My old fuse board needs updating to an Rcd unit which I understand but can anyone advise if a) A full electrical test has to he done first b) all remedial works found will have to he done before the rcd is installed ( or at the same time.) This is what I have been told. Is this icorrect ? I thought I could just have the Rcd installed. There has not been any alterations or additions to the Electrics in the house
Rcd Installation
- Thread starter garash
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How old is the installation ? Have you a photo of your existing board ? An RCD or RCBO can be added to circuits but if it has an issue it could nuisance trip. Really best to see advice and get someone round to look at your installation and give a quote. An EICR is a good shout if it's a dated installation to see what needs to be updated and what could or is faulty.
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You can install a RCD, however that does not mean it will work. The pre-testing is to find existing faults that will stop the RCD from switching on.
Over the years most houses have had alterations and many not done following even the current regulations in force when done. Years ago we for example had a 5 amp supply to the lights, and in the late 80's and early 90's people when mad fitting little spot lights which increased the load to over 5 amp, so they would split the supply up stairs and down stairs, however this should not really have been done as the landing lights borrowed a line. However it worked so no one worried too much, it is called a borrowed neutral, and is against the rules and as far as I know has never been permitted, but fit a RCD and ups you can't reset it. So now must be corrected.
My house has both sockets and lights split into two, the lights split up/down the sockets split front back, the clause "Every installation shall be divided into circuits, as necessary, to take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit such as a lighting circuit." means sockets and lights in any one room should not trip the same RCD, so it will need at least 4 RCD's in the consumer unit for my house, since consumer units not made that way, with my house I must fit RCBO's to all circuits to comply. Clearly you want to know that before you buy the consumer unit.
You could install a RCD in each circuit after it leaves the consumer unit, you could fit many consumer units, there are many ways to comply, however in the main any unusual method will cost more.
So an electrician could swap your consumer unit for an all RCBO consumer unit without testing until installed and simply lock off any circuit that does not comply when complete. However when he says that's £750 please oh and by the way you have got not lights, would you like to book a date for me to fix them. I think you may be a tad upset?
Over the years most houses have had alterations and many not done following even the current regulations in force when done. Years ago we for example had a 5 amp supply to the lights, and in the late 80's and early 90's people when mad fitting little spot lights which increased the load to over 5 amp, so they would split the supply up stairs and down stairs, however this should not really have been done as the landing lights borrowed a line. However it worked so no one worried too much, it is called a borrowed neutral, and is against the rules and as far as I know has never been permitted, but fit a RCD and ups you can't reset it. So now must be corrected.
My house has both sockets and lights split into two, the lights split up/down the sockets split front back, the clause "Every installation shall be divided into circuits, as necessary, to take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit such as a lighting circuit." means sockets and lights in any one room should not trip the same RCD, so it will need at least 4 RCD's in the consumer unit for my house, since consumer units not made that way, with my house I must fit RCBO's to all circuits to comply. Clearly you want to know that before you buy the consumer unit.
You could install a RCD in each circuit after it leaves the consumer unit, you could fit many consumer units, there are many ways to comply, however in the main any unusual method will cost more.
So an electrician could swap your consumer unit for an all RCBO consumer unit without testing until installed and simply lock off any circuit that does not comply when complete. However when he says that's £750 please oh and by the way you have got not lights, would you like to book a date for me to fix them. I think you may be a tad upset?
It's roughly correct. You don't have to. But you will get the best result and the electrican won't have any surprises on these dark evenings.
If he just wires it up, and then turns the landing light on, the RCDs could trip.
As to whether you should pay the full price of the eicr...... well I wouldn't
If he just wires it up, and then turns the landing light on, the RCDs could trip.
As to whether you should pay the full price of the eicr...... well I wouldn't
All of the circuits need to be inspected and tested when a new consumer unit is installed.
If there are any defects, those must be rectified.
That is the main reason changing a consumer unit is expensive - there is far more involved than just swapping the unit over.
Things wear out, cables and other parts can be damaged, circuits can be misused and overloaded.
Even if nothing is damaged and it was all done 100% correctly in the first place, regulations will have changed substantially since the original installation.
It's almost inevitable that some additional work will be required.
If there are any defects, those must be rectified.
That is the main reason changing a consumer unit is expensive - there is far more involved than just swapping the unit over.
That doesn't change anything.
Things wear out, cables and other parts can be damaged, circuits can be misused and overloaded.
Even if nothing is damaged and it was all done 100% correctly in the first place, regulations will have changed substantially since the original installation.
It's almost inevitable that some additional work will be required.
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