No isolator after meter & wiring a mess

[Loki]

Hi Everyone,

My parents have had a faulty none working shower replaced with same 8.5Kw power rating one (not by me). It is on the original 30A fuse ( a quick calc check & the max current draw is 37A) with isolating switch but not rcd protected. the feed comes off the meter to a Henley style block & then to the fuse/switch.
I was thinking of getting & fitting a bg shower cu with a 63A 30mA rcd & a 40A mcb as a short term fit until they decide to upgrade their cu.
See pics



As you can see the wiring is a mess & it use to have economy 7 which as been removed hense the disconnected wires.

Personally I'd prefer it to be done properly & do a cu replacement & make it look tidy as well but full IR testing etc done first, probably cables would need extending etc. Would also check bonding.

As said parents for now just want the rcd & mcb fitting but as their is no isolating switch as the feed is off the Henley block. I know they should contact electricity supplier & get one fitted before continuing. Or "cough" pull the main fuse but dont really want to do that unless the seal is already broken which I'll check tomorrow when I'm there.

Any advice greatly received

Thanks

Michael

 

[telectrix]

plenty of room higher up so can get CU away from the gas meter. cables should not then need extending.as an interim fix of a RCD/MCB shower unit, nothing amiss with pulling the tails from those henleys live, ensuring that the CU isolators are OFF, and assuming thst you are competent to do it.

edit: just noticed your trainee status. do you have a mentor that can work with you. certification is essential .and notification is advised. (you all know my take on part pee and the scams).

 

[Loki]

plenty of room higher up so can get CU away from the gas meter. cables should not then need extending.as an interim fix of a RCD/MCB shower unit, nothing amiss with pulling the tails from those henleys live, ensuring that the CU isolators are OFF, and assuming thst you are competent to do it.

edit: just noticed your trainee status. do you have a mentor that can work with you. certification is essential .and notification is advised. (you all know my take on part pee and the scams).

I am competent to do the work & i did think about the option of disconnecting the tails on the load side of the Henley block before it splits & goes to the cu or shower circuit but I don't like possibility (more a gut feeling) about the risk. One mishap & I'd be dead as theirs no safety protection device or way to isolate it unless I pull main fuse.
I had thought about using this cu upgrade at my parents in the future for the part p (scam) assessment?

If main fuse seal is not already broken (previous owner was a kitchen fitter) then I'll ask supplier to fit an isolation switch after the meter. Would make my life easier. Would they charge for this?

Regarding the existing fuse/switch that comes off the Henley block directly after the meter. Would that still be notifyable? I would assume so as it technically is a mini cu being fitted.

 

[davesparks]

Id say it's up to the person who carried out the replacement to install the correct ocpd and RCD, along with confirming the cable size is suitable and replacing if necessary.

What kind of disaster is the minor works certificate they issued?

 

[gazdkw82]

pull the main fuse and sort that mess out ( cough cough)

 

[Richard Burns]

Your main fuse still has the seal in place so you should contact the electricity supplier to arrange a temporary disconnection if you need to change parts that cannot be isolated.
The supplier should not (but sometimes do) charge for a temporary disconnection but they often do charge(but sometimes not) for fitting an isolator switch.
However there is nothing stopping you from having an isolator switch ready and waiting to go in with appropriate length of tails ready for attachment to the meter.
This could then be installed as they remove the fuse and they can then immediately reenergise and you can continue your installation work after the isolator and just switch back on once completed.

If you are only doing a temporary fix and do not want the hassle because you know it will be done for a CU change in the near future then you could just install a 40A+ 30mA RCD (£9 from wyverne!) in an enclosure after the shower switch fuse and replace the 30A fuse with a push in wylex 40A MCB (£9 from toolstation!) This avoids the need for disconnection as the switch fuse will provide the isolation, however it does still leave a less than desirable but nearly compliant (is that possible?) installation.
You should also check that the cable is suitable to be protected by a 40A MCB, it looks like it is 6mm² but it is hard to tell from a photo and I do not know the installation method. Earthing and bonding to be confirmed as suitable. Should be non notifiable as it is just adding an RCD and changing a protective device.

 

[Loki]

Id say it's up to the person who carried out the replacement to install the correct ocpd and RCD, along with confirming the cable size is suitable and replacing if necessary.

What kind of disaster is the minor works certificate they issued?

Spoken to my parents & no certificate was given " what a surprise"

 

[davesparks]

Spoken to my parents & no certificate was given " what a surprise"

So get in touch with the installer and ask for the certificate and an explanation of why RCD protection was not installed.