Rcd Protection Issue

[Aaronh86]

Hi everyone,

I recently brought property and wanted to check the electrics were ok, so I got a electrical report done.
1 of the things they stated in the report says " No Rcd protection for lighting and central heating "
The company who did the report have quoted me for changing the consumer unit and rewiring the kitchen.
I just wanted to know if I really need to change the consumer unit based on there being no rcd protection for lights and central heating or is fixing the rcd issue separate from the consumer unit.
I'm assuming other things are rcd protected with my current c.u as there is no mention of them not being protected. The cu I have at the moment doesn't look more than 5 years old either and I only want a new one if it's completely necessary.

 

[The Ghost]

What's wrong with getting a 2nd opinion?
I didn't post your company name or say a bad word about you.

@Aaronh86 Was that addressed to me? If so please understand I was merely pretending to be the contractor in question, I am sorry if my sense of humour has been abrasive to you.

 

[Midwest]

Midwest the kitchen is being fully refurbished, but I'm just wanted to know if the full rewire to it was necessary or if other options are available to fixing the other than a dodgy plastering over.
.

In that case, it would probably be easy, to partially rewire the kitchen, unless the position of the sockets remain unchanged?

My eyes not too good with your pic of the cu, how many 'socket circuits' do you have?​

 

[Richard Burns]

As far as I can tell the first quote you have does not provide for rewiring the kitchen only removing the exposed connections and the sockets that could overload the cable. However this would be part of the work for rewiring the kitchen circuits in the second quote so the combination may be cheaper.
If you are totally renovating the kitchen then that is the time to rewire the circuits as it would be much more expensive if the kitchen is not removed. From the state of the "changes" this would be a good idea to ensure all is well. The cellar and bedroom sockets that are currently incorrectly wired might be able to be incorporated safely into the newly arranged wiring in the kitchen.
The RCD protection for circuits is as an in the below diagram.
One consideration is that a new consumer unit would need to be made from non combustible material as opposed to the plastic CU you have already, but this is a minor point.
RCBOs provide individual circuit protection and avoid non faulty circuits being disconnected. At the moment any fault on the right hand side that would trip the RCD would switch off all circuits on that side.

Resolution of the other problems identified (not the fire rated downlights) would be a useful exercise in safety.

 

[Midwest]

Resolution of the other problems identified (not the fire rated downlights) would be a useful exercise in safety.

Your eyesights good; from the blurred image I'm looking at, I can only make out the word 'MCB', and before anyone says anything, the sun is not over the yardarm yet!

PS Vorts already given the OP a quote, so don't think you can smooch in here and pull the rug from under Vorts feet, you naughty boy

 

[Wilko]

PS Vorts already given the OP a quote, so don't think you can smooch in here and pull the rug from under Vorts feet, you naughty boy

Ha - I'll do it for a tenner less
(V and me both being cheeky)

 

[Midwest]

Ha - I'll do it for a tenner less
(V and me both being cheeky)

Tel will be in a while & undercut you; he'd do it for a packet of 10 Woodbines. He'd use the empty packet for his next quote

 

[Aaronh86]

Vortigen u got me good lol, worried I might have to find another electrician, cause he seems decent. I just like to know different options before any job gets done.

Richard burns thanks for doing the diagram and explaining the quote, made it clearer for me and to everyone else as well, Very much appreciated.

 

[pirate]

Ahhh...Woodbines!
Does anyone remeber the joke about the council workman who called to fix a woman's clothes pulley? (If you don't know what a pulley is, the answer's probably "no")

 

[Flanders]

Anyone else a bit baffled why there's 2 x 32A MCB's that are apparently spare but installer chose to fit 2 x 40A MCB's for the sockets...?

Yes that what i thought and why i suggested in my post to use them if they are indead spare , as for the board change although you can fit rcbos in the current consumer unit , the sparks who inpected it may have thought the the amount of work in making room to fit the rcbos and along with the kitchen rewire it may be more cost effective to replace the consumer unit , as others have said get another quote .

 

[The Ghost]

I am not entirely clear as to your relationship in terms of legal responsibilities. You say you are (renting??) to your family (big mistake imho) In which case you will be a landlord? Or is it a freebie? Don't really know, however as the property owner (and Landlord?) you will have a legal responsibility for the electrics among other things. When I come across jobs like this I usually decline them as it is a messy approach, patch and mend, there is no knowing what lurks beneath especially looking at the patchwork sockets in the kitchen. Rip it out start again in the kitchen with a spanking brand new ring circuit. Then there will be no doubt about the integrity and longevity of that circuit. Unless the kitchen is really small it sounds like there may not be enough sockets, are you using ones with USB chargers???
As to the CU, it would breach trading standards to say or suggest you must have a new CU. However I would recommend it to you as the latest, and more to come in the 18th ed. in June, regs do require a metal clad CU. Plus all circuits will be RCD protected. As to cost, if you pull out the units in the kitchen and put in a ring it should take a day with a clear run like that which may cost £400 to £600 depending on who does it and how. Me I would be the top end of that. Not much different to messing around with the old wiring you have in the kitchen.

 

[Midwest]

Pause and take a breath..

 

[Midwest]

Yes that what i thought and why i suggested in my post to use them if they are indead spare , as for the board change although you can fit rcbos in the current consumer unit , the sparks who inpected it may have thought the the amount of work in making room to fit the rcbos and along with the kitchen rewire it may be more cost effective to replace the consumer unit , as others have said get another quote .

I've already said that, keep up.

 

[Aaronh86]

I'm renting to my brother, not a freebie though. Not charging full rate but at least I know he's gonna look after it.

Your right, no point in patching it up. As I'm ripping the old kitchen out anyway, might as well do the lot.

I think I'm just trying to find ways of saving money cause literally everything in the house needs replacing. I'll just have to spend less on the fittings.

Kitchen is fairly small, still need to rip out the other units.

 

[ferg]

There comes a time when fixing something takes longer than replacing it. The guy who quoted may well have come to that conclusion.

For a rental I can't see a good reason not to have RCD protection for all circuits.

The cost of the RCBo's for that board would come pretty close to the cost of a new board. If it would need tidying up inside to install them then it starts to make much more sense to change the board. Add in running in the bonding and new kitchen circuit then it may well be the best option.

 

[westward10]

Not sure I would rent that to my enemy.