I've been asked to finish a job that was started a few years ago the only problem is when the job was started the 16th edition regs were in place, So the consumer units that were fitted at this time are also only up to 16th edition regs and so some of the circuits have no rcd protection. My idea now is to change some of the mcb's to rcbo's and move some onto the rcd side of the consumer unit. But what i'd like to no is how many can i put onto the rcd side and how many do i have to change to rcbo's. Obviously for the customers sake i'd like to keep the amount of rcbo's to a minimum because of the cost. There are 9 circuits in total but 6 different houses so it could get a bit expensive.
Changing a 16th edition CU
- Thread starter bobsmate
- Start date
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Need more info really. It will probably come down to how many spare ways you have on the RCD side and making sure that the ligting circuits are not all on the same RCD.
Assuming the lighting circuits are split up & down then a RCBO for one of the lighting circuits with the other on the RCD would suffice. But you also need to look at the socket outlet circuits and split these between RCD and RCBO appropriately.
I have upstairs/kitchen sockets and downstairs lights on RCBO's in my CU, with upstairs lights and living room sockets on the RCD. So I had to buy two RCBO's.
Assuming the lighting circuits are split up & down then a RCBO for one of the lighting circuits with the other on the RCD would suffice. But you also need to look at the socket outlet circuits and split these between RCD and RCBO appropriately.
I have upstairs/kitchen sockets and downstairs lights on RCBO's in my CU, with upstairs lights and living room sockets on the RCD. So I had to buy two RCBO's.
Thanks for the reply i understand what you mean.
I think they have 3 lighting circuits, 1 cooker, 3 rings, 1 smoke and 1 boiler circuit in the house so as long as i could put the say upstairs lights and downstairs rings on rcbo's then the rest would be ok to go on the rcd side?
This would be to costly as the 16th edition consumer units have already been fitted.
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bobsmate, are you a qualified electrician?
whatis the make of CU? it's highly likely you can get a "17th edition kit" for it that will split it up.
failing that can you not re-arrange the busbar bit to run the "non RCD" side of it through a second RCD?
failing that can you not re-arrange the busbar bit to run the "non RCD" side of it through a second RCD?
Yes i am and that is the answer i was expecting as that is what i would do if i were to install a 17th edition consumer unit but as i'm young and learning and like to have reassurance that what i am doing is correct then i come here instead of making a mistake. Also i like to hear other peoples ideas like coljack's
I like your thinking on this one as i hadn't thought of it but wouldn't this be more expensive than buying 2 rcbo's.
Sorry i was in the wrong thread i thought you were responding to mine.
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Can you smell the boolsheet?
????
Anyway i'm probably gonna go with the rcbo option and split it up so sockets downstairs and lights up are seperate.
Bobsmate,
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