Settle an argument please.

[Phill104]

I have an EV charger installed by a local firm. The install looks nice and tidy but with only a 2 meter run from the board you could hardly expect anything else.

In the board was a 40amp mcb. This was connected with 6mm EV ultra cable. Rated at 58 amp and only passing through the wall through a breeze block, cavity then brick. It is then tacked down the wall with nice neat d-line clips to the Project EV charger. The total run is less than 2m.

So this week come EICR the electrician insisted on replacing the 40amp mcb with a 32 amp because the cable is only 6mm. EV sparky insists 40amp is OK. Who is right here? There are no 90 degree bends as EV sparky drilled at a nice angle through the wall making a 120 degree bend.

Not impressed by the move the EICR chap did either. He didn’t have an NH compatible mcb so did some cutting to the box to make it fit. It now sits higher by 5mm than the RCBO’s and main switch and the gap below has a bit of plastic glued in.

 

[nicebutdim]

An EICR is a report and the inspector can not insist on carrying out any work - remedial or otherwise - without your permission. They are there to inspect, test and compile said report.

Assuming the cable is clipped to the wall I can not think of any obvious reason why they would insist on the 32A protective device. That's not to say they didn't have good reason, but none are immediately apparent to me.

I'd certainly take issue with the modifications to your board, although I find it interesting that he sealed the cut gap to maintain its IP rating. The manufacturer of that board most definitely hasn't approved the use of devices other than those they manufacture for that purpose, so I guess you could ask the inspector to provide a certificate of conformity to cover his modifications, which will fall outside the manufacturer's specification. Perhaps you could post a photo of the newly modified board?

 

[SJD]

Oh dear, it sounds like the EICR chap has trashed the cover to the board - a photo would be interesting to see!

 

[Phill104]

An EICR is a report and the inspector can not insist on carrying out any work - remedial or otherwise - without your permission. They are there to inspect, test and compile said report.

Assuming the cable is clipped to the wall I can not think of any obvious reason why they would insist on the 32A protective device. That's not to say they didn't have good reason, but none are immediately apparent to me.

I'd certainly take issue with the modifications to your board, although I find it interesting that he sealed the cut gap to maintain its IP rating. The manufacturer of that board most definitely hasn't approved the use of devices other than those they manufacture for that purpose, so I guess you could ask the inspector to provide a certificate of conformity to cover his modifications, which will fall outside the manufacturer's specification. Perhaps you could post a photo of the newly modified board?

I wasn’t at home during the inspection, SWMBO was and paid for the extra work.

I’ve taken a pic, but the pointless bit of plastic seems to have fallen off. It is inside the house so now danger of getting rained on. Having said that, as is often the case the architect slapped the bathroom directly above. Sometimes architects need a kid hard kick in the love spuds.

 

[James]

have not checked the specs.
however, if the cable supplier is specifying the rating at 58A and there are no derating factors, i would ask the inspecting electrician to explain there workings.
note that 6mm twin and earth has a much lower rating than swa or EV ultra.
the inspector is likley to be wrong, they should be looking up the cable rating for that particular cable instead of using the worst case rating for whatever Tat they normally install.

 

[James]

I wasn’t at home during the inspection, SWMBO was and paid for the extra work.

I’ve taken a pic, but the pointless bit of plastic seems to have fallen off. It is inside the house so now danger of getting rained on. Having said that, as is often the case the architect slapped the bathroom directly above. Sometimes architects need a kid hard kick in the love spuds.

Wow, That is worth reporting to whatever scheme the electrician is registered with.
Poor workmanship, incorrect protective device for the board, and it is all just wrong.
got my dander up that has!!

 

[Phill104]

have not checked the specs.
however, if the cable supplier is specifying the rating at 58A and there are no derating factors, i would ask the inspecting electrician to explain there workings.
note that 6mm twin and earth has a much lower rating than swa or EV ultra.
the inspector is likley to be wrong, they should be looking up the cable rating for that particular cable instead of using the worst case rating for whatever Tat they normally install.

That was my feeling. Either that or he just wanted to earn a few extra £. Not impressed by his job either. It is only now I have taken a pic I can see how wonky everything is now.

