Changing Consumer Unit

[OggyMac]

I am currently planning on changing the Consumer Unit in the Boiler Room of my home. The board is 17 years old, fitted with old cartridge fuse holders. I am planning on upgrading to a new amendment 3 (bs7671 - 2015) standard. The problem I am having is that I have no experience of working Live, the incoming tails from the meter box have no means of isolation. They are connected into Black connector blocks just before the Consumer Unit and then doubled together in both connectors and are connected on til 2 80A RCD's. If I can get the tails safely isolated, I know how to do all the rest.
Can anybody here advise me on what my safest option would be to give me peace of mind?

 

[telectrix]

safest option is to get a qualified electrician.

 

[Midwest]

OP looking at your profile and previous thread, I don't think this is within your scope. Best do as telectric said

 

[OggyMac]

I will try get a local electrician to seek help from, or ask the DNO to come out and fit an isolator to allow for future changes

 

[Leesparkykent]

I will try get a local electrician to seek help from, or ask the DNO to come out and fit an isolator to allow for future changes

Hi OggyMac, are you registered with a competent persons scheme?

 

[Darkwood]

Hi OggyMac, welcome to the forum, looking at your profile and previous post it seems that you have been involved in other area's of the electrical industry and no doubt you are know that field very well, as domestic isn't your field, you may be better working along side a seasoned spark for a few yrs until you pick things up.

If you want to get a spark in and ask him to make the final connection and check your work that might be the best option as you will have done your first board change and had it checked with obvious pointers from the spark on any issues he finds (if any).

 

[OggyMac]

Hi OggyMac, welcome to the forum, looking at your profile and previous post it seems that you have been involved in other area's of the electrical industry and no doubt you are know that field very well, as domestic isn't your field, you may be better working along side a seasoned spark for a few yrs until you pick things up.

If you want to get a spark in and ask him to make the final connection and check your work that might be the best option as you will have done your first board change and had it checked with obvious pointers from the spark on any issues he finds (if any).

I think that would be my best bet, I do agree with you on the experience front, I previously worked for a company wiring the Ulster Hospital in Belfast a few years ago but because it was a new build/renovation to an existing building I never had to work live, I like doing dist. board terminations as i had the patience to do it right. I will stick to your advice anyway, thanks!

 

[OggyMac]

Im not registered with that scheme, is it a uk based scheme or how does it work?

 

[Octopus]

Im not registered with that scheme, is it a uk based scheme or how does it work?

Where are you based?

 

[OggyMac]

Im in the north of Ireland, whats this got tp do with it?

 

[Darkwood]

Sometimes we have forum members close enough to help you out that's all.

 

[Octopus]

Im in the north of Ireland, whats this got tp do with it?

If you are in the UK the dreaded Part P may apply!

 

[OggyMac]

If you are in the UK the dreaded Part P may apply!

I sound ridiculous here but Part P? I know its part of the regs but i never looked into what it covers!

 

[OggyMac]

Sometimes we have forum members close enough to help you out that's all.

I forgot about members who may be local to me on this, thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Risteard]

If you are in the UK the dreaded Part P may apply!

There is no Part P in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, or anywhere else in the north of Ireland (or Scotland)!

 

[Octopus]

I sound ridiculous here but Part P? I know its part of the regs but i never looked into what it covers!

As a spark, you need to have a general understanding of all the UK building regs...............this one in particular

 

[OggyMac]

There is no Part P in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, or anywhere else in the north of Ireland (or Scotland)!

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Im just going to stick to a local spark for now just to do the tail terminations and I can bang out the rest of the work easily

 

[OggyMac]

As a spark, you need to have a general understanding of all the UK building regs...............this one in particular

I must seek further advice on the building regs because when i was doing my training, any exams i done never covered all the building regs!!

 

[Octopus]

I must seek further advice on the building regs because when i was doing my training, any exams i done never covered all the building regs!!

The is a publication entiltled something like "The Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations" - well worth buying a copy as it does provide the salient points to sparks in relatively easy to read form!

 

[Leesparkykent]

The is a publication entiltled something like "The Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations" - well worth buying a copy as it does provide the salient points to sparks in relatively easy to read form!

I don't think it would help the OP Murdoch as he's from Northern Ireland which have a different set of building regs. http://www.buildingcontrol-ni.com/regulations/technical-booklets A quick look through technical document R page 46 and I think they have different requirements on heights of accessories for example.