Replacing consumer unit - advice please !

[Johnlondon]

Hi there. I'm doing up a house I've just bought and want to replace the consumer unit. I will be getting an electrician to fit it but I want to check with you knowledgable lot whether when the electrician quotes, what he's telling me is right and necessary.

This is what I have at present:



I have read up a bit on regulations but I would like some pointers please. My questions are:

1. Will the CU need to be completely repositioned? At present it it quite low to the floor and is behind a shelf which I moved for the picture.
2. It is fixed at present to a wood board. Should the new one be fitted to a special type of backing board?
3. How can I tell what type of earthing supply it is? TNCS TNS etc. There are just the 3 main cables coming out of the wall.
4. Can the electrician replace the CU without calling out the electricity company? I cannot see how it can be isolated without replovg the main fuse and I don't think he's allowed to touch it.
5. Am I obligated to have the upstairs and downstairs ring main and lighting circuits split when fitting a new board?
6. The garage supply is just off the ring main and I have no idea where the join is. Does this have to have a dedicated supply?

Any advise is much appreciated. Thank you all.

 

[Octopus]

One question, where do the "big" cables go to, the ones exiting the fuseboard from the bottom and running downwards to the left of the main fuse?

 

[Johnuk]

this is one of them jobs were you need to see it to price it

 

[MDJ]

Could be a tt system and the tails entering from outside, the third wire could be from the rod and the earth, looks a right mess in there anyhow, take the sparks advice IMO.

 

[Octopus]

Could be a tt system and the tails entering from outside, the third wire could be from the rod and the earth, looks a right mess in there anyhow, take the sparks advice IMO.

Actually I'd recommend you get 3 people to take a look. Sparks are like economists - they tend not to agree with each other as there are different ways of complying with the regs.

 

[topcat]

Will need time to sort problems they find but would say as others have said get 3 prices and work from their

 

[Johnlondon]

Murdoch - the cables go into from the main fuse straight into the wall into a rubber tube.

Appreciate the replies guys but I was looking for some specific replies. Understand seeing it would help but surely some of my questions are general and answers would apply to any/most domestic installations and not just to mine ?

 

[Johnlondon]

Sorry Murdoch, misread your question - they go into the meter

 

[Octopus]

Murdoch - the cables go into from the main fuse straight into the wall into a rubber tube.

Appreciate the replies guys but I was looking for some specific replies. Understand seeing it would help but surely some of my questions are general and answers would apply to any/most domestic installations and not just to mine ?

Yes you need a new fuse board
You probably need equipotential bonding
You may wish, as part of your refurbishment, split rings and create more circuits
You may need a rewire

Budget £450 to £4500

Sorry mate but out of interest what do you do for a living and could you give specific advise about a situation after you'd seem a few photo's

 

[Johnlondon]

Thank you Murdoch.

Wasn't so much needing an estimate - don't really mind how much it costs as long as it's a fair cost if you know what I mean. I don't want to be quoted for unnecessary work and not know either way. I also don't always go for the cheapest quote because you get what you pay for.

And there's absolutely no point in telling you what I do for a living. No one and I mean no one believes me when I first tell them!

 

[Octopus]

Thank you Murdoch.

Wasn't so much needing an estimate - don't really mind how much it costs as long as it's a fair cost if you know what I mean. I don't want to be quoted for unnecessary work and not know either way. I also don't always go for the cheapest quote because you get what you pay for.

And there's absolutely no point in telling you what I do for a living. No one and I mean no one believes me when I first tell them!

Go on, try us!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Thank you Murdoch.

Wasn't so much needing an estimate - don't really mind how much it costs as long as it's a fair cost if you know what I mean. I don't want to be quoted for unnecessary work and not know either way. I also don't always go for the cheapest quote because you get what you pay for.

And there's absolutely no point in telling you what I do for a living. No one and I mean no one believes me when I first tell them!

To quote Han Solo in Empire Strikes Back, "I can imagine quite alot"

 

[not clever]

Pole dancer

 

[Johnlondon]

Ok, and only because I love the reference to the imagined amount of reward money. Star Wars is still my favourite film.

I work in LA for 8 months of the year in the adult industry. And no I'm not a **** star ! I work behind the scenes.

 

[not clever]

Debbie does Dallas was my favorite film

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Excellent dude. I believe you.

The chase scene through the asteroid field is the best moment ever for me, to quote Solo again

"never tell me the odds"


And the music was incredible

 

[colshaws]

If you post the area of london you are in you may get a couple of guys on here local to you willing to give a second opinion, and if you happen to have a few "work colleagues " there you might get all of us turn up:fuk2:

 

[Des 56]

Excellent dude. I believe you.

The chase scene through the asteroid field is the best moment ever for me, to quote Solo again

"never tell me the odds"


And the music was incredible

Best scene was it,scenes are better later films you watch
Epic Star wars is,melting in river of fire was Vador good to see


When Vador had Luke snookered
"I have you now"
"Use the rest Luke,use the rest"

 

[Johnlondon]

That ones a bit before my time! Trust me though, it's not as glamorous as some people think!

 

[somersetsparks]

Could be a can of worms,
You are not obligated to split the ring circuit into 2, if ones ok and not overloaded now it will most likely carry on being fine on a new fuseboard. As with lights.
It does look a proper mess mind. Could have duff wiring, green goo and any multitude of things.
IMO you are best paying for an EICR (test and inspection) then go from there.
I'm sure there someone on here local to you that can do it a reasonable price.
With regards to earthing, looks like it could be TT or possibly TNS with that incoming 1 1/2" conduit used as an earth.
That black cable is the earth, very common around here to see black used in the early sixties.