New Consumer Unit

[Mark 5]

Enjoy:

https://flic.kr/p/2pSha2E

Going to remove the tiles above and get to the wiring that way:

https://flic.kr/p/2pSnX4A

Hi,

This is not going to be of much use to you but I think you are going to have to bite the bullet a bit on cost outlay.

Like another member has said, why? why there of all places? but that was then, this is now.

If you are going to do this, end the pain and do a one off job.

Purchase 2 x IP67 meter enclosure, not the prettiest of things I grant and fit externally wall to right of front entrance arch.

That's the easy bit but you then have the issue of DNO equipment including meter and how that gets installed into a new enclosure but very doable.

Once that's sorted, its pretty much hard but plain sailing, where the existing meter, CU and isolators are, once removed, use one of the Wiska Connector boxes you referred to, join your existing wiring to new cabling, no need to remove roof tiles, run all of that in metal/plastic trunking to the 2nd of enclosure and new CU, make allowance for your proposed garage SWA.

New meter tails must be kept as short as possible, be that direct from or isolator, ( 3m is allowed but that is the extreme and not recommended, as short as possible, no more the 1m, 1.5m if need be, keep them as short as ).

What protective devices you intend to use is your choice but RCBOs are the way to go.

Make sure your cable runs are clipped securely inside any trunking and if you use mixed colour wiring, the joint box and CU is labeled for that.

And of course have the installation tested.

 

[Onoff]

New meter tails must be kept as short as possible, be that direct from or isolator, ( 3m is allowed but that is the extreme and not recommended, as short as possible, no more the 1m, 1.5m if need be, keep them as short as ).

It's quite acceptable to go +3m if you use a switch fuse.

 

[Onoff]

Purchase 2 x IP67 meter enclosure, not the prettiest of things I grant and fit externally wall to right of front entrance arch.

Because that won't look at all fugly! It would also mess up the planned external wall insulation.

An eventual, new, double stack cu will go inside the house. The meter can ostensibly stay where it is but with a switch fuse adjacent.

Ideally I'd get rid of the current overhead cable that's clipped to the wall under eaves, trench the front garden myself and have it underground. Would need another pole in the garden down near the boundary. That'll cost!

For now, all circuits going on RCBOs with an upfront 100mA TD RCD protecting the lot. Save for the garage and stable. They'll be on breakers for now obviously after the TD RCD. That'll allow for selectivity and fitting cus in the garage and shed with 30mA RCBOs. Eventually Henleys feeding a TD RCD / switch fuse for each outbuilding.

 

[addjunkie]

Ring DNO, explain your not happy with live electric meters etc outside, and you caught prowler looking at it. Ask them to bring it upto modern standards! Ie move it to where you want it, or fit suitable enclosure. I found ours quite helpful using safe word!

 

[Onoff]

Ring DNO, explain your not happy with live electric meters etc outside, and you caught prowler looking at it. Ask them to bring it upto modern standards! Ie move it to where you want it, or fit suitable enclosure. I found ours quite helpful using safe word!

I quoted the ESCQR 2002 at them the other day in writing and got a new overhead cable from pole all the way to the house as the original had a joint in.

 

[addjunkie]

I quoted the ESCQR 2002 at them the other day in writing and got a new overhead cable from pole all the way to the house as the original had a joint in.

Missed opportunity there to move meter!

 

[Onoff]

Missed opportunity there to move meter!

I don't know where I want it yet. Probably a kiosk on the boundary.

 

[dobbslc]

Ring DNO, explain your not happy with live electric meters etc outside, and you caught prowler looking at it. Ask them to bring it upto modern standards! Ie move it to where you want it, or fit suitable enclosure. I found ours quite helpful using safe word!

I tried that with the long (8m+) run of VIR cable that runs through a metal conduit (unearthed) to my meter. They weren't interested.

I quoted the ESCQR 2002 at them the other day in writing and got a new overhead cable from pole all the way to the house as the original had a joint in.

What's that?

 

[Mark 5]

I tried that with the long (8m+) run of VIR cable that runs through a metal conduit (unearthed) to my meter. They weren't interested.

What's that?

Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, as amended (ESQCR) - HSE

What, when and how you should report incidents to align with the ESCQR regulations.

www.hse.gov.uk

 

[Onoff]

Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, as amended (ESQCR) - HSE

What, when and how you should report incidents to align with the ESCQR regulations.

www.hse.gov.uk

Well worth reading up on. Basically it's statutory as in law. For a change I helped my barrister brother out with it a while back when he was the locum barrister at a county council and had an issue with a DNO.

Part of it comes down to it's the responsibility of everyone involved if there's an electrical issue. Quote it if there's a possibility of a future electrical issue. Dwell on integrity of a joint etc. Guaranteed they'll err on the side of caution and play ball.

 

[dobbslc]

We did that saying the cable was 70 years old and in poor condition plus put in writing that they will be responsible if they ignore this request and a fire occurred, they sent someone out and they said it's fine!
I wasn't in otherwise I'd have had him by his balls.

 

[Farside]

We did that saying the cable was 70 years old and in poor condition plus put in writing that they will be responsible if they ignore this request and a fire occurred, they sent someone out and they said it's fine!
I wasn't in otherwise I'd have had him by his balls.

That only means he's seen worse, which makes you wonder exactly the state of things out there in other premises.

 

[iNf]

New meter tails must be kept as short as possible, be that direct from or isolator, ( 3m is allowed but that is the extreme and not recommended, as short as possible, no more the 1m, 1.5m if need be, keep them as short as ).

Ours are 15m+ meter box at side of the house near front, cu in kitchen at rear of property
Due to this: https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/shed-supply-maths.132148/page-2#post-2321127

 

[Onoff]

We did that saying the cable was 70 years old and in poor condition plus put in writing that they will be responsible if they ignore this request and a fire occurred, they sent someone out and they said it's fine!
I wasn't in otherwise I'd have had him by his balls.

Did you specifically quote the ESCQR?

 

[Onoff]

Picking up a roll of non breathable felt tomorrow...

It's related but I digress! If I use 20 & 25mm couplers into a bit of 50x50 trunking, then are there any proprietary, intumescent t&e rubber inserts that will sit in and be compressed by the brass bush?

https://flic.kr/p/2pSYdNZ

 

[dobbslc]

Did you specifically quote the ESCQR?

No I didn't, maybe I'll try again

Picking up a roll of non breathable felt tomorrow...

It's related but I digress! If I use 20 & 25mm couplers into a bit of 50x50 trunking, then are there any proprietary, intumescent t&e rubber inserts that will sit in and be compressed by the brass bush?

https://flic.kr/p/2pSYdNZ

I think you can get intumescent putty.

 

[Onoff]

No I didn't, maybe I'll try again

I think you can get intumescent putty.

You can get fire retardant, ABS, 3D filament.....

 

[Onoff]

Tomorrow's fun is to remove a section of roof so I can get to where the wires enter the top of the consumer unit:

https://flic.kr/p/2pUC2d5

I've to remove the tiles, battens and felt and one roof joist.

Then it's make it up as I go along time. Thinking a hinged, section of roof that can be propped up like a car bonnet. Got to figure how to reintegrate the felt. Have a roll of Wunderlay.

 

[sparkysy]

That looks like a mission!

What is the other side of the front door at high level on the same wall. And which direction do the cables run from the board, back into the house or along the edge/crawl space left to right?
If they run back into the house,
I would be tempted to move the consumer unit to the other side of the door if that is the case.
It would give you some spare cable to work with and you would only probably have to extend the tails, main earth and possibly feed to the porch light, if it's the start of a circuit or on its own.

 

[Onoff]

Other side of the front door at high level. CU to the left in the porch still a pita position.

https://flic.kr/p/2pUEFsg

No ideas what way the cables run, where they enter the CU is the other side of this RSJ. The gap through there is even smaller.

https://flic.kr/p/2pAdyVC

Eventual plan is to put the CU on the wall just below the paintings at a proper height (switches at 1350 - 1450mm).

https://flic.kr/p/2pUEmMQ

However...better plan. Move the door to the left. That leaves the old doorway, a lovely big space for a bfo CU. Double stacked, Henleys, switch fuses for the outbuildings, gennie changeover switch etc.