New CU - Before and after pics

[DJM]

Thanks for all the advice and help, just to show part 1 of the CU upgrade now complete. Below is a reminder of what I had, and now what I have got.
Before

After

Close up of new CU

Close up of new Henley block, isolation switch, MET and moved meter

The MEM will be going next year after the kitchen has been installed.

 

[streetlighter]

Looks like a nice job. Any chance of some pics with the covers removed ?

 

[DJM]

probably, but not tonight as camera battery is dead

 

[Deleted member 54734]

You managed to get your supplier to move the meter then

 

[DJM]

Roo,
yes but I had to write to head office before they would even consider it. They were wanting £800 to come and have a look, but after head office got involved suddenly it was free.
Thanks for your advice by the way

 

[DJM]

It should make JohnD happy as i have gone for RCBOs

 

[JohnD]

Well done

Have you found the really convenient?

 

[DJM]

Work was only completed at about 17:00 last night so not really had much of a shake down.

Although there appears to be a number of MCB and RCBOs in the CU, it's not quite as filled as you might think. Electrician couldn't get RCBOs on Monday so fitted some MCBs to give us power overnight. He then left them in situ disconnected and will use the slots for the lighting circuits moving from MEM in phase 2.

Actually CU is 21-way even though I asked for a 17 way, but better bigger than smaller - as the actress said to the bishop, oherr missus.

 

[DESL]

Actually CU is 21-way even though I asked for a 17 way, but better bigger than smaller

A 21 way split load gives you 17 usable ways as main switch and RCD take up 23 ways each but in your case if you are using RCBOs then you get 19 usable ways

 

[DJM]

DESL,
yes, but the original spec was a 17way split load which would have given me 14 or 15 usable ways, which then converted to a 17 way standard giving 15 usable. What I got was a 21 way giving me an extra 4 usable ways.

Not a complaint as the difference in cost is relatively small and there's plenty of scope to consolidate current CUs and expand as required. It was a compliment that the Electrician took the time to consider and suggest splitting dsome of teh circuits in teh MEM and then getting a CU big enough to do that.

 

[Chri5]

Naughty, clamps shouldn't be on the mains cable.

Odd thinh is that the earth from the mains cable (silver strandard wires appear to go to an MET block)- Why hasn't the other earths been taken off the clamps and been reterminated on the MET??

Earth could do with some lables to indicate what they are (gas, water, CU etc) and the odd

wouldn't be a bad idea

 

[DJM]

Silver braded with "Electrical earth do not remove" label appears to be sweated on and provided by EDF to the MET block.

Both other clamps were there before we bought house. One of the clamps goes to the Venner time clock, so I assume EDF did it as they own the clock. The other is a bit odd, as it goes to the economy 7 CU, and then from there to the Gas.

I ran a new to current standard bond to the water prior to electrician arriving, but didn't get time to fit the new gas bond. I will be adding a direct Gas to MET though.

MET block does have a do not remove label, but the pic doesn't show it. The sticky label I had indicating what the earths were for was removed as it was wrong once new CU went in. I will put updated one on tonight.

 

[kai]

Does that new main switch with a clear lid on it isolate ALL the consumer units/fuse boxes, you wouldn't want to drag EDF out yet again to pull the supplt fuse next year!

 

[DJM]

Does that new main switch with a clear lid on it isolate ALL the consumer units/fuse boxes, you wouldn't want to drag EDF out yet again to pull the supplt fuse next year!

Oh it certainly does cover all the CUs. Safety (able to switch all power off from one isolator) and not having to pull main fuse were the keys reasons for fitting it.

 

[gtd.]

Before

After

DNO Forgot to crimp seal the cutout