UK Seeking advice on quote to replace CU

[spovvers]

Hi all, New homeowner here... hoping it's okay to seek some advice on a quote.
I've recently had some wiring done for a new kitchen in a small 3-bed terrace built in 2001, but we need to replace the aging consumer unit to fit everything in and make it expandable if needed in the future.
I'm very pleased with the work done by the electrician so far, but he's quoting me around £650 to supply, fit, test and certify a new consumer unit which sounds rather a lot to me.
The board he's wanting to fit is £220 (inc vat), which is a lot more than the most expensive ones I can see stocked on most supplier websites. He's telling me he wants to fit a board with all RCBOs instead of RCDs to future-proof it, but is this really necessary? He clearly wants to fit the best / most modern setup, but I'm feeling maybe it's overkill.
Also, does 10 hours to fit, and test a new CU seem reasonable?
Happy to pay this if it's really needed, but it's come as a bit of a shock after several other unpredicted and costly expenditures (unrelated to the electrics).
Thanks.

 

[mainline]

Double pole switching, that is. I.e. SP + N.
DP is for split phase.

Wylex 32A 30mA DP Type B Mini RCBO - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. 18th Edition Amendment 2. Protects against possible damage caused by residual current faults, short circuits and current overloads. 'No miss' tunnel terminals with in-built terminal shields prevent incorrect fixing. Allows quicker insulation resistance testing as...

www.screwfix.com

 

[brianmoooore]

Wylex NHXS1B32 | 32A 30mA SPswN B Curve 6kA Type A Miniature RCBO | Rexel UK

Get 32A 30mA SPswN B Curve 6kA Type A Miniature RCBO at wholesale prices at Rexel UK - your electrical distributor. Join Now!

www.rexel.co.uk

I think I'd rather get tech.info from Rexel than Screwfix.

 

[MJPD29]

£650 is an extremely good price in my opinion especially if your electricians work is good. A full day seems about right too. In all honesty there couldn’t be a huge amount of circuits as 650 wouldn’t cover more then 6/7 circuits if I was doing it. If you are happy with his work, I’d say you should go with it.

 

[mainline]

Wylex NHXS1B32 | 32A 30mA SPswN B Curve 6kA Type A Miniature RCBO | Rexel UK

Get 32A 30mA SPswN B Curve 6kA Type A Miniature RCBO at wholesale prices at Rexel UK - your electrical distributor. Join Now!

www.rexel.co.uk

I think I'd rather get tech.info from Rexel than Screwfix.

I know what you mean, but It's still DP

 

[loz2754]

I know what you mean, but It's still DP

Actually it's not. It's single pole with a switched neutral. But I know what u mean

 

[brianmoooore]

Actually it's not. It's single pole with a switched neutral.

As the Rexel header correctly states.

 

[Dave OCD]

When it's off both L & N to the relevant circuit are isolated so regardless of what you want to call it it's double pole.

 

[Dave OCD]

I fitted a new Immersion Heater switch last week, it's a 20amp switched live and switched neutral.

 

[brianmoooore]

Don't think I've ever come across a DP RCBO, but a DP MCB has a current sensing element in each pole, and usually consists of two SP MCBs rivetted together with a link between the toggles. A SP & N MCB has a current sensing element in the live pole and just a switch in the neutral.
If the RCBO in question was used on a split phase supply, the RCD element would still work on both poles (unless there was an equal leak to earth on each phase), but one of the phases would not have any overload or short circuit protection.

 

[nicebutdim]

Don't think I've ever come across a DP RCBO, but a DP MCB has a current sensing element in each pole, and usually consists of two SP MCBs rivetted together with a link between the toggles. A SP & N MCB has a current sensing element in the live pole and just a switch in the neutral.
If the RCBO in question was used on a split phase supply, the RCD element would still work on both poles (unless there was an equal leak to earth on each phase), but one of the phases would not have any overload or short circuit protection.

I remember a discussion from some time back, in which it was discovered that certain 'DP' (2 module) RCBOs were also SPSN.

 

[timhoward]

To be honest we probably aren't doing a lot to help the OP ask a clear question of his electrician!
The point is that when you turn the thing off (or it trips) both Line and Neutral are broken so the circuit is completely isolated and any faults can't cause issues elsewhere. While the learned people are right, to be honest "double pole" is probably the term that is most likely to be instantly understood by the average domestic sparks.
CEF call the Lewden RCBOs "single pole" vs "single pole and neutral", the latter being the one's that would be best to use.

(to add to the confusion Fusebox SPN units do not break the Neutral and they call the one's that do DP ....!)

 

[mainline]

Actually it's not. It's single pole with a switched neutral. But I know what u mean

Actually, it's a DP Rcbo that has no current sensing on the neutral side.
But i know what you mean

 

[mainline]

Don't think I've ever come across a DP RCBO, but a DP MCB has a current sensing element in each pole, and usually consists of two SP MCBs rivetted together with a link between the toggles. A SP & N MCB has a current sensing element in the live pole and just a switch in the neutral.
If the RCBO in question was used on a split phase supply, the RCD element would still work on both poles (unless there was an equal leak to earth on each phase), but one of the phases would not have any overload or short circuit protection.

https://pdg.cef.co.uk/downloads/pdg/cudis_ro2_datasheet/cudis_ro2_datasheet.pdf

Electronic type
• Residual current characteristic: AC
• No of poles: 2 (L and N)
• Trip curves: B and C
• Rated voltage: 240V AC, 50/60Hz
• Short circuit capacity: 10kA
• Rated current (A): 6, 10, 16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63
• Rated residual operating current, In (mA): 30
• Electrical endurance: 4000 cycles
• Mechanical endurance: 10000 cycles
• Conforms to: IEC/EN 610009-1