Studio Consumer Unit

[rmdes]

Rcbos is the better choice especially when it comes to nuisance tripping, if it wasn't so pricey I would do that setup with every cu I install

 

[Michaelwgroves]

Thanks guys, gonna go with Contactum 6 way to allow for expansion, with Sockets, Cooker & Shower on RCD, with lights on RCBO.

 

[Fin170]

I'd put the sockets on the rcbo, more versatility if the main RCD trips

 

[Michaelwgroves]

What, Sockets and lights on RCBO, or do you mean lights on RCD and sockets only on RCBO ?

 

[SYKRAPS]

What distribution boards are fitted at the moment?

Can you not get RCBO's for the existing dist board, as this would be cheaper for materials and labour,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Engineer54]

I just don't understand the mentality here, these studio's only have 4 circuits, why make a pigs ear of a job trying to fit or make sense of a twin RCD and 4 MCB's CU. When for not much more, you can install the highest integrity CU with 4 RCBO's!!!!

 

[rmdes]

A single RCD for three circuits and rcbo for lights doesn't really cure the problem of nuisance tripping if the sockets, cooker etc trip the circuit and maybe queried as to this would constitute to 17th ed. the price for 4 rcbos aren't that expensive especially if your fitting contactum

 

[Michaelwgroves]

I think the old CU is Wylex with wire fuses, I think probably too old to take RCBO'c, although a good idea, I will check first.
MCB £2, RCBO £19, big difference in cost, remember this is 12 studios, so need to multriply difference by 12 which makes a massive difference on the project.

So RMDES, you do raise the question that does seem to divide most electricians, would this pass 17th edition, or would I need RCBO's on each circuit?

 

[Engineer54]

I think the old CU is Wylex with wire fuses, I think probably too old to take RCBO'c, although a good idea, I will check first.
MCB £2, RCBO £19, big difference in cost, remember this is 12 studios, so need to multriply difference by 12 which makes a massive difference on the project.

So RMDES, you do raise the question that does seem to divide most electricians, would this pass 17th edition, or would I need RCBO's on each circuit?

NO, it's ....2 X RCD's + 4 X MCB's And i'm dammed sure you can get cheaper system RCBO's than what you have quoted above!!

Your project price is surely based on a price in PER studio, so the cost per studio is relatively minimal.

What your proposing, is a finished job that is going to look more than just odd, (a massive dual CU for just 4 MCB's) and to an electrician, like a pig's ear!! lol!!

 

[cdavies33]

NO, it's ....2 X RCD's + 4 X MCB's And i'm dammed sure you can get cheaper system RCBO's than what you have quoted above!!

Your project price is surely based on a price in PER studio, so the cost per studio is relatively minimal.

What your proposing, is a finished job that is going to look more than just odd, (a massive dual CU for just 4 MCB's) and to an electrician, like a pig's ear!! lol!!

Spot on E54!! Too many Part p men trying to skimp and do a crap job these days..... Doing my nut in!! lol

 

[Fin170]

1) 6 way board*, 4 RCBOs = £90.86 or x12 for £1090.32
2) 8 way dual RCD**, 4 MCBs = £53.56 or x12 for 642.72
3) 6 way split board***, 1 RCBO, 3 MCBs = £56.76 or x12 for £681.12

Minus VAT and any potential discounts, TLC prices, BG equivalent may be cheaper (same stuff anyway)

*8 way board is the same price
**smallest available size
***10 way board is £2.10 cheaper

With that in mind, I'd still go with the split board with sockets on a RCBO on the basis of cost and size. That extra ~£400 would potentially loose you the job.

 

[shocking_eg]

its not all about price. you want to do the job properly as well !

thinking about more money in the pocket i bet ? :smilielol5:

 

[monkeyelectric]

I would rcbo each if they're only 4 circuits on each, it would a) be less of a nuisance if one tripped b) look so much neater c) its just a better way of doing things IMO, i hate these boards with 2 rcd's and mcb's, granted rcbo's are more expensive but it's a much better way of complying with the regs and if there is a fault with one circuit you don't lose half the board

 

[i=p/u]

Shouldn't get faults tho. Nearly man madde problem. Your going on about compliance but never mentioned earthing , bonding and how old existing cable is , your not a spark,,,,,

 

[Michaelwgroves]

I agree there are other issues to address, but only worrying about CU on this thread.

Fin170 is spot on, money is king. Both split board and RCBO soloutions would pass 17th Edition, therefore at £400 less the split board wins.
It's an argument you can have with another sparky, but most customers won't understand the difference, and you have got to remember the customer wont benefit from it looking better, it's for tenanted studio's.

For my house I would go for a full RCBO soloution, but when paying for someone else who does not care, as long as it's safe, that's good enough for me.