Replacing Consumer Unit

[Fitzy]

Tomorrow I’m changing my consumer unit in preparation for my NICEIC assessment on 13th November and have a few queries.

Firstly, current cu only has 4 circuits sockets up & down and lights up & down, so hopefully a pretty straight forward swap.

I can unplug 95% of loads on both ring finals, except for the oven and the boiler, both of which have LCD/LED displays. So when it comes to doing the insulation resistance test, would the 500v dc test damage either of these appliances LCD’s or LED’s? The oven and hob ignitor are connected behind the kitchen units.

Also, upstairs we have GU10 spot lights on the landing and bathroom, can’t remove them to do the R1+R2 test as they’re very tight and as we only rent, I can’t cause any damage to the ceiling. So would it be ok to just do the R1+R2 on the final light fitting in the rear bedroom or should I try to find the spots wiring in the loft?

 

[telectrix]

I would find that if I were you

my days of finding old boilers are well past. i;ll stick with the one i have now. she's 100% loyal and i love her to bits. .

 

[Fitzy]

why is the landlord not paying for this?

Because there’s nothing wrong with current consumer unit, so to get his permission I’m doing it & paying for it myself.

 

[ackbarthestar]

A couple of anomilies here
1. IMO its not your responsibility to change the CU. If I was the Landlord I'd be hopping as its unlikely to be part of your initial contract. However, if the landord has given prior permission to upgrade his/her property then fire away. as you will have to use his/her name on the cert.
2. Fixed heating appliances should have local isolation and if connected to a RFC should be by plug and socket or possibly by SFCU/FCU.

 

[Fitzy]

Plus I’m using it for my NICEIC assessment. That’s why I offered to do the swap.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Plus I’m using it for my NICEIC assessment. That’s why I offered to do the swap.

Have you done any testing on the place before you submitted it as your assessment?
Could be a fault ridden minefield!

 

[ackbarthestar]

my days of finding old boilers are well past. i;ll stick with the one i have now. she's 100% loyal and i love her to bits. .

No point in upgrading if the old one is still servicable and you have a deap affection .....

 

[Fitzy]

Have you done any testing on the place before you submitted it as your assessment?
Could be a fault ridden minefield!

I’m gonna be doing some testing in the morning before I take old one out.

 

[Fitzy]

There is one problem I found earlier this week with my consumer unit and the earth bonding. Firstly, there’s no bonding to the incoming gas supply, the gas meter is outside directly behind my meter cupboard, so I can drill a hole and add bonding that way. But the current water supply earth bonding cable is only 4 or 6mm, soneeds upgrading to 10mm, but it goes under the floor to the kitchen from the meter cupboard.

 

[telectrix]

There is one problem I found earlier this week with my consumer unit and the earth bonding. Firstly, there’s no bonding to the incoming gas supply, the gas meter is outside directly behind my meter cupboard, so I can drill a hole and add bonding that way. But the current water supply earth bonding cable is only 4 or 6mm, soneeds upgrading to 10mm, but it goes under the floor to the kitchen from the meter cupboard.

what's the earthing arrangement TN-S or TNC-S?

 

[Fitzy]

TN-S I believe.

 

[Dave OCD]

The incoming water pipework could well be plastic Fitzy, check it out. And 6mm would be perfectly adequate for a water bond on a TN-S arrangement anyway.

 

[JK-Electrical]

if you only have 4 circuits, i'd fit a BG 6 way RCBO board with 4 RCBOs .get gear from TLC the BG compact RCBOs are ony £15.60 inc. vat each.

BG RCBOs are even cheaper at Screwfix ..... £11.99.

 

[Fitzy]

Well I’ve just found that the earth bonding cable under the sink isn’t even connected, it’s just a single piece of 4/6mm earth cable hanging loose. So I’m gonna have to run a new 10mm earth bonding cable externally around the house to the kitchen. Would it be ok to use black copex clipped to the walls?

 

[ackbarthestar]

TN-S I believe.

Have you taken a measurement?

 

[Toneyz]

Take a look at the best practice guide.