FITTING A CONSUMER UNIT.

[jumbo55]

I am just about to fit a new consumer unit to my flat. everything is sorted and i am ready to go or so i thought. i have read as much as i can and am reasonably confident to go ahead, it is an mk consumer unit 8 way split 5 and 3 rcd. problem is on the diagrammatic instruction for the unit, it shows the bussbar going into the botttom of the main switch to feed the
non rcd mcb's. it fits in with the main switch outgoing live. however when i look at this sites own diagrammatic photos, the bussbar simply goes into the mcb's and does not touch the main switch, admittedly the mcb's in question are out of box, if a finger on the bussbar could be seen, i would have understood. http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/consumer_unit.htm
i am somewhat confused now. are the photos on this site misleading, am i right to follow manufacturers instructions, or indeed have they got it wrong, in both cases i have exactly the same unit as the one on this site.
hope i havent bored you...

 

[DESL]

have a look at this site http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/PDF/technical/SENTRY_prod.pdf

Just a few of points

have you notified building control of you intended work?
Have you upgraded the equipotential bonding?
Have you tested the circuits you're connecting to new CU with suitable test equipment?
Are you confident that you can safely isolate the supply prior to change?
Have you heard of part p?

If you can yes to all the questions above go ahead and change the board if not call an electrician!!

 

[jumbo55]

well yes desl, it has to be notified because i have rewired the kitchen, and all changes of consumer units are notifiable anyhow, the work is being done with military precision. thanks for the link, a picture speaks a thousand words. i was pretty sure but its not in my nature to leave anything to chance. i actually have 16th edition, got it 7 years ago, but have never worked as an electrician, i am a gas boiler engineer, so am aware of part p. my old college where i passed my city and guilds, was skint, and only had them old consumer units with cartridge fuses, i was pretty sure but when i saw the picture on this site, i thought i had missed something, so asked the people who make their living at electrics.

 

[DESL]

Ok so you will understand the importance of testing the circuits before any change.

 

[lord nicon21]

Ok so you will understand the importance of testing the circuits before any change.

sorry to ask such a silly Question but what do you test for? how do you know if its good or bad

 

[miajanjua]

well yes desl, it has to be notified because i have rewired the kitchen, and all changes of consumer units are notifiable anyhow, the work is being done with military precision. thanks for the link, a picture speaks a thousand words. i was pretty sure but its not in my nature to leave anything to chance. i actually have 16th edition, got it 7 years ago, but have never worked as an electrician, i am a gas boiler engineer, so am aware of part p. my old college where i passed my city and guilds, was skint, and only had them old consumer units with cartridge fuses, i was pretty sure but when i saw the picture on this site, i thought i had missed something, so asked the people who make their living at electrics.

Don't you mean 15th or was 14th edition then?

 

[systemtek]

Didnt 16th edition come in longer than 7 years ago anyway...

 

[ebee]

1991

 

[jumbo55]

think you been smoking too much marijuana miajanjua. where were you in 98.

 

[ebee]

16th Edition Red Cover 1991 & 1992.
In 1992 it became BS 7671 as well.
Green cover 1994
Yellow 1997
Blue 2001
Brown 2004
Various ammendments too

 

[ebee]

1st edition 1882

 

[securespark]

well yes desl, it has to be notified because i have rewired the kitchen, and all changes of consumer units are notifiable anyhow, the work is being done with military precision. thanks for the link, a picture speaks a thousand words. i was pretty sure but its not in my nature to leave anything to chance. i actually have 16th edition, got it 7 years ago, but have never worked as an electrician, i am a gas boiler engineer, so am aware of part p. my old college where i passed my city and guilds, was skint, and only had them old consumer units with cartridge fuses, i was pretty sure but when i saw the picture on this site, i thought i had missed something, so asked the people who make their living at electrics.

Don't you mean 15th or was 14th edition then?

Eh???

14th came in 1966
15th came in 1981
16th came in 1991
17th due???? 2008

 

[jumbo55]

okay lads... your all very clever, thank you for proving that when i took my city and guilds, it was 16th edition, dunno what planet that manjiwanji is on. how could someone be so wrong, in 98, 16th edition had been out for 7 years.

 

[securespark]

No, in '98, that was the 3rd Ed.

Oh, sorry, that was 1898.....

 

[jumbo55]

get a grip man.... christmas is coming.