New CU

C

Classic40

Hi All,

I am looking to get a new CU fitted to replace the aged Wylex unit.

Currenlty I have the following:
40amp cooker
6amp lights up
6amp lights down
6amp boiler
16amp immersion
32amp downstairs sockets
32amp upstairs sockets
32amp kitchen sockets
16amp gas cupboard socket

I don't plan any changes in the house so I'm hoping I might be able to get away with a 5 or 6way rcbo/dual rcd board.

Plan:
40amp cooker (might not need this as I plan a gas hob and single electric oven which might be able to run off the kitchen ring)
32amp kitchen ring
32amp upstairs or downstairs ring
16amp upstairs or downstairs radial
6amp lights up
6amp lights down

The old boiler is being removed and a combi fitted, could this run off the upstairs power with a 3amp fuse?

The 16amp powering a socket in gas cupboard I plan on running off the downstairs breaker.

House is a 2 bed semi.

Thanks.
 
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Classic40 said:
I don't plan any changes in the house so I'm hoping I might be able to get away with a 5 or 6way rcbo/dual rcd board.
Click to expand...
Other than insignificant savings on RCBOs, what benefits do you think will accrue from reducing the number of circuits?
 
@ban-all-sheds mainly to reduce the space it takes up on the wall. I know I won't gain anything, if anything make things worse if a problem comes up.
 
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20190529_081332.jpg Picture of lovely old fuse box, not consumer unit as before type tested distribution units came out, hidden above the ceiling, and I do wonder why 4 x 32A, 2 x 16A and 2 x 6A with fuse box and another 7 MCB's on the consumer unit all on a 60A incoming fuse?

Why anyone would fit a consumer unit and a fuse box, and hide the fuse box I don't know?

But it is clearly a balance, using all RBCO's the more there are the less likely of tripping due to build up of leakages, however also the more expensive it becomes. Looked at Wilex RBCO and they are coming in at around £45 each, BG come in at around £25 each so yes expensive, however you can group some circuits onto RCD + MCB and have just sockets on RCBO's.

I would combine upper and lower lights where it is found there is a shared neutral, but otherwise I would use same number as before.
 
The CU fitted is an 14 way wylex unit from 2003 from what I can find out. Only two of the breakers are rcbos a rest are mcb.

Its a metal unit with a plastic lid which pulls down.

Is it common practice to fit a combi boiler on the ring its fiited in?

I am edging towards a Hager RCBO board as its nice and compact.
 
Classic40 said:
The CU fitted is an 14 way wylex unit from 2003 from what I can find out. Only two of the breakers are rcbos a rest are mcb.
Click to expand...
Probably RCCBs, not RCBOs - unless, of course, there are only two circuits with RCBOs.

Its a metal unit with a plastic lid which pulls down.
Click to expand...
Ok. Pity it's not a metal lid which hinges up if RCBOs would fit.

Is it common practice to fit a combi boiler on the ring its fiited in?
Click to expand...
Yes, or even the lighting circuit - but if you have a separate circuit for the boiler, I would keep that (if it's in the same place).

I am edging towards a Hager RCBO board as its nice and compact.
Click to expand...
Yes, many regard them as the best.
 
Yea only two of them are RCBOs, rest are MCBs.

I want to replace it with a smaller unit and have full rcd protection.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Forgot to say boiler is going in same place but it used to be fed from the airing cupboard due to cylinder, programmer and 3 port valve.
 
I don't know how small a CU you want but if you have a 14way now (incidentally the number of ways does not include the Main Switch so 14 way incl main switch would be 12 way) so if only six circuits

40amp cooker.......................40amp cooker.................................I would advise you keep cable available even if you do not use.
6amp lights up......................6amp lights up................................Ok
6amp lights down..................6amp lights down............................Ok
6amp boiler...............................................................................You could just put the boiler cable in with one of the lights cables.
16amp immersion.......................................................................I would advise you keep cable available even if you do not use.
32amp downstairs sockets......32amp upstairs or downstairs ring......Ok
32amp upstairs sockets..........16amp upstairs or downstairs radial....Why 16A radial if circuit already in place?
32amp kitchen sockets...........32amp kitchen ring...........................Ok
16amp gas cupboard socket..........................................................I would advise you keep cable available even if you do not use.


A Hager 6 way (i.e. 6 RCBOs + Main Switch) is 227mm. wide,
http://www.discount-electrical.co.u...r-unit-with-switch-disconnector-isolator-100a

but I would advise a minimum of 8 way. You are bound to need something else if you do not allow for it.
They don't seem to have 8way on that site. Presumably 36mm wider - 265mm.
 
I thought about having a radial upstairs or downstairs as you can get 6 way boards supplied with 2x 6amp 2x 32amp 1x 16amp and 1x 40amp.
 
Classic40 said:
as you can get 6 way boards supplied with
Click to expand...
What someone might offer for sale in one particular case isn't a valid basis for designing an installation.

Consumer units can be obtained in any configuration you want. Design the installation first, then purchase the consumer unit for it.
 
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