Circuit Breaker Query

[Murdochcat]

Plan ahead for what? Never heard of a consumer unit needing replacing in an emergency.

I have and I’ve done a couple too

 

[SUNRAY]

It probably could theoretically benefit by being 'updated', but I've seen far worse in service!

Looking at the outside of the CU there is nothing that makes me go or or or either

Sure, it's not young and parts are long since available new (ironically I gave a RCD and 32A MCB to someone earlier this year to update an installation) but IF there is a perceived risk a fair few second hand bits are around such as these RCBO's: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224482036585? to add RCD to the lights.

I would check there is sufficient height in the CU before buying (only because there doesn't appear to be much space below (to the right in pic) the MCBs

 

[JohnW2]

The CU housing is plastic.

OK - so that's another 'advantage/improvement' that some people might suggest/advise, then.

However, I am personally far more doubtful about this one. As I always say, if it hasn't happened already I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before people die as a result of this (in my opinion totally unnecessary) change to metal-cased domestic CUs!

 

[JohnW2]

Plan ahead for what? Never heard of a consumer unit needing replacing in an emergency.

Well, they might have to be replaced 'as an emergency' if, say, they were mechanically damaged, suffered from severe flooding (devices full of water) or 'burnt to a cinder' etc. - but it's plain silly to suggest that one can "plan ahead" for such eventualities

 

[jj4091]

Well, they might have to be replaced 'as an emergency' if, say, they were mechanically damaged, suffered from severe flooding (devices full of water) or 'burnt to a cinder' etc. - but it's plain silly to suggest that one can "plan ahead" for such eventualities

I don't think any of those would be done on an emergency basis on a Sunday affternoon. There would be lots of other things to sort out first.

 

[SUNRAY]

OK - so that's another 'advantage/improvement' that some people might suggest/advise, then.

However, I am personally far more doubtful about this one. As I always say, if it hasn't happened already I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before people die as a result of this (in my opinion totally unnecessary) change to metal-cased domestic CUs!

Oh you mean like when we moved away from metal CU's 50+ years ago.

 

[jj4091]

I have and I’ve done a couple too

Do you mean in an emergency that you had to do on a Sunday afternoon or urgently that you did ASAP. A big difference in my opinion.