Adding RCD to shower circuit?

[DCC]

Having recently had some electrics done in my kitchen that required a new CU to be fitted I'm aware that the regulations mean you can end up with more changes and testing than you originally expected. So...

My elderly mother has an fairly old electric showing in her bathroom, it has a big isolation switch outside the bathroom and the circuit was added, I'm guessing, sometime maybe 16 years ago. The consumer unit is fairly ancient - black box with wired fuses from memory.

Now obviously none of this comes anywhere close to modern standards but I'm wondering if an electrician would be allowed/willing to add some kind of RCD protection to the shower circuit without ending up needing a full house rewire and new CU? Or is any decent electrician going to tell me "Can't do that because then I'd have to change that and then that'd need doing and ..."

 

[Taylortwocities]

The minmum that he could do is:

Check the main earthing in the house and upgrade if necessary
Check the circuit to the shower to ensure it has no defects and is capable for the load.
Install an RCD on the shower circuit (or provide a stand-alone shower protection unit - this includes a new-style breaker & and RCD).
He'd then need to test all that he had done and notify the local authority.

It would cost less than changing the fuseboard though.

If it were me, I would firstly get a qualified spark to what is called a Periodic Inspection Report on the electrics in the house. You would then know if there were any dangerous items and would detail any work that must be done and /or should be done. You could then make a valued judgement on if all was well or if your mother is in danger..

it would probably cost a couple of hundred notes to get this re-assurance.

 

[DCC]

Thank you for the advice. When my electrician comes back to finalise the kitchen I'll have a word with him.