changing the consumer unit
- Thread starter hevknn06
- Start date
If you are in England or Wales just notify the work to your BCO and they will inspect and test for you. You'll have a job finding a qualified electrician to sign off work done by an unqualified householder.
tbh I doubt a professional would touch it with a barge pole. Depending on your setup it will require work with the meter tails which may be dangerous, depending where you live may mean building control notification. To be honest, you are probably better having this work done by a professional.
hevknn06 said:
Well now you've said that, I definitely don't think you should attempt this job - if you think it's just a case of swopping over the wires then you are mistaken.
I'm not sure on the process of inspection/testing taken by the BCO inspector but he probably won't be too happy when he shows up and you've copied all the old mistakes, have a number of circuits that don't meet the requirements and you haven't upgraded all the necessary parts.
What sort of inspection was done, and by whom?
hevknn06 said:
Well before you change a CU you have to ensure the installation meets certain standards - continuity of protective conductors and ring circuits, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, etc. etc..
You must ensure the meter tails, main bonding/main earthing conductors are appropriately sized, and that you have the correct RCD arrangement for your earthing method (TT requires a S-type RCD protecting the whole board, with 30mA protection for socket outlets likely to supply outdoor appliances, showers and circuits within certain zones within a bathroom). You must also confirm RCD operation and disconnection times during faults.
Did BG perform any tests? Did they give you any certificate with the results?
So its not as easy as some people on here say then,im basicaly having to change the CU as id like an electric shower and theres not a spare fuse to take the power needed for the shower,so how much would you expect it to cost to get swaped over,is it something my electric supplier would do?
hevknn06 said:
An inspection and test of every circuit as you are modifying them all (installing a different protective device with different characteristics), and defeats repaired, usually main bonding at the least.
Tests are, in order, just for curiousities sake:
Continuity of CPCs (earth)
Ring final circuits (correct ring like nature of)
Insulation resistant
Polarity of final circuits
Polarity of incomming supply
'Lectrode / company earth impedance (+pfc)
Earth fault loop impedance of final circuits
RCD test (+any functional tests)
Test equipment for the above costs circa 600 squids, and then there is the issue of knowing how to work it
hevknn06 said:
If you can point me to any posts where anyone has said a CU change was easy, I'll eat my hat.
hevknn06 said:
No. You need an electrician who is qualified, and in England and Wales he/she must be registered with a self certification body such as NICEIC, NAPIT etc.
Ask friends/neighbours for recommendations and then get at least 3 quotes.
The price will vary according to the amount of remedial work that needs to be done, location, and a whole range of other factors which make it impossible for anyone here to give you a rough estimate.
The price will vary according to the amount of remedial work that needs to be done, location, and a whole range of other factors which make it impossible for anyone here to give you a rough estimate.
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