Will a consumer unit upgrade give me correct RCD protection for Bathroom

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GinGaz

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My current CU has no separate circuit for the bathroom only upstairs lights, upstairs sockets etc
So obviously the bathroom and bedroom lighting are on the same circuit.
If I have the CU upgraded will that give me the RCD protection the bathroom needs or will it entail some re-wiring as well?
What are the average costs these days for a CU upgrade (west Yorkshire)?
 
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A new consumer unit fitted in accordance with BS7671 will provide RCD protection to those circuits. Rewiring should not be required, providing that the wiring is in a suitable condition.
The installing electrician will check this.

Impossible to guess cost. Need more details : location, size of house, number of circuits, type of supply, adequacy and presence of earthing and bonding conductors, etc.

Find a REGISTERED electrician or three and get quotes.
 
If you are upgrading your CU, I would suggest that you do not use one (or more) RCDs to protect YOU on multiple circuits - but install RCBOs to protect YOU on individual circuits.
While this will cost somewhat more, you will then know on which circuit any future fault is located, if each circuit "protects" YOU via an individual RCBO.

The additional cost now may save you both concern and expense in the future.
 
Thanks for the speedy reply .. I was just unsure if the bathroom circuit had to be completely independent of all other circuits
 
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All domestic AC lighting circuits require 30mA RCD protection anyway - not just bathroom circuits.
 
GinGaz:

Why particularly do you think you should have RCD protection for the bathroom circuits?
 
Last edited:
I was trying to keep my reply simple to answer the OP's question.

@GinGaz Why do you think you need RCD for the bathroom?
 
Last edited:
I was not querying Risteard - when I said "you" I meant the OP.

I just got the impression the OP thought that he must install RCD protection for his bathroom.
 
I was under the impression that if I had any new work done in bathroom, ie replace current downlights with zone 1 rated , same with extractor fan that it was the regulations these days ...
 
New circuits to the bathroom would have to be RCD protected.

'Replacements' do not necessarily have to be.
 
@GinGaz you are correct all new work installed into a location containing a bath or a shower and also any addition to a domestic lighting circuits require RCD protection.
 
The current downlights haven't the correct IP rating and the fan is not 12v, (the fan and 2 lights are very definitely in zone 1) the plan is to swap out for ones that are ... I was advised that this constituted added "new work"
 
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