New Consumer Unit

[securespark]

Mmm, tell me more.

I have to own up to being a fan of isolation switches on the tails and I may be in the minority, but I have only ever seen one failure.

As for the switch fuse, you may need one if your tails exceed a certain length.

 

[Daz66]

Just to nail this down as the work is being done next week IF I go the RCBO route do I still need the RCD double board or just a blank board with the 100amp switch??

 

[Taylortwocities]

Have you not read the input above?


A lot of boards are difficult to work with in all RCBO configurations.
Wylex is very tight. Volex is hopeless.

There's another thread with detailed advice on this http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2379255#2379255 But surely the electrician will supply the board.??????????

re

IF I go the RCBO route do I still need the RCD double board or just a blank board with the 100amp switch??

The RCBO provides 30mA protection, so why would you need a dual RCD board?

 

[Daz66]

TTC yes I have read and re-read all the posts twice and there still is not a yes or no answer.

The reason I ask is that it will affect the amount of ways available as the RCD's take up two ways so in effect a 14 way board is only a 10 way with RCD's whereas if all RCBO's and no RCD's it is a 14 way!

I am trying to balance out the requirements of another board to be used for garage and outside use later.

I will be purchasing the equipment, with the agreement of the sparks, through work to get a reasonable discount as I work for a main contractor who has a good deal going with an electrical wholesaler.

 

[riveralt]

It works this way.
You tell the electrician what you want.
He designs the circuits and if you and he agree then he will tell you what to buy.
No self respecting electrician will let you design the circuits and fit them based on your design unless he/she agrees that it meets the current regulatory requirement.
So stop speaking to us and speak to him or her.

 

[Daz66]

As I said before I am doing what he asks, he has advised on what is required and he says that I DO need RCD's with RCBO's to be doubly safe I am just checking.

No harm in asking and making sure, I have to get the stuff and dont want him saying he cant fit it because I got the wrong things. He has done the design and told me what to get but I was just unsure of the circuits and whether a second board was required.

I will get a 16 way board to make sure I have enough future proofing and room for copious RCD's then

 

[riveralt]

No harm in asking and making sure, I have to get the stuff and dont want him saying he cant fit it because I got the wrong things. He has done the design and told me what to get but I was just unsure of the circuits and whether a second board was required.

What you're saying doesn't make sense.
If you don't understand what he has asked you to get - ask him to explain what he wants in more specific detail.
If he is just saying get a board with RCD's and RCBO's - that is insufficient information. And I would seriously question his/her competence.
What size RCBO/MCB's?
How many circuits are being installed and therefore how many and what type of RCD/RCBO or MCB's do you need?

 

[davelx]

As I said before I am doing what he asks, he has advised on what is required and he says that I DO need RCD's with RCBO's to be doubly safe I am just checking.

He's talking nonsense and you might want to think twice about using him.

 

[Taylortwocities]

IF I go the RCBO route

Seems like Daz and/or his electrician are still making their mind up about if to go all RCBO or not.
All bets are off until this fundemental decisin has been made.

 

[mikhailfaradayski]

As I said before I am doing what he asks, he has advised on what is required and he says that I DO need RCD's with RCBO's to be doubly safe I am just checking.

Complete and utter tosh. I suggest bin the electrician (if he actually exists) and get someone who knows what they are talking about.

No harm in asking and making sure, I have to get the stuff and dont want him saying he cant fit it because I got the wrong things. He has done the design and told me what to get but I was just unsure of the circuits and whether a second board was required.

I will get a 16 way board to make sure I have enough future proofing and room for copious RCD's then

Just as a side note, its coming up to the holiday season. Do you know if your half-witted electrician is planning many vacations during the process of the board change? My guess he probably is....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Seems like Daz and/or his electrician are still making their mind up about if to go all RCBO or not.

It does seem odd that at least one of them doesn't realise you don't need RCDs if you have all RCBOs.....

 

[kai]

Mmm, tell me more.

I have to own up to being a fan of isolation switches on the tails and I may be in the minority, but I have only ever seen one failure.

As for the switch fuse, you may need one if your tails exceed a certain length.

I am also a great fan of isolation switches between meter and consumer's units - a safe way to switch off, when tightening up the screws on the consumer unit annually - they have an annoying habit of gradually loosening themselves on modern units.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Clues for Daz-

What you are calling RCDs (Residual Current Devices) are, in fact, RCCBs (Residual Current Circuit Breakers).

RCCBs and RCBOs (Residual Current Circuit Breakers with Overload Protection) are both RCDs.

You only need one RCD on a circuit.

 

[Taylortwocities]

IF I go the RCBO route do I still need the RCD double board

The major benefit of an all RCBO configuaration is that you do not have a single point of failure. With a dual/split RCD board a fault on one circuit that trips the RCD also disables all of the circuits on the RCD, not just the circuit with the earth fault.

If you have RCBOs and also an RCD then an fault on one of the circuits is very likely to also trip the RCD. So there is NO POINT having an RCD as well as the RCBO.

As others have pointed out, I would find another electrician yours if your said

that I DO need RCD's with RCBO's to be doubly safe

then he doesn't know what he is talking about.

 

[Daz66]

Thanks for you advise and concerns, I am now looking into another electrician.

From my initial understanding and requirements for RCBO's, researched here and other places, I was satisfied that I did not need the RCD's however his constant insistance that I needed a 17th edition board (complete with RCD's) kept throwing me.

Hopefully things will progress now and I can get the back board fitted this weekend ready for the works next week.

Thanks again all.