Correct Consumer Unit For TT Supply

[jgreen86]

Hi,

We are having some work done on our house and our electrirican says our consumer unit is wrong for our tt supply. He says I need a dual RCD board for the house with 2x RCD and 1x isolator.

My question is this: 1. do i need this? 2. can i convert my existing board with one RCD in it to one with 2 in it? the current board is split load and has 4 spare ways

Thanks

 

[Spark123]

I'd say stick with what the electrician says, it will probably be cheaper in the long run rather than messing about with an existing CU.
Also thank him for potentially saving you and your families lives.

 

[jgreen86]

Could we not just replace the main isolator with a RCD? so the box will have two in it then

 

[Spark123]

Not really, you'll need to have standard 30mA RCD protection for concealed cables to comply with the 17th edn regs.
To replace the main switch with a 30mA RCD can, in the event of a fault, kill the whole installation which is deemed unacceptable.
Stick with what your electrician says, that is what you are paying him for.

 

[AndyPRK]

Sounds like he wants to bring it up to the 17th edition.

It very much depends how significant the work is being carried out.
Repair or Adding circuits ?
Adding lights ?

What make is the CU ?

More info and a picture always helps.

 

[jgreen86]

I dont have a camera im afraid as its broke. Its a 5 year old contactum board with one main isolator and one RCD (split load) we are having two extra sockets installed. can i replace the main isolator with a 100ma RCD?

 

[pjcomp]

Also thank him for potentially saving you and your families lives.

What's wrong with a split load board? It was all the rage under 16th Edition and I don't recall it being blamed for mass murder.

PJ

 

[Spark123]

He has a normal split load CU on a TT supply, dangerous!
It wouldn't meet the 16th edn regs nor previous editions either.

 

[Spark123]

Also thank him for potentially saving you and your families lives.

What's wrong with a split load board? It was all the rage under 16th Edition and I don't recall it being blamed for mass murder.

PJ

TT supply

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Its a 5 year old contactum board

How do you know?

Who installed it?

Is there an EIC for it?

 

[Spark123]

I dont have a camera im afraid as its broke. Its a 5 year old contactum board with one main isolator and one RCD (split load) we are having two extra sockets installed. can i replace the main isolator with a 100ma RCD?

Price up a 100A type S 100mA RCD and compare it to the price of a new consumer unit, knowing of course that a new CU is more likely to bring the installation up to current regs and a 100mA (S) RCD probably wont.

 

[jgreen86]

We bought the house 5 years ago and it had just been put in then.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

..knowing of course that a new CU is more likely to bring the installation up to current regs and a 100mA (S) RCD probably wont.

"Probably"?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

We bought the house 5 years ago and it had just been put in then.

Illegally.

 

[jgreen86]

We bought the house 5 years ago and it had just been put in then.

Illegally.

we got the house cheap to do up so we asked no questions as we were going to have a complete rip out