How I replaced an MCB with an RCBO

[Steve]

RF Lighting very kindly sold me an RCBO and a second hand 63amp mainswitch, so this morning i set to work fitting them in my shed.

First things first:

The note says "Dont forget we all want to see your MDbalson style pics of how you replaced an MCB with and RCBO"

Power off in the house:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00826.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00827.jpg

CU in the shed:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00831.jpg

Testing for dead:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00832.jpg
teehee, only joking. I did use an el cheapo multimeter, it read 0.4volts L-N.

CU stripped down:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00834.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00833.jpg

New stuff fitted - RCBO and mainswitch:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00835.jpg

Wired up:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00839.jpg

Closeup of the wiring:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00841.jpg

All finished:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff284/Crafty1289/Shed RCBO/DSC00842.jpg

Eagled eyed viewers will note I cut short the tails on the RCBO. They were about a metre long! I have seen them curled up before (how do you do this? Does it involve winding round a screwdriver and applying heat?) Why are the tails made of very fine copper?

And I know the wiring could be neater, but I was working at an obscure angle from the right, using my left hand (i'm right handed). Is it just me (and my inexperience) or are the new colour wires stiffer than the old ones? Those XLPE cores were hard as iron!

Anyway, cheers Rob! I just need to get the shed circuit off the house RCD now, and fill that pesky hole with a blank

 

[JohnD]

RCBOs are great!

 

[bernardgreen]

RF Lighting very kindly sold me an RCBO

First things first:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/...[/color]/Shed RCBO/DSC00824.jpg:roll:[/QUOTE]


Is this the final proof that Steve really is Crafty.

 

[JohnD]

might be using his boyfriend's account

 

[Steve]

lol but you all knew anyway.

I thought you might like it JohnD. Next step is to junk the RCD in the house CU and fit half a dozen RCBOs Can I have shares in your RCBO factory?
Not looking forward to this

 

[bernardgreen]

might be using his boyfriend's account

True, there is no accounting for taste.......

 

[JohnD]

you'll be wanting some ratchet crimps and heat shrink sleeving to tidy it up.

 

[Steve]

you'll be wanting some ratchet crimps and heat shrink sleeving to tidy it up.

And a main isolator to get those ferkin tails out of the way What a stupid way to route them. To think, this was done by an approved electrician.

 

[plugwash]

i'm not sure that stopping the shed light from getting tripped is worth the cost of reconfiguring the shed CU.

why have you started this RCD reorganisation drive? have you been having RCD problems?

 

[JohnD]

shed freezer planned?

 

[plugwash]

shed freezer planned?

I guess that would be a plausable reason, just make sure the freezer is not connected via an ordinary plug and socket.

 

[Spark123]

How have you terminated the SWA into the house CU?

 

[JohnD]

...Eagled eyed viewers will note I cut short the tails on the RCBO. They were about a metre long! ..

have you still got the bits?

 

[Spark123]

You still after some wire to extend an RCBO functional earth tail? Have you got an old fluorescent fitting, the wire in it may be what you're after. I have a 100m roll of it if you want an odd metre, email in my profile.

 

[ricicle]

Yawn..........................................................