Swapping RCCB main switch for RCBO's

[Corpy76]

Hi all

I got called out to a fault the other day, main switch RCD tripping. I arrived at the house and the first thing I noticed was that the two very large goldfish in a large bowl where swimming upside down. Anyway the fault was easy to locate a rodent chewed cable in the garage with a bit of damp. Cable cut small IP65 enclosure etc, no evidence of recent rodent activity (droppings etc) and the chewed cable looked like it had been done a while. So power back on and gold fish swimming the right way up.

The customer was a bit concerned about her goldfish so I gave her two possible solutions to provide discrimination between circuits.

1 A consumer unit upgrade to split load 17th board.
2 replace all mcb's with rcbo's and install main switch to replace RCCB.

The question is if she went for option 2 would it have to be a full test as a cu change? Or would you put a limitation on the cert to just RCD tests? Or no certification required as just change of equipment to "equipment of a similar type", and perform a RCD test. Same enclosure Hager with hager RCBO's Main switch etc.

I thinking full test. What do you guys think?

thanks.

 

[jackhammerJIM]

full test guvnor .

did you do any tests before pricing ?

 

[Corpy76]

No had a quick look and it's looks a bit of a mess, alterations DIY etc. So a preliminary ECR would open up a hornets nest no doubt. Haven't got the time at the moment so I would prob pass the job on.

 

[Octopus]

Option 3. High integrity board and a dedicated circuit (surface run) for the fish tank supply on a MCB

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

If walk on as well if I hadn't done any pre tests

 

[Guest55]

Option 3. High integrity board and a dedicated circuit (surface run) for the fish tank supply on a MCB

but with a rcd socket for the tank equipement and its proximity to water
;-)

 

[Octopus]

but with a rcd socket for the tank equipement and its proximity to water
;-)

No S FCU so no RCD required!

 

[Guest55]

required no , recommended definately.

 

[Octopus]

required no , recommended definately.

Depends on the electrical requirements of the fish tank!

 

[Corpy76]

The tank was just on the kitchen worktop on a plug one pump. No previous problems with tripping etc and I did a RCD test and it tested ok only 4 circuits on the board sockets, lights, cooker and immersion or 2.5 t&e radial of some kind on a 16amp mcb. Just thought that in this casE RCBO's might work out cheaper for the customer if you used the old enclosure etc and a full test was not required. I charge £350.00 for a CU change but to swap mcb would be £22.00 for each RCBO (hager) to me and I have a stock of hager main switches as it's cheaper to buy a 5 + 5 way hager RCD board with 2 RCD's than buy a separate RCD.

 

[Octopus]

4 way board - go for RCBO's

 

[Guest55]

really ? more likely the requirements of staying alive.
for both the fish and the fishkeeper with his hands in a tank that uses mains voltage heaters & pumps.

 

[Guest125]

You will be altering all circuits so each circuit will require testing = full test.

 

[HandySparks]

You will be altering all circuits so each circuit will require testing = full test.

Recon he might have finished the job by now. :smile5: