barely understood a thing they were saying...

nor do they.

 

[littlespark]

OP. Can you send us a photograph of the consumer unit MCB's? We will be able to tell you if there's an RCD present.
Would be a couple of hours for me to drive over from other end of Hadrians wall, but i'm sure one of the Glasgow sparks will chip in soon enough.

 

[martinw]

OP. Can you send us a photograph of the consumer unit MCB's? We will be able to tell you if there's an RCD present.
Would be a couple of hours for me to drive over from other end of Hadrians wall, but i'm sure one of the Glasgow sparks will chip in soon enough.

I cant't I'm afraid, I didn't take a picture during the viewing. All I can recall (viewed over a month ago so could be wrong) metal consumer unit, had breakers, breakers weren't push button kind (old wylex/mem which can be added to replace wired fuses), fusebox is at least 10 years old

In any case I'd like some check of the wiring itself

 

[littlespark]

fusebox is at least 10 years old

If its the fuse-holder replacement type breakers then try at least 30 years old and then some.

Educated guess, i'd say the consumer unit does need upgrading.
However, the property would require an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) rather than just a "once over" to satisfy any safety concerns you may have, and that will take longer than one afternoon.

 

[martinw]

If its the fuse-holder replacement type breakers then try at least 30 years old and then some.

Educated guess, i'd say the consumer unit does need upgrading.
However, the property would require an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) rather than just a "once over" to satisfy any safety concerns you may have, and that will take longer than one afternoon.

so they didn't appear to be replacement/retro fit MCBs(they weren't the round push button ones, which were popular retrofits)

An EICR might be a good idea, but I avoided specifying that as it can become more about the provision of a certificate than anything else (to satisfy landlord market)

 

[martinw]

Just got keys today the consumer unit looked like

Google Image Result for http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/bolukeduke/DSC00004.jpg - https://goo.gl/images/PAkvfd

It had a RCD (or similar) rated at 70ma. I think it would probably benifit from a replacement.

 

[martinw]

Obviously it would need a certain level of testing before it's changed. See what if any surprises lay in store(RCD maybe least of worries lol)

 

[Des 56]

By all means get things tested but don't be too disparaging about that board
Other than it knocks the lot off when it trips,a new unit may not greatly improve on whats there, those Mem boards were far better quality units than the garbage being installed these days

 

[martinw]

Thanks, thats good to know

I'm basically trying to
- get any safety issues sorted
- plan for future (in terms of whole house)

I'd rather have a better RCD when standing under an electric shower, but I also showered for years under one with no RCD at all just a rewirable fuse

 

[littlespark]

That's not a photo of YOUR consumer unit, just one similar?
Your best choice (and obviously most expensive) is individual RCBO's on each circuit rather than an RCD mainswitch.

Get some free quotes from reputable local electricians... And try not to go down the chuck-a-trade/trusted trader type sites.
Ask your new neighbours for recommendations. (just because a van is plastered in NICEIC and Select stickers, it doesn't mean the guy inside is the best at what he can do)