Will this old consumer unit pose any issues with an upcoming EICR?

[Neptune]

I've had invaluable advice from this forum in relation to EICR's and clarifying my understanding that just because the consumer unit is "old", it does not need to be replaced. Since then, I had the EICR carried out at my rental property. This went to plan.

I am now scheduling my next EICR on a separate property and this has an even older Consumer Unit but everything works and seems safe e.g. no cracked fittings or exposed cables from my pre-inspection checks.

My question: will this type of Consumer Unit be okay to produce a satisfactory EICR?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Neptune]

I've never worked on consumer units but always wondered how the mains cable is wired into the main switch of the board i.e. is this Live when being wired in?

Also, in terms of working in the board, I assume once the main switch is set to off and you have checked with a 2 pole tester, you are safe to work within this?

Definitely not planning to do this myself!

 

[Soi disant]

You'd still have room for more circuits in future.

And the flexibility to go to Type A or F on a per-circuit basis if things change. Although that does mean going with a make where Type F RCBOs are available, which probably rules out the budget ones.

 

[Soi disant]

@timhoward I am aware of RCBO's and incidentally, the electrician did suggest this but there was a huge price hike that came with it.

2 x RCD + 6 x MCB vs 6 x RCBO.

Yes, more expensive for sure, but a huge price hike?

 

[timhoward]

I've never worked on consumer units but always wondered how the mains cable is wired into the main switch of the board i.e. is this Live when being wired in?

No.

Also, in terms of working in the board, I assume once the main switch is set to off and you have checked with a 2 pole tester, you are safe to work within this?

With experience, yes. You have to be aware of the presence of live parts. Earth wires can be particularly dangerous when installing.

 

[Neptune]

No.

Where is the mains cable isolated from? When I look at the board in my own house, there is no other isolation point that I can see before the board. Unless it's lurking in the metre box outside the house...

 

[timhoward]

2 x RCD + 6 x MCB vs 6 x RCBO.

Yes, more expensive for sure, but a huge price hike?

Paying inc vat website prices -
£90 for 6 x RCBO's
£56 for 2 RCD's and 6 MCB's
(not including enclosure, glands, etc)

 

[Soi disant]

Where is the mains cable isolated from? When I look at the board in my own house, there is no other isolation point that I can see before the board. Unless it's lurking in the metre box outside the house...

The fuse fairy comes and does it for you. Nobody ever sees her or knows how she does it.

 

[Neptune]

Perhaps "huge" was an exaggeration but I have been quoted £500 for the Dual RCD board. Includes materials and fitting. £620 for RCBO's.

 

[timhoward]

The fuse fairy comes and does it for you. Nobody ever sees her or knows how she does it.

Does she leave a pound under your pillow too? Or just the remains of a seal ?

 

[brianmoooore]

Or just the remains of a seal ?

No trace of the seal is ever seen again. Unless it's one that wasn't crimped properly, and you can slide the wire out and back in at will

 

[Mike Johnson]

Doesn't Will object?

 

[brianmoooore]

This all RCBO versus split load RCD keeps coming up on here. I wired my place just under forty years ago with a three RCD board and all 12 circuits through one or other of them. All RCDs are in full working order, but, apart from when I've been playing and managed to short a neutral and earth together, the only times I've ever had one trip is when an immersion heater element failed and the dishwasher sprung a water leak.
The inconvenience of RCDs is much overstated IMHO.

 

[brianmoooore]

Doesn't Will object?

Can we have a 'groan' emoji please, admin.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Will this do ?

 

[MJPD29]

The fuse fairy comes and does it for you. Nobody ever sees her or knows how she does it.

Amazing how she can be so many places in a day