My 74 year old pop has just informed me he's had a contractor out to perform an 'electrical safety survey', the upshot of which is that he's now signed up for £1000 of work, including a new 12 way consumer unit (he's got 6 fuses at present?); earthing of the gas and water system; and removal of an 'obsolete' trip unit build into the main meter circuit. Comments anyone?
Consumer Unit
- Thread starter dolphin
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Does seem alot of money...but
The obsolete trip will no doubt be an ELCB - no longer recognised in BS7671 - of all the ones I see, they no longer function! They were really cr@p!
To remove this would cost nothing - they will need to install new tails with the new consumer unit anyway.
You currently have 6 circuit.....how many of them are doubled up?? Often, new circuits get bunged in on top!
A 10way split load board from MEM is their cheapest board incorporating an RCD. I guess other makes are priced similarly. This is because this is the most often used size.
The main equipotential bonding to the gas and water is a must - this needs to be done. How far is the gas meter and main water stop cock from the CU?? Is it a difficult run to either of them??
Do you know if they are converting your earthing to PME?? I assume it used to be TT, due to the ELCB.
These firms offering a 'free' survery always overcharge on the installs, this way they get their money back, and the 'free' survery is no longer free!
I would estimate that for an average 3 bed house, new CU, PME upgrade, bonding......£250-£400.....depends where you are, prices vary hugely. Also depends on many other factors....bungalow etc etc.
The obsolete trip will no doubt be an ELCB - no longer recognised in BS7671 - of all the ones I see, they no longer function! They were really cr@p!
To remove this would cost nothing - they will need to install new tails with the new consumer unit anyway.
You currently have 6 circuit.....how many of them are doubled up?? Often, new circuits get bunged in on top!
A 10way split load board from MEM is their cheapest board incorporating an RCD. I guess other makes are priced similarly. This is because this is the most often used size.
The main equipotential bonding to the gas and water is a must - this needs to be done. How far is the gas meter and main water stop cock from the CU?? Is it a difficult run to either of them??
Do you know if they are converting your earthing to PME?? I assume it used to be TT, due to the ELCB.
These firms offering a 'free' survery always overcharge on the installs, this way they get their money back, and the 'free' survery is no longer free!
I would estimate that for an average 3 bed house, new CU, PME upgrade, bonding......£250-£400.....depends where you are, prices vary hugely. Also depends on many other factors....bungalow etc etc.
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just bought a 16 way cu with 8 mcbs £60 + vat
Your dad has a cooling off period, in law. Ring Cowboys'R'Us and postpone, meantime get a proper spark in to quote. The spark will quote less, and his advice and information may well be better than the others anyway.
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