An indication of cost for troubleshooting and upgrading consumer unit

[mikehammer69]

More than one leaky thing adding up to enough to trip an RCD, but individually none are enough to trip RCBOs?

Still though a bit early to be stating that the tripping issue has been resolved considering the board was replaced today

And it appears that it was a board swap with live testing afterwards . No IR testing done by the sound of it.

 

[ebee]

"And it appears that it was a board swap with live testing afterwards . No IR testing done by the sound of it."

Not the approach I would usually take - I would do relevant testing (quite probably an EICR or thereabouts) and the the change then the final tests.

 

[Murdochcat]

Cumulative leakage across all those circuits wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the old board had a single up front RCD.

At least now if something trips you’ll know which circuit and all the others will still work

Thanks for the update - it’s good that you’ve done this

 

[Vicario]

My CU replacement was done in 2021. The label on the cover says that I should have everything re-tested in 5 years' time, so I've got two months to go! Absolutely no issues, so what should I do? By the way, the EICR done in 2021 before the install revealed that I was running on virtually no proper earthing to the whole house, so definitely worth every penny.

 

[ebee]

Yes good example, an installation with virually no proper earthing could be a serious issue, bonding too.
Go back far enough and earthing was not always considered as importantly in some things (lighting circuits being a good example) and likewise bonding too, in fact bonding went from not present, to present, to present and more substantial and thicker conductors. Nowadys RCDs (RCBOs etc) could be thought of as reducing some of those risks but we do not play about by reducing or omitting them really (supp bonding in bathrooms being some exception perhaps).
Some of what was considered satisfactory and compliant some years back we would be horrified about these days.

With the modern prevalance of TNC-S even if it presents as TNS then earthing and bonding are more important now.

 

[Taylortwocities]

My CU replacement was done in 2021. The label on the cover says that I should have everything re-tested in 5 years' time, so I've got two months to go! Absolutely no issues, so what should I do? By the way, the EICR done in 2021 before the install revealed that I was running on virtually no proper earthing to the whole house, so definitely worth every penny.

What has this to do with the topic from @Milleniumaire ?
If this is a new question then please,
START YOUR OWN NEW TOPIC

 

[Collectors]

One thing is are you supplying materials as any trade wont like that as you taken away there material profit. We always put on our estimates the charges to come back & repair any faulty goods supplyed by customers. On your garden lights check all cables for any damge as mice/rats & squirals love cable as its protine.

 

[ebee]

What has this to do with the topic from @Milleniumaire ?
If this is a new question then please,
START YOUR OWN NEW TOPIC

well if you read it you will know the answer Taylor lad!

Reader asking for advice and we doing our best to give it.

 

[mikehammer69]

Ex

"And it appears that it was a board swap with live testing afterwards . No IR testing done by the sound of it."

Not the approach I would usually take - I would do relevant testing (quite probably an EICR or thereabouts) and the the change then the final tests.

Ah. I was only stirring a bit of debate using a contrarian viewpoint

 

[ebee]

Just to clarify regarding to my previous posts on this topic.
In my humble opinion, removing and then replacing a consumer unit on and existing installation prior to any siufficient amount testing and inspecting regime is bordering upon the criminal.

Once sufficiently I & T then faults would be corrected as required and estimates given as far as reasonanably practicable (as we all know not all faults can not be estimated to 100% accuracy because of the nature of fault finding). Simple things like no bonding present can usually be inspected with reasonable accuracy, sometimes correcting a known fault can then reveal another fault.
Then once all of these faults (serious defects) are corrected we can go ahead and change the consumer unit and no nasty suprises should reveal themselves during the additional tests done after the CU change.

No one in their right mind would connect a new consumer unit prior sufficient testing and inspecting and leave any defects remaining unless they are prepared to completely power down for as long as it takes to correct all defects sufficiently afterwards.

One way of achieving sufficient I & T might be a full EICR procedure, if there is already a recent EICR/PIR present you might decide to rely upon this to some extent if you have faith in its accuracy and the amount of time and possible changes since that time.

Therefore the only sure way is EICR then corrections then change then relevant tests then certify as satisfactory.
Only a maniac would deviate from that procedure.

 

[mikehammer69]

It might end the trip issue or he could be back with issues after

Or worse again more than 1 rcbo tripping on the new board . I've seen that happen where previously there was an RCD tripping .

 

[ebee]

Or worse again more than 1 rcbo tripping on the new board . I've seen that happen where previously there was an RCD tripping .

Agreed - in fact one thing to increase that type of thing is the good old borrwed N

 

[mattylad]

While planning a board change ALWAYS add extra space for stuff you have not thought of that may occur in the future.
Extra space in the board even if it means getting a slightly bigger board than you were thinking of.

Else not doing so will come back to bite you in the ass in the future when you want to add that extra circuit for something.