 

[Phill104]

Wow, That is worth reporting to whatever scheme the electrician is registered with.
Poor workmanship, incorrect protective device for the board, and it is all just wrong.
got my dander up that has!!

Thank James. That is why I posted, I felt a bit miffed. You can see just how wonky the fitting is. I haven’t looked but given how high the mcb is sitting I wonder how good the contact with the bus bar is.

 

[James]

EV-Ultra Cable 6.0mm 3 core + CAT5E Data PVC Tuff-Sheathed - Cut to Length | DC (EV-ULTRA3C6.0CAT5)

spec sheet for ev ultra.

if it were my install, as long as the charger was rated at less than 58A then i would happily put it on a 63A breaker.

 

[Phill104]

EV-Ultra Cable 6.0mm 3 core + CAT5E Data PVC Tuff-Sheathed - Cut to Length | DC (EV-ULTRA3C6.0CAT5)

spec sheet for ev ultra.

if it were my install, as long as the charger was rated at less than 58A then i would happily put it on a 63A breaker.

The charger has a 40A RCBO, Earth fault, PEN fault, temp and surge fault. So the breaker is really only protecting the cable.

 

[nicebutdim]

I wasn’t at home during the inspection, SWMBO was and paid for the extra work.

I’ve taken a pic, but the pointless bit of plastic seems to have fallen off. It is inside the house so now danger of getting rained on. Having said that, as is often the case the architect slapped the bathroom directly above. Sometimes architects need a kid hard kick in the love spuds.

The wiring regulations specifiy an ingress protection rating for different aspects of distribution boards and this certainly isn't met. While there's no danger of it being rained on, and while there may be no realistic prospect of danger to anyone in your home, there are easily accessible live parts directly behind that new hole.

In short, the inspector has insisted on an apparently unnecessary derating of this circuit and in the process has left the installation less safe than it was before he butchered the cover, which is the very opposite of what any electrician is supposed to do.

 

[SJD]

As well as the correct type of MCB, I'd ask for a replacement undamaged cover to be supplied!

Out of interest, do you have the EICR that was carried out? It might be interesting to see (you can redact the personal details incl. those of the "electrician"'s).

 

[Phill104]

The wiring regulations specifiy an ingress protection rating for different aspects of distribution boards and this certainly isn't met. While there's no danger of it being rained on, and while there may be no realistic prospect of danger to anyone in your home, there are easily accessible live parts directly behind that new hole.

In short, the inspector has insisted on an apparently unnecessary derating of this circuit and in the process has left the installation less safe than it was before he butchered the cover, which is the very opposite of what any electrician is supposed to do.

The original installer has contacted me after I sent him the pic. Awesome guy. He has said he is going to come and replace the cover as he has a few of these boards in his spare parts pile. He is going to put the right breaker in and the only charge is the cost of the new breaker. I think I will owe him a few beers.

As for the EICR, I now feel I should complain but I am going to sleep on it first to get my thoughts together.

 

[James]

Thank James. That is why I posted, I felt a bit miffed. You can see just how wonky the fitting is. I haven’t looked but given how high the mcb is sitting I wonder how good the contact with the bus bar is.

Miffed?
i would be really pi55ed off about that if someone had done that to my perfectly good board in the name of electrical safety.
Unfortunately there are electricians out there that do not have a good understanding of the regulations and the thought that goes into making them.

instead of properly learning the trade and how to do it well they instead use some rule of thumb figures that they have "learnt" over the years and now believe them to be gospel.
here are some examples.

1mm-not suitable for domestic lighting anymore.
it is perfectly acceptable providing the load and distances are within limits

1.5mm-10A
some cables (mi) can take up to 23A in 1.5mm
20A is still possible with twin and earth if it is clipped direct.

 

[Phill104]

As well as the correct type of MCB, I'd ask for a replacement undamaged cover to be supplied!

Out of interest, do you have the EICR that was carried out? It might be interesting to see (you can redact the personal details incl. those of the "electrician"'s).

Not yet. That is being sent at a “later date” however long that will take