Hello group -
I'm fairly comfortable with domestic electrical work, but have never installed a 'modern' RCD / MCB consumer unit.
I want to rewire the upstairs lighting circuit in my house since it is very old, and I suspect a degree of earth leakage. Also I have no spare circuits on the current board, which is an old-ish 6-way Wylex MCB unit, with MCBs that I cannot now obtain - the pitch of the prongs seems different to 'modern' MCBs.
I have seen a lot of posts on this group re. Consumer Units, but have a couple of specific questions.
Firstly - am I legally bound nowadays to fit an RCB on any new consumer unit? I have a concern about my existing leaky lighting circuit. It does seem to me that I'm best with a board which has both an RCD-protected rail and a switch-protected rail. Is this what is known as a 'split load' board? Is this going to be tricky to wire without specific knowledge?
Finally - there seem to be a few different types of MCB - 'B' type, 'mini-trips'-, etc.... ? Do I need to make sure I but MCBs from the same manufacturer as my new consumer unit? Just some general clarification would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
[Edited by cjgarlick on 29-10-2002 at 15:07 PM GMT]
[Edited by cjgarlick on 29-10-2002 at 15:30 PM GMT]
[Edited by cjgarlick on 29-10-2002 at 15:55 PM GMT]
I'm fairly comfortable with domestic electrical work, but have never installed a 'modern' RCD / MCB consumer unit.
I want to rewire the upstairs lighting circuit in my house since it is very old, and I suspect a degree of earth leakage. Also I have no spare circuits on the current board, which is an old-ish 6-way Wylex MCB unit, with MCBs that I cannot now obtain - the pitch of the prongs seems different to 'modern' MCBs.
I have seen a lot of posts on this group re. Consumer Units, but have a couple of specific questions.
Firstly - am I legally bound nowadays to fit an RCB on any new consumer unit? I have a concern about my existing leaky lighting circuit. It does seem to me that I'm best with a board which has both an RCD-protected rail and a switch-protected rail. Is this what is known as a 'split load' board? Is this going to be tricky to wire without specific knowledge?
Finally - there seem to be a few different types of MCB - 'B' type, 'mini-trips'-, etc.... ? Do I need to make sure I but MCBs from the same manufacturer as my new consumer unit? Just some general clarification would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
[Edited by cjgarlick on 29-10-2002 at 15:07 PM GMT]
[Edited by cjgarlick on 29-10-2002 at 15:30 PM GMT]
[Edited by cjgarlick on 29-10-2002 at 15:55 PM GMT]
