changing the consumer unit

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could i change the consumer unit myself and then get it checked by a profesional after?
 
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.
 
it doesnt seem to difficult im basicaly replacing the unit with an up to date one,ive had an isolator fitted to the main supply so is it just a case of remember what goes where etc?
 
hevknn06 said:
it doesnt seem to difficult

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 would the upgrades comprise of and what kind of mistakes could there already be as theres been a recent inspection.
 
a company working on behalf of british gas,they did an inspection when changing the electricity meter,could you explain whats involved in changing the CU ?
 
hevknn06 said:
a company working on behalf of british gas,they did an inspection when changing the electricity meter,could you explain whats involved in changing the CU ?

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?
 
the fuse box id be changing would be a wylex standard consumer unit for a new modern hager CU
 
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:
a company working on behalf of british gas,they did an inspection when changing the electricity meter,could you explain whats involved in changing the CU ?

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 :wink:
 
hevknn06 said:
So its not as easy as some people on here say then

If you can point me to any posts where anyone has said a CU change was easy, I'll eat my hat. :P

hevknn06 said:
is it something my electric supplier would do?

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.
 

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