Consumer unit behind new garage door runners.

[Fred Blogs]

Hi all.

I have just had a new Garador garage door fitted. I didn't realise it at the time but now that it is fitted the runners are in front of the consumer unit. The CU is not inaccessible but I now cannot shut the front cover nor can I see the fuses with getting close. Anyway would it be possible to have the CU moved down without the spark having to do any other work. Would he be able extend the existing wiring without having to do a complete house rewire. Also would he need to do an EICR( I think that is what it is called) and if any of that work is possible then a, very, ball park price figure would be appreciated. I am aware that the present CU would have to be changed for a steel one..........Those runners are not actually as close as the picture suggests but they are close enough to prevent the CU cover from closing.

 

[ericmark]

I would say the runners need removing before the spark can start the work, the garage door fitters must have known that would not work, they must be idiots, but at least must realise they will need to remove it for the consumer unit to be moved.

 

[Murdochcat]

Those garage door fitters were dumb. Moving the CU down will almost certainly mean adding an enclosure to all the existing cables to be extended.

I would recommend that you fitted a complete new CU with RCBOs and SPD too

 

[Fred Blogs]

Well perhaps I should have checked as work progressed which I didn't as, rightly or wrongly, I tend to leave tradesmen to get on with things. Anyway I do realise that the runners will have to be removed and I can do that. But can they replace that CU with whatever RCBOs SPDs new CU etc etc that is needed without having to rewire the whole house because obviously the present set of wires would not reach a lower down CU. Also, if possible a very very rough cost for the job.

 

[Scally-Ho]

Good grief! How thick were those door fitters? IMO your redress is with the door supply & fit company as it must have been obvious that the CU would need full access for fault clearance/isolating of circuits etc.

 

[Murdochcat]

Well perhaps I should have checked as work progressed which I didn't as, rightly or wrongly, I tend to leave tradesmen to get on with things. Anyway I do realise that the runners will have to be removed and I can do that. But can they replace that CU with whatever RCBOs SPDs new CU etc etc that is needed without having to rewire the whole house because obviously the present set of wires would not reach a lower down CU. Also, if possible a very very rough cost for the job.

No rewire required

Where are you in the UK?

 

[Fred Blogs]

Wales.

 

[crystal ball]

Come across this type of thing a few times, mainly kitchen fitters boxing CUs in preventing the lid being removed

 

[Murdochcat]

Wales.

My best advice is to get 2 or 3 LOCAL sparks round and get their views / prices.

 

[Taylortwocities]

A reasonably easy job, but to move that CU the electrician will need access to the existing unit. The runners will need removing to do that.

Fit one of these where the existing CU is and mount the old one (or a new one) lower down.

 

[JohnW2]

Fit one of these where the existing CU is and mount the old one (or a new one) lower down.
View attachment 382659

If I may be allowed a moment of nostlagia ....
... this reminds me of my very first post in this forum (here) , on 28th January 2011, after a number of years of 'lurking silently'. I did get the answer I wanted (to look for DIN-rail connectors) but, as I was fully expecting after those previous years of silently watching what went on in the forum, I got my 'baptism by fire' by being well-and-truly "BAS-ed"

Seriously though, it did make me acutely aware of the reason why some OPs whose message, like mine, starts "This is my first post in this forum" rapidly disappear and are never seen again - since they come to a forum like this for answers and advice, not to be interrogated, 'lectured' and to some extent 'accused'

Kind Regards, John

 

[jj4091]

Don't I remember someone asking if you were BAS reincarnated. Or am I thinking of someone else.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Nostalgia, indeed.
PS my suggestion of the Wiska box was a serious suggestion ( not available in 2011). It does come at a cost though!

It was in no way meant to criticise the OP, who is a victim of circumstance.

He is one of the few customers who don’t constantly monitor tradespeople who are working in their property. I am guilty of doing just that!

PPS as a trivia note. I had some scuffs repaired on my car recently. The garage had this on his wall

 

[blup]

Seriously though, it did make me acutely aware of the reason why some OPs whose message, like mine, starts "This is my first post in this forum" rapidly disappear and are never seen again - since they come to a forum like this for answers and advice, not to be interrogated, 'lectured' and to some extent 'accused'

My favourite responses include
1. Why are you coming on a forum to ask a question, get a professional in (though that is sometimes the appropriate advice).
2. Why do people keep asking the same question (as if they are somehow all connected and it is contextually identical).
3. The gratuitous arrogant condescending response that helps no-one

That said a first post is like the first day at big school, you sometimes have to stand your ground

 

[ericmark]

Clearly the door fitters were being stupid, however I remember on a large job being told to fit a distribution board, detailed plans of exactly where it was to go, and it was clear if fitted where the plans said, it would stop access to a large valve, so returned to my boss and told him the problem.

He said fit it anyway, but don't bother with all the bolts, as we will then get extra money to move it.

But when the job was surveyed, there should have been a report before the work started, that the consumer unit would need moving first. This often happens where one trade has to wait on another, my new shed needs a base laying first, until laid, the shed will no be delivered.

But to price not easy, I have worked on some jobs, where the big expense has been getting to the job, due to parking restrictions, not saying that would be a problem here, but until one has been on site, one can't really work out pricing. But it will not need a rewire, @Taylortwocities has show what will be likely used to extend cables.