Wiring Advice for Garage RCD Needed

[Frankie79]

Hi all,

I am looking to replace a very old and rusty RCD unit with a modern day unit. The old unit is different to the new one and I would like to be 100% sure i have the wiring correct. The situation i need explained is this:

1. I have the mains coming into the unit
2. I have a 2 way socket which needs to connected.

I have attached a picture of the unit with some crude lines on it. To clarify the picture what i have is the following.

1. The mains live (red line at the bottom) connects to the bottom next the the Neutral
2. The mains neutral and earth go up the the bars at the top
3. The 4 way copper bar bridges the neutrals across the top. (Blue)
4. The 2 way socket mains live (red line coming in from the right) connects to the 32A unit
5. The 2 way socket neutral and earth connect to their respective bars at the top.

Can someone tell me if this is correct? As i said all i am doing is replacing the old unit as it was way past it's useable life.

Thanks,

Frank

 

[sparks1973]

yet another wannabe .....go ahead...and if it fires and/or you get stray voltages as a result of incompetance....hard lines fella.....look, do yoursen a favour here Frankie....get a sparks in to do it will you....plenty in here ....sure some of em are not far from you......

 

[ackbarthestar]

Frank,
If you connect it up as you have described in your diagram there is a possibility that you will get a rather larger flash/bang ! since you are placing live and neutral directly across one coil of the RCD which will most likely render it useless.

This is going to be a costly experiment for you - so don't, whatever you do, make those connections.

Now I am not going to tell you how to do it since my professional indemnity is unlikely to cover me, but I would strongly recommend that you get someone who does know how (experienced electrician) to do it for you.

 

[Frankie79]

thanks plugsandsparks, I have a couple of (qualified) friends I can speak to who will do it for me, just wanted to get it done tomorrow morning as opposed to later this week. I (incorrectly) thought I could come onto a forum for advice instead of abuse from some of the other posters.

Thanks.

 

[1shortcircuit]

thanks plugsandsparks, I have a couple of (qualified) friends I can speak to who will do it for me, just wanted to get it done tomorrow morning as opposed to later this week. I (incorrectly) thought I could come onto a forum for advice instead of abuse from some of the other posters.

Thanks.

I think you need to take a sit down and have a word with yourself here.

Electricity kills and what you have shown us is a potentially lethal situation so with that in mind you deserve the abuse!

Had you have had just one cable incorrect then you may have, very possibly depending on the mood of the poster had a heads up as to where you have gone wrong.

I apologised since realising that this was genuine but I'm sorry I'm going to have to leave this thread now before I start to cry into my cornflakes

On a serious note PLEASE do not f888ing kill yourself, pack your tools away and WAIT for your friends:thumbsup

 

[Plonker 3]

I (incorrectly) thought I could come onto a forum for advice instead of abuse from some of the other posters.

Thanks.

Seems that big orange thing in the sky has gone to peoples heads lately. Should pass soon hopefully.

 

[Frankie79]

It is absolutely a geniune post. I have also noticed a couple of fundamental issues with the wiring (which admittedly was done in a rush) Notifiable even if it swapping like for like units? It will still be PAT tested and certified but wasnt aware that i had to notify anyone.

 

[AP Electrical]

Awesome thanks for the advice. Once it was cabled up i was going to have a sparky test it. If no-one on this forum is going to give me the advice I need then I will obtain it elsewhere. Rest assured i wont be cabling it up until I am 100% sure it's correct.
1shortcct, i dont usually sit on forums as i generally have much better things to do with my time.
APelectrical - your right...your bad.


Frankie hope you dont take it to heart, but the information you require is out there ie in the box - google etc... if you come on a forum with pictures like that what do you expect.

 

[1shortcircuit]

It is absolutely a geniune post. I have also noticed a couple of fundamental issues with the wiring (which admittedly was done in a rush) Notifiable even if it swapping like for like units? It will still be PAT tested and certified but wasnt aware that i had to notify anyone.

