moving consumer unit help

[Welshsparky]

Been asked to move a consumer unit by a local estate agent as ( believe it or not ) its tucked behind a kitchen unit , only accessible by taking part of the kitchen out! , it's an old rewire able fuse board , if I am to move it, would I be required to change it to an updated rcd protected version? Or if the fuse boards still in good shape could I re-use?

 

[PEG]

"Gladiators,to those who are about to die,we salute you" :gunsmilie:

 

[telectrix]

work that you do needs to comply with current regs. a rewireable CU without RCD protection does not comply. end of lesson.

 

[Guitarist]

You really have to ask?

 

[Octopus]

You really have to ask?

Curious why the OP got a "like"

 

[richy3333]

Curious why the OP got a "like"

Brave enough to ask before the next 14 pages of getting his arse kicked by members?

 

[Welshsparky]

Ha ha abuse away guys ... I was merely confirming something I already knew after a long day battling with estate agent and landlord about Having to upgrade

 

[telectrix]

it could be argued that relocating the existing CU does not leave the installation less safe than before, but i would not like to use that as a defence in court.

 

[richy3333]

You have my sympathy mate, They are penny pinching and probably think you're trying to make money/work out of it, rather than complying with the Regs and in doing so making the installation more safe.

I had a similarly located CU a few months back, in the back of a 1000mm corner base unit. Told the customer the joiner would have to dismantle part of the kitchen so I could access it. He thought I had a magic wand to move the unit!

 

[Guitarist]

You have my sympathy mate, They are penny pinching and probably think you're trying to make money/work out of it, rather than complying with the Regs and in doing so making the installation more safe.

I had a similarly located CU a few months back, in the back of a 1000mm corner base unit. Told the customer the joiner would have to dismantle part of the kitchen so I could access it. He thought I had a magic wand to move the unit!

But it's only a few wires....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

theres nowt wrong with BS3036 C/Us....
its the lack of additional protection (RCD) thats the issue.....
so as has been said already a new split load C/U would be the easiest way to comply with the current edition of BS7671..
but lets say it was TT...and there was no RCD for fault and the client wasn`t in a position to have a new C/U installed....then a temporary setup with top end RCD in its own enclosure would cut it.....the only issue there then would be the total loss of power should the RCD let go....
but i would rather that on a temporary basis for fault protection rather than nowt..
to the O/P...IR test between neutrals beforehand before anything else....oh, and a quick Ze here as well....
this would be before carrying out the work...

 

[Badged01]

Have to agree with Glen the old re-wire is still useable its just how you sort out the RCD protection bit if you move it since any work you do has to be to current regs (including bonding etc ... if there aint any!!)

As our learned colleagues have stated, a new 17th edition compliant board is the easiest way but a 'blogged' RCD upfront of the old re-wireable could be a workable solution depending on the scenario you have before you!

For me I'd only fit a 17th edition compliant board if I was doing the job but you pays your money and you takes your choice ......

 

[MDJ]

Been asked to move a consumer unit by a local estate agent as ( believe it or not ) its tucked behind a kitchen unit , only accessible by taking part of the kitchen out! , it's an old rewire able fuse board , if I am to move it, would I be required to change it to an updated rcd protected version? Or if the fuse boards still in good shape could I re-use?

well if you stripped out an old board like that and moved it and reused it I and everyone here would be appalled, HTH

 

[diabalo]

As a (hypothetical) customer I would appreciate an itemised breakdown of the costs of this move. Since the overwhelming proportion of the cost of the job is in the moving process, and a resonable, 17th edition compliant board is really pretty cheap, I would easily be persuaded that the extra cost was worthwhile.

 

[Octopus]

As a (hypothetical) customer I would appreciate an itemised breakdown of the costs of this move. Since the overwhelming proportion of the cost of the job is in the moving process, and a resonable, 17th edition compliant board is really pretty cheap, I would easily be persuaded that the extra cost was worthwhile.

If you are moving the board and extending the cables you are oblidged to test ALL the circuits you alter, so the difference in price should only be the cost of the dual rcd board.

I wouldn't relocate a BS3036 board - I'd rather decline the work.