Replacement Consumer Unit question

[tcfreeman08]

Hello all,
I am new here, thinking of replace my old CU, can help me to get some information about the correct installation procedure.
any advise would be appreciated

 

[ajelec10]

A little more information required please, Are you a qulified electrician?, do you intend to do the works yourself? have you had the rest of the installation tested?
Regards
AJ

 

[tcfreeman08]

I am a quilifed electrician and will take the 2391-10 course soon
I mainly wanted to know I need to contact supply company to switch off or pull out their main sealed fuse to suspesion the power temporary before I disconnect the main cables of old CU, for safety reason.
hope can help

 

[ajelec10]

Ok, if the supplier has not provided a swich disconector (either a big red switch just after the meter or integeral within the meter) You can remove the seal and pull out the main fuse. This is because they have not provided any other means of safe isolation as it says in the electricity at work act : Every installation has to be provided with a means of isolation. (for safe working)
You are supposed to call your suppiler and tell them you have removed the seal, i did this the first time and they laughed at me.
So be a little caucus when removing the main cut out as you could take out every third house in the street, if shorted out and you may see stars for a while.
I would recommend you go for a straight board with individual RCBO protection as this provides the least amount of nuisances tripping.
Hope this gives you a little more confidence
Regards
AJ

 

[Sintra]

Hello all,
I am new here, thinking of replace my old CU, can help me to get some information about the correct installation procedure.
any advise would be appreciated

The Electrical Safety Council have a range of best practice guides. Follow the link BSG 06 is changing consumer units in domestic premises. Hope this helps.

Best Practice Guides | Electrical Safety Council

 

[wigan]

I am a quilifed electrician and will take the 2391-10 course soon
I mainly wanted to know I need to contact supply company to switch off or pull out their main sealed fuse to suspesion the power temporary before I disconnect the main cables of old CU, for safety reason.
hope can help

If you're in no rush ring supplier and ask for isolator to be fitted,EON fitted mine and i never got charged EDF are my supplier. If you are in hurry then don't forget to turn main switch off first to make sure no loading (though you probably already realise that)

Regards,

kevin

 

[rodney12]

Don't forget, it's notifable work to LABC if you aren't Part P registered.

 

[tcfreeman08]

As I said that before, I wanted to clarify the safety responsibility between consumer side (after Main Switch of CU) and supply side (before Main Swith), it means the cut-out cables feed to CU.
any more advice?
Many thanks indeed

 

[adam.h]

If you're in no rush ring supplier and ask for isolator to be fitted,EON fitted mine and i never got charged EDF are my supplier. If you are in hurry then don't forget to turn main switch off first to make sure no loading (though you probably already realise that)

Regards,

kevin

Before I changed mine I asked to have an isolator to be fitted and to have the fuse checked to make sure it hadnt deterated (I live in an old house and have heard of the fuses deterating so much they can become useless when removed). I spoke to some woman who said they can and will but when the guy turned up he said they dont fit isolators, thats for me to do and nothing to do with them eh also didnt bother checking the fuse (I was on the phone to him as I was at work at the time).