Some people still do use colour coding. I know Eaton and Contactum do
-
Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.
State of Consumer unit?
- Thread starter dishman
- Start date
When the lights are out and you're feeling for the trip breaker, colour doesn't make a lot of difference 
It makes it faster when trying to switch a circuit off to work on it though, especially in very large boards. Saves reading every circuit label!
Last time I had anything to do with them the plug-in Wylex Standard MCB's were still color-coded, but looking on the TLC site it appears that they might have stopped now.
K
kai
I miss the colour coding myself - white 5/6a, blue 15/16a yellow 20a red 30/32a and green 45a was the traditional colour scheme - I wish that it was made compulsory to have coloured levers on breakers in amendment three!
Eaton's scheme
K
kai
...And fortunately there is no pic-n-mix in that consumer board - pic-n-mixing often appears in boards of that age, where some stupid numpty shoehorns in any old breaker onto the din-rail (using a bit of brute force at tines), resulting in a poor contact or poor fit with the busbar!
And sometimes some stupid numpty shoehorns any old pet obsession into a topic, resulting in a poor fit with the actual subject matter.
Your requirement is that the installation is "safe" at all times during the tenancy. And yes, as a responsible landlord it's a bit embarrassing to se the state of some properties being let out.
As already said, assuming there's no issues found, your CU is "not to current standards" but is "safe". Some landlords work on the basis that they want there to be no issues on an EICR - because that pretty well cuts off any route for a tenant to take the wee-wee. There is a (thankfully very tiny) minority of tenants who will use all sorts of tricks to try and get one over on the landlord. Having "electrical issues" may be one thing they pick on, especially since the rules came into force on retaliatory evictions. So (for example) a clued up tenant could make a complaint that the electrics are "dangerous" and you'd then be blocked from evicting him/her until you've either "fixed" the electrics or proved that they are actually safe.
BTW - I would recommend joining the NLA or RLA, both of whom have training schemes for landlords. The NLA has a very good online library which includes electrical stuff
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
