Garage CU with Energy Meter

[Murdochcat]

That’s as rough as ….

 

[SUNRAY]

That’s as rough as ….

I kind of agree but I do have to say I've encountered a lot worse

 

[ericmark]

The problem is not what I see, it is what I don't see. What I would say is fill in an installation certificate, not just because one needs filling in, but it also acts as a prompt to do the right tests. The blanks are a free download from IET website, or you can look in BS 7671 that also has examples of blank forms.

Basic thing is, if you can't fill in the form, you should not have done the job.

 

[Boilerman2020]

Thanks for the feedback. The box hasn't changed location, but I upgraded some of the wiring to it in white LSF. There are no breaks from lighting or sockets back to the Mini CU. It was my understanding a domestic Mini CU can be worked on under a DIY pass. The IET form is interesting, I can do some of the tests but would need to learn how to do a few others. With the wires coming in from the right hand side, some of them would've needed joiners to have been neatly folded behind the breakers, I did the best I could to keep them all straight and together. Granted where they all come in on the right looks a bit bird's nesty.
Sunray was there any particular bit you thought didn't look terminated correctly? I took a fresh pic.
The power there won't be used for a while so I've left it off, to be honest I'm so busy now I'll ask a sparkie to come by and check it as well as look at the protection from the Main CU side.

 

[blup]

Hi Everyone

I've inherited a Mini CU in the garage extension and want to restore power there after decorating. It's fed from a 40A MCB at the Main house CU along a 6mm2 cable.

I'm wondering what your thoughts are on it. The feed supplies the box via a 32A MCB. I'm thinking that should be changed to a 32A or 40A RCBO.

The energy meter I have is rated at 45A (Eastron SDM120D). The terminals are set back a bit so I'm thinking I will need to use some 6 or 10mm to connect to the next MCB which then has the busbar.

See pic.

Change main CU and garage CU to rcbo boards. Fit 10mm feed to garage to cover the higher demands of some EV chargers

 

[SUNRAY]

Change main CU and garage CU to rcbo boards. Fit 10mm feed to garage to cover the higher demands of some EV chargers

Unless there is anything additional planned for the 'garage', at this point I wouldn't advocate increasing the size of the submain cable, Equally I don't forsee any real problem with a typical garage CU in this situation. Equally I'm not one who advocates changing a CU for the sake of change and happily admit to installing pre-used CU's, however my first post provided a link to a CU as in my opinion the components in this board are way beyond their useby date. I don't know how much the new 2 pole RCBO cost (why a RCBO over a RCD I don't know) is likely to be well down the route to the £33 board I suggested.

So where do we go from here? If I'm honest I have doubts about competency and feel I don't wish to add more other than get someone in.

 

[flameport]

But, unfortunately, the energy meter is not tracking usage.

The meter is wired incorrectly, the bottom terminals are Lin and Lout, and you have only one connected, and you have the other devices connected directly to the RCBO via the mangled busbar so there is no way the meter can monitor the current even if the other terminal was connected.

it doesn't make clear whether the little terminals on the front are for testing only

They are not for testing anything, they are either a pulse output or serial communications depending on the specific model of meter.

It was my understanding a domestic Mini CU can be worked on under a DIY pass.

No such thing.
Anyone can work on a consumer unit provided they are competent to do so - from the evidence provided you are not.

I'll ask a sparkie to come by and check it as well as look at the protection from the Main CU side.

Realistically you need to have them replace the whole lot with something fit for purpose.

 

[Boilerman2020]

Omg. I just realised I missed the connection out of the energy meter (face in palms!; product of exhaustion ). But still, from the feedback here I believe I've moved out of my depth too much in trying to save a few quid, so this box will remain off and time to get a qualified in. I'll also get them to see about the protection on the bottom rail of the Main CU. It's not going to be plastered for a while so still time if they need to run extra cabling.
Being honest I was curious about seeing if I could hook it up, and didn't have the patience to wait and buy new parts, a bit silly but have learned a lot.