New Consumer Unit required but what kind?

[MikeGrahamT21]

I've got to have my consumer unit upgraded as part of some electrical works last year so that the chap can issue a certificate, its a plastic CU at the moment. Recently my battery storage inverter had a firmware upgrade which enabled backup power supply through its normal circuitry (not the EPS), but my current CU has 2 sides (split load I think it was called at the time), and it only powers the side that its currently connected to. That got me thinking was there a CU which didn't have the split, and as far as I can see that would be an RCBO CU like this one: https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-fortress-12-module-6-way-populated-main-switch-consumer-unit/270VF.

 

Does that sound right? Just so I know what i need to ask for.

 

Cheers

Mike

[ProDave]

1 hour ago, MikeGrahamT21 said:

I've got to have my consumer unit upgraded as part of some electrical works last year so that the chap can issue a certificate, its a plastic CU at the moment

Just because it is an existing plastic CU does not mean it must be replaced.  There may be other issues that made him say that.

 

Even a split load could back feed all circuits as long as the MAIN switch is turned off.

 

Post a picture of what you have.

[MikeGrahamT21]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

Just because it is an existing plastic CU does not mean it must be replaced.  There may be other issues that made him say that.

 

Even a split load could back feed all circuits as long as the MAIN switch is turned off.

 

Post a picture of what you have.

 

Ahh that kinda makes sense, the only reason i realised the backup power was working, was the left hand 80A breaker tripped yesterday for some reason, but only the loads on the split side were being powered (Battery and to the right of it), unless i'm just being a pillack and it was because the main 100A switch was still on? Will try turning the master switch off and see what happens.

 

EDIT: Yeah i was being an idiot lol, master switch off killed everything, inverter still powered from the battery but no loads powered.

 

So last year had the main ring extended to cover a few sockets in the new extension, and he said before he could certify he'd have to change the consumer unit so everything was up to spec.

 

Edited May 10, 2023 by MikeGrahamT21

[ProDave]

8 minutes ago, MikeGrahamT21 said:

So last year had the main ring extended to cover a few sockets in the new extension, and he said before he could certify he'd have to change the consumer unit so everything was up to spec.

 

Wrong.  He did not even fit a new circuit, he just altered an existing one.  It had RCD protection and as long as the earthing was okay no problem issuing a minor works certificate for that.

 

The labelling could do with improvement, is is not at all clear where the split between RCD and non RCD circuits occurs.

[MikeGrahamT21]

4 minutes ago, ProDave said:

Wrong.  He did not even fit a new circuit, he just altered an existing one.  It had RCD protection and as long as the earthing was okay no problem issuing a minor works certificate for that.

 

The labelling could do with improvement, is is not at all clear where the split between RCD and non RCD circuits occurs.

Yeah it was all nice and neat and made sense before the person who installed the battery came along with said chunky marker pen! The one to the right of battery, which isn't actually labelled, powers a single socket, and needs wiring into the main ring when i get 5mins, I could then move the battery along and stick a blanking plate in the gap which will make it spot on.

 

I thought that about the minor works certificate, but he said he couldn't do it, which i guess leaves me in the position of needing to do what he says before he will issue the cert. Mind saying that it wouldn't be the first Building Regs which has stalled because of lack of electrical certs. I don't think he ran any earthing tests, or if he did i didn't see him do it.

[ProDave]

1 hour ago, MikeGrahamT21 said:

thought that about the minor works certificate, but he said he couldn't do it, which i guess leaves me in the position of needing to do what he says before he will issue the cert. Mind saying that it wouldn't be the first Building Regs which has stalled because of lack of electrical certs. I don't think he ran any earthing tests, or if he did i didn't see him do it.

Oh dear that does not sound encouraging.

 

I am all in favour of recommending upgrades where they are necessary but it seems a lot just want to bang in a new consumer unit regardless.

[MikeGrahamT21]

26 minutes ago, ProDave said:

Oh dear that does not sound encouraging.

 

I am all in favour of recommending upgrades where they are necessary but it seems a lot just want to bang in a new consumer unit regardless.

 

Maybe he misunderstands the regulations, as even tho he said it must be done before cert, he couldn't do it at the time as he'd broken his finger, and hasn't been badgering to come and do it, it's down to me to get back to him.

 

Even so, i think it'll have to get done before any certs. I'll leave it for now, no rush anyway, and the "issue" with the plastic boxes isn't really an issue if you make sure the neutrals are done up correctly, which they are as i've checked them.

 

Thanks for the info, cleared it up and quite possibly saved me £500, so much appreciated!