Replacing main isolator with RCD across whole board

[Diode]

I'm doing pir's at the moment and often come across CU's with MCB's but no RCD protection. I'm wondering what views people have on removing the main isolators and fitting RCD's in their place to protect all circuits. I understand the inconvenience implications but is it ok to simply replace?

 

[Sintra]

Pir's should be assessed on current regulations not previous.

Very true it should be assessed to the current edition. What has to be understood is if an installation was installed to a previous version and still complies to that previous version then only C3's should be recorded for non compliance to the current edition. There is no requirement whatsoever to upgrade serviceable installations to the current edition.

 

[oldtimer]

Funny how people are still having their cars serviced at £500 a pop, yet we're having these discussions about the heart of a property....

Yea but you cannot drive a new consumer unit pass the guy next door to p!ss him off or spend £40-£50 a month getting it valeted and of course you need to spend £500 for its service so you can maintain the warranty and get what you think is a good trade in thinking I am glad (like my guy next door) took a week off to clean every part of the motor to get a good trade in in not realising it made no difference as the garage gives you £3k and punt it off to the auctions to get £4k .

Of course its handy because when one of your family gets an electric shock you can drive them to the hospital in your new shiny motor and at the same time you are praying they will not throw up on your nice upholstary mmm funny old world is it not

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I'm doing pir's at the moment and often come across CU's with MCB's but no RCD protection. I'm wondering what views people have on removing the main isolators and fitting RCD's in their place to protect all circuits. I understand the inconvenience implications but is it ok to simply replace?

eh?...

 

[trev]

Been asked to take over the install on a new fish n chip shop because the owner had a falling out with his former "electrician" I've told the guy it all has to be ripped out and started again as currently it's potentially dangerous. He said he's going for a second opinion.

The guy has spent thousands on his new chippy but three tenths of bugger all getting some clown to throw a few cables about, isn't prepared to take advice because it'll cost him. Muppet drives a BMW.

 

[Guitarist]

Been asked to take over the install on a new fish n chip shop because the owner had a falling out with his former "electrician" I've told the guy it all has to be ripped out and started again as currently it's potentially dangerous. He said he's going for a second opinion.

The guy has spent thousands on his new chippy but three tenths of bugger all getting some clown to throw a few cables about, isn't prepared to take advice because it'll cost him. Muppet drives a BMW.

I'm sure he'll find someone with a screwdriver to patch it up and tell him it's all wonderful for a few quid... You can be the bad guy who wanted to do it "properly" then trev.
Oh, and if he does ask you to do the work, make sure you get something up-front mate.

 

[trev]

You're dead right mate but the thing that annoys the life out of me is that chippy man will think I was out to rip him off and that he got a good deal from screwdriver man for £25 and a pouch of rolling baccy.
I hope his chippy burns to the ground(as long as no one gets hurt and the fire service manage to contain it to the shop)

 

[Guitarist]

I think the point he was making is that it doesn't give adequate segregation if one rcd covers the whole board

Aye, reg. 314
Basically, you can't upgrade to a previous edition of the regs.

 

[Guitarist]

You're dead right mate but the thing that annoys the life out of me is that chippy man will think I was out to rip him off and that he got a good deal from screwdriver man for £25 and a pouch of rolling baccy.
I hope his chippy burns to the ground(as long as no one gets hurt and the fire service manage to contain it to the shop)

That's always the issue, which is why I always state exactly what a client will get with my quote, and that if I were to cut corners (which I'm not willing to do) then it would undoubtedly work out cheaper.
That way, if anyone quotes less than I do, the client will always be wondering....

 

[trev]

Some of the buggers round here really don't care as long as it works. You should have seen the fiasco I had to sort out in a restaurant the other week. Halogen DLs in wood panelling installed by a guy fitting a laminate floor was just one of the delights waiting for me, restaurant owner wouldn't have rang me if laminate fitter had been able to get the MCB to hold.

 

[Knobhead]

Pir's should be assessed on current regulations not previous.

About time you read the first couple of pages of BS7671

 

[Guitarist]

These passive infra-reds get everywhere....

 

[ipf]

That's always the issue, which is why I always state exactly what a client will get with my quote, and that if I were to cut corners (which I'm not willing to do) then it would undoubtedly work out cheaper.
That way, if anyone quotes less than I do, the client will always be wondering....

In most cases, whatever it takes to make them wonder probably won't be enough to make them bother, though.