Old consumer unit , - what are my options to upgrade?

winston1 said:

OK but this still applies:

You cannot install a shower yourself without notification and testing and paying highly for the privilege as it would be a new circuit.

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The OP certainly can.

boolie said:

a few pics you may find interesting

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They don’t make them like that any more. Definitely needs an upgrade. Happily the picture of the light pendant reveals the presence of an earth(!). Do hopefully rewire not needed IF the existing passes the required tests.

aptsys said:

The OP certainly can.

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I disagree, the OP could install the circuit,

BUT they would need RCD protection and all of it would need design, installing, testing to BS7671. And having to raise a building notice and notify to LABC.

He/she is going to need a registered electrician. This ain’t a DIY job.

ericmark said:

Personally I would go for all RCBO with an older property so if there are issues with a circuit, only that circuit is affected. As to make it would depend on the supply type, there are single slot duel pole RCBO's that can be used with TT supplies, but only with the more expensive makes. The problem with more expensive makes is the SPD also becomes more expensive, so total cost really goes up. Fusebox and British General (BG) seem to make reasonable boxes if you don't need twin pole switching.

The other problem is getting type A RCBO's, I know Fusebox and BG do a type A, but Screwfix does not it seems stock the type A, CEF lists a type A at £23.94 but type AC in Screwfix down to £11.99. The same with FuseBox the type AC rather cheap, but type A more expensive.
.

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BG Type A, B curve RCBOs are readily available from TLC.

davelx said:

BG Type A, B curve RCBOs are readily available from TLC.

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Yes did not say not made, just not in local supplier.

I about 2006 did some work on my late mothers house under the LABC, it was not easy. I was forced into it due to a builder walking off, I had wrongly assumed the builder had done everything by the book. So told the LABC I was taking over the job. Hind sight should have kept my mouth closed.

After that when it came to do a full rewire decided to get a scheme member to do it even when I am a time served electrician, simply not worth the hassle.

But it is up to the owner to decide things like RCBO's or RCD and MCB's and in the main is it worth the extra for type A over type AC, the latter even as an electrician not sure on the answer.

So we look at a scenario where the option is cheap RCBO's or expensive RCD with MCB's. We look at the likes of screwfix it looks the part, and for a house with a 60 amp DNO fuse I am sure it would comply. But no SPD, and 63 amp RCD's. OK only £68 but the whole idea was to up-grade. So you dump a MCB that's £3.70 wasted, and fit a SPD that's added another £25. Swap the two RCD's for 100 amp that's another 2 x £24.90 so this cheap £68 CU now costs double the price. Once one starts looking at the extras to make it comply, is it worth using RCD and MCB?

I was using screwfix prices and they don't do a type A RCBO for a BG unit, But basic £22 for a RCBO and 24.90 for RCD and £3.70 for MCB it seems RCBO's will always work out more expensive, but not as bad as it first seems.

And with a high integrity board you can do a bit of both.

I am not sure what is the best option, but this is really what we need to talk about, the bit the owner has to decide on.

ericmark said:

Yes did not say not made, just not in local supplier.

I about 2006 did some work on my late mothers house under the LABC, it was not easy. I was forced into it due to a builder walking off, I had wrongly assumed the builder had done everything by the book. So told the LABC I was taking over the job. Hind sight should have kept my mouth closed.

After that when it came to do a full rewire decided to get a scheme member to do it even when I am a time served electrician, simply not worth the hassle.

But it is up to the owner to decide things like RCBO's or RCD and MCB's and in the main is it worth the extra for type A over type AC, the latter even as an electrician not sure on the answer.

So we look at a scenario where the option is cheap RCBO's or expensive RCD with MCB's. We look at the likes of screwfix

it looks the part, and for a house with a 60 amp DNO fuse I am sure it would comply. But no SPD, and 63 amp RCD's. OK only £68 but the whole idea was to up-grade. So you dump a MCB that's £3.70 wasted, and fit a SPD that's added another £25. Swap the two RCD's for 100 amp that's another 2 x £24.90 so this cheap £68 CU now costs double the price. Once one starts looking at the extras to make it comply, is it worth using RCD and MCB?

I was using screwfix prices and they don't do a type A RCBO for a BG unit, But basic £22 for a RCBO and 24.90 for RCD and £3.70 for MCB it seems RCBO's will always work out more expensive, but not as bad as it first seems.

And with a high integrity board you can do a bit of both.

I am not sure what is the best option, but this is really what we need to talk about, the bit the owner has to decide on.

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you sure know your stuff.. wish you were local to me. Just out of curiosity how much would you charge say for a days work (excluding materials cost)? I'm assuming it will take a day or two to replace the CU in my property

Ive contacted an electrician from the site supplied https://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/... to be honest I'm a bit nervous about telling him 'you should be installing RCBO's because I got that from an internet forum'

I'm hoping the guy knows his sh1t and comes up with the same solution @erikmark has suggested

For the time being he's requested pics and hopefully will give me a ball park quote before he visits. Dont wanna waste his time. If I cant afford it will delay the work until I can

by the way.. check out this pic.. can you see that dangling cable? it feeds the garage from the main house.

Is that acceptable? looks a bit amateurish to my laymans eyes

don't touch it. It will be fragile.
It' ok short term. But should be replaced in the long term, ideally with SWA or conduit

I worked industrial so what was important was down time, so it was always RCBO. But consider the electrician with domestic, he knows 90% know very little and the big question is cost. So ask about the option of RCBO and likely they will want to fit them.

the pro from this website https://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/ isnt calling me back.. even sent him an email!

no wonder people resort to the yellow pages. I'm thinking maybe he didnt like that I asked for a ballpark price based on pictures? (same ones i posted here)

Maybe they have sensed you are a time waster/nightmare customer.

Andy

got a quote finally - £500 to replace the CU and test
although I forgot to ask if that includes the CU + trip switches

Bit pricey - so I'm gonne leave the leccy stuff till the heating system's been sorted and see how much money I have left

If you have not already done so, it might be an idea to check that each of those rewireable fuses has the correct size of fusewire in it. Also make sure you have some spare fuse wire. Remember to turn the main switch off before removing the fuses.