Hi all, this is my first post on here – please be gentle(ish).
Our house has got an old fashioned 8 way wylex consumer unit, although I think only 7 spaces are used. I am wanting to replace the consumer unit and, whilst I do know some stuff about electrics, I would not classify myself as competent enough to do the work myself.
One of my work colleagues is currently doing a course to become a fully qualified electrician – he has been doing the course for about 12 – 18 months, so I suppose he is competent. My intention is to ask him whether he’ll do the work.
Question, do you need to be qualified or merely competent to replace a consumer unit? Does the fact that the consumer unit is in a kitchen cupboard make any difference under Part P regulations?
What happens regarding isolating the existing consumer unit whilst work is being carried out? I do not have a separate isolator switch between the meter and the consumer unit so I suppose my mate will have to remove/get my supplier to remove the service fuse. If I have to get British Gas out to isolate the supply, presumably they have to come back to put the fuse back in!! Any idea of cost?
I am not after a tutorial of how to replace a consumer unit here. Trust me when I say I am not doing the work myself. I’m simply wondering how qualified electricians go about exchanging consumer units.
If your replies indicate that I need to get a qualified electrician to do the work, any idea of cost? I live in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Many thanks in advance.
G
PS Just seen in the reference section that the REC (Regional Electricity Company) can fit an isolator. This is from a post made by Securespark in 2004.
Our house has got an old fashioned 8 way wylex consumer unit, although I think only 7 spaces are used. I am wanting to replace the consumer unit and, whilst I do know some stuff about electrics, I would not classify myself as competent enough to do the work myself.
One of my work colleagues is currently doing a course to become a fully qualified electrician – he has been doing the course for about 12 – 18 months, so I suppose he is competent. My intention is to ask him whether he’ll do the work.
Question, do you need to be qualified or merely competent to replace a consumer unit? Does the fact that the consumer unit is in a kitchen cupboard make any difference under Part P regulations?
What happens regarding isolating the existing consumer unit whilst work is being carried out? I do not have a separate isolator switch between the meter and the consumer unit so I suppose my mate will have to remove/get my supplier to remove the service fuse. If I have to get British Gas out to isolate the supply, presumably they have to come back to put the fuse back in!! Any idea of cost?
I am not after a tutorial of how to replace a consumer unit here. Trust me when I say I am not doing the work myself. I’m simply wondering how qualified electricians go about exchanging consumer units.
If your replies indicate that I need to get a qualified electrician to do the work, any idea of cost? I live in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Many thanks in advance.
G
PS Just seen in the reference section that the REC (Regional Electricity Company) can fit an isolator. This is from a post made by Securespark in 2004.
