Projects
18th Edition Consumer Unit Upgrade - 09/02/2016
Description
The existing consumer unit as you can see, was a older rewireable fuse type consumer unit. At around 30 years old it was time for an newer consumer unit to be installed.
After discussing with the client we agreed to install a new 18th edition, dual RCD type, metal consumer unit. This arrangement provides two RCD's each individually protecting half of the house circuits (the two RCD's can be seen in the picture No.5 with the yellow test buttons). This means that depending on how the house has been wired, the circuits can be split in a manner that if a fault should occur with the downstairs sockets, it does not disrupt power in the upstairs areas. In this case I was able to split both the power and lighting circuits across both RCD's.
Once the new consumer unit was installed it was correctly labelled and all the relevant testing was carried out.
Carrying out a consumer unit upgrade requires both an Electrical installation certificate to be issued as well as correct notification to building control.