Right well seeing this post I absolutely believe it's genuine. Why do I now think that? because Part P of the Building regulations is scarcely known amongst the public so it is not your fault for not knowing this.

The work you are doing in your eyes is like for like but it is not. You are changing many of the characteristics of that part of the installation.

I can tell you something else about that picture too. IF you only have a 2.5mm cable going to your socket then that 32A breaker that you have drawn lines to could potentially create a fire hazard.

We can sit here all night and discuss what's wrong with it but you really do need to stop. Whoever you get in to complete this work for you still needs to go through the appropriate channels of informing the LABC. If you do not do this and there comes a time where you want to sell your house then you're going to end up shelling out money on reports because it will be a requirement requested by the solicitors.

 

[Frankie79]

Agreed that my picture was rough. I was trying to get it done quickly due to the time of night. the rcd came with no instructions which is obviously because its usually qualified sparkys that install them. I will continue to read up on the fundamentals and see if i can figure it out whilst waiting for one of my mates to do it. I was just looking for a quick answer.

Dillb...its called the sun and i hope it stays for a while yet
1shortcircuit -" if i had just 1 wrong then maybe...." lmao. I wonder why someone that knew exactly what they were doing would be posting on a forum.
[h=3]forumsplural of fo·rum (Noun)[/h][TABLE="class: ts"]
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1. A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
2. An Internet message board.

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[Strima]

It is absolutely a geniune post. I have also noticed a couple of fundamental issues with the wiring (which admittedly was done in a rush) Notifiable even if it swapping like for like units? It will still be PAT tested and certified but wasnt aware that i had to notify anyone.

It's not like for like, for a start this unit has RCD protection and diffident over-current protection devices. You need to ascertain that the original cabling will allow the MCB's to operate within the specified time frames.

A neutral to earth fault will not blow a fuse or MCB but it will immediately trip an RCD, hence the reason for testing first. Also what devce is protecting the incoming cable on the supply side? If there's and RCD/RCBO then there will be discrimination issues.

It looks to be a simple enough job which a decent spark shouldn't charge too much for, you will also satisfy the legal requirements and also your insurance company would be more likely to pay out on any future claims if anything unforeseen should happen.

Don't worry about the natives, it's late and they're tired... :lol:

 

[plugsandsparks]

Well i dont know where to start.... The government decided that too many people were getting killed by something as innocent as a couple of wires and a bit of volts. So our representatives in parliament brought in a law to try and curb the carnage.
Although very poorly managed, its intentions were more than honerable.

I would say that you are at the forefront of what the laws, that exist, are trying to prevent.

So your first post on a forum like this is to post up an illegal activity which will blow up in your face (and more in-conveniently) put your house in darkness and scare your neighbours.

What do you really expect from this forum ?

 

[Swicade]

Simply put....if the gear wasn't available for joe public to buy then threads like these wouldn't surface so often.

Many things were wrong with the pic (eg the copper bar (busbar) goes across the spare holes at the bottom to name one) but i blame the powers that be for a half a$$ed attempt at electrical safety (anyone can buy electrical gear) more than the OP tbh.

 

[Frankie79]

Strima - thanks for the advice.
plugsandsparks: Its ok, don't start. Hold that thought and just keep it too yourself. But keep up the good work and rest assured whatever you post next wont be read as by the time u read this i have signed out and taken the couple of good bits of advice with me and already forgotten everything else.
Oh and I already posted what the definition of a forum is, thats what i was expecting but clearly thats 2 things i have wrong tonight. At least now i am more knowledgeable.

 

[ackbarthestar]

Don't worry about the natives, it's late and they're tired...

...... and the cauldron is on the boil, I've just had a skin full, the kebab house is closed and I'm looking for something to eat ! unk:

But keep up the good work and rest assured whatever you post next wont be read as by the time u read this i have signed out and taken the couple of good bits of advice with me and already forgotten everything else.

Looks like Frankie goes to Hollywood then ?

 

[trev]

Someone call the grammar police please! Similar to/different from.
Never mind the electrics!!!!!