Consumer unit wiring

[raw]

Hello

I am new here and am pretty impressed by what I am seeing, I have a question regarding consumer units.

I wish to change my consumer unit, I have done some electrical work before, I am not part P qualified and do not intend to do this for the sake of saving money but so that I can learn. I have attached a picture of what I currently have. As you can see it is still on the old fuse catdridges.

I understand from another forum that if I wear a couple of pairs of rubber gloves and boots aswell as standing on a conducting mat of some sort I can change the live supply cables into the house whilst ensuring I do not touch the conductors directly.


As you can see also from the pictures there seems to be sort of two consumer units, if someone could please explain why this is it would be helpfull.

I will of course get in bco or an electrician who is willing to certify

Cheers for all your help

 

[saxondale]

rubber gloves? CONDUCTING mat ? and it`s notifiable anyway


not really a DIY job is it?

 

[MasterAbacus]

Should this be posted in the Urban Myths section.....


In relation, looks to me like your install is quite old.... might need more than a CU upgrade.... probably a full re-wire......

 

[ocemeer]

This has to be a SPOOF

 

[dingbat]

That lower fuseboard is obviously for use as a shopping bag hanger.

As MA has said, this looks like an older installation. A full installation test is required prior to the CU change, for which you need specialist knowledge and equipment. It is common to find a number of non-compliances during the inspection and test, which will need to be sorted out.

Definitely NOT a straighforward DIY job.

 

[tryingnottobeafool]

up here in glasgow £250 is going rate to put in trip fuse box

 

[Chri5]

up here in glasgow £250 is going rate to put in trip fuse box

Either that is with a snide ticket, no ticket or a con.

Con as in, we've done the new consumer unit, but all your existing wiring, fittings and bonding is rubbish. So we can't connect anything on, other than a full renewed wiring system at £5k

Back to the main post- You look as if most is over serviceable life and will require far more work than you think.
As an absolute minimum the cabling should be tested to see if it is serviceable on a new fuse board with the likely deployment of RCD split rail for regulation compliance.

I'd also add that if you have any comprehension of what safety is, that you stop using the meter and fuse units as resting furniture for hoover bits, bags and bobbins.

 

[securespark]

That white-painted cable under the bottom CU looks like cracked (perished) rubber. In which case, you're looking at a rewire.

DO NOT WORK LIVE.