CONSUMER UNIT INSTALLATION... ADVICE PEASE...!

[chris301up]

Right. The situation is this. I am currently renovating my house and am rewiring it completely.

I have purchased a new British General consumer unit from B & Q to replace this existing fuse board.

At present I have two sets of tails. One set going to the existing fuse board and the other to a separate switch/fuse for an electric shower which was installed some years ago.

There is currently a key meter fitted so was thinking that when the credit ran out this would be the ideal time to remove the tails to connect the consumer unit. This appears not!

Once the credit ran out I began the job by removing the covers (NOT the seals) and testing the current with my electrical screwdiver. I found that there was still current at the fuse board but not at the shower switch/fuse.

What's going on here then? Any advice before I continue further.

Thanks

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

You will not like what i, and everyone else is going to tell you.

You are obviously not compedant in doing this job. Also this work has to be notified to the local council, tested & certified by law (different rules apply in Scotland)

You are most likely picking up an induced current and the cables are dead. I cant believe you are undertaking a job like this with a neon screwdriver as your only test kit. Please get professional in.

 

[chris301up]

Why would you say that I am incompetent? I have done this job a few times in the past when, many years ago, I was training to be an electrician.

Admittedly, rules, regulations and Health & Safety now come into it a lot more but the job is relatively straight forward as the tails are supposed to be completely dead once the power is off - aren't they?

The tails will be replaced once the circuits are up and running and will have the necessary testing and certification.

 

[Technician]

Electrical screwdriver?

How does this measure current?

 

[samson337]

Well testing for dead with a screwdriver, need i say anymore. Did you do the relevent tests before changing this board, to see if the RCD'S will hold?. But I'm with the above get some one competent in.

 

[chris301up]

Ok. I'll take on board what your all saying. But that still does not detract from the question I asked in the first instance.

Why is one set of tails dead and the other isn't?

My son-in-law is going to check this further with his multi-meter later in the week.

 

[Sharpend]

You say that you were training to be an electrician? I curious to know how far you got before you quit? You say that you have had training and have done this many times before, so I am struggling to see why you are having a problem this time. I as others have and will suggest that you get yourself a competently trained person into to do your electrics. It is clear that you have neither the training nor tools to carry out the job in a safe manner. Before you kill yourself or someone else, get a professional in.

 

[Technician]

Multimeter?

Maplin?

 

[electrician786]

I would not rely on a neon screwdriver, invest in some good testers that will actually give you a reading of the voltage present.

 

[apprentice87]

Hi There,

First off,

You say it will be certificated when it is finished, but it would be illegal for someone else to sign off your work, so you cannot do that anyway.... You COULD get an EICR though, but i do not think the building regs people will accept that..

Secondly, how you going to test the completed installation???

Not being nasty, and i am not going to lecture you and tell you that "you are incompetant" or any of that stuff, but if the only equipment you got is a borrowed multimeter and a neon screwdriver, you will not get very far...

Anyway, post a photo of the tails and where you are testing for dead..

john.

 

[fatgav]

Like has been said its most likely you are picking up an induced current, Dont go putting your trust in a neon driver though. If your son-inlaw is a trained electrician maybe get him to walk you through it

 

[Sharpend]

I feel that I may have been a bit harsh on you Chris, however being more honest at the outset may have gained you some more assistance. We are not all bad but we will try to prevent someone from doing something that may endanger themselves if the posts suggests lack of competence.

 

[fatgav]

You havnt or arnt intending to pull the supply fuse are you Chris?

 

[Theorysparky]

Just for info

Building control are not interested in what Chris does in his own home

if he kills himself thats his fault

if he kills a visitor from his electrics its his fault

lets not get confused here.... its different for a home owner doing his own electrics than if it was me or you doing it for him

lets all give him sound advice so he does a good safe job whether we agree to it or not

 

[chris301up]

Thank you Theorysparky. Good, sound advice is all I need at the moment.

It as been many years since I was involved and all I want to do at this stage is to get the new consumer unit up and running, using the existing tails as a temporary measure. These will be replaced as soon as they can.

I have not, and will not remove any seals or supply fuses and at the moment rely on the credit being expended from the key meter so any work can proceed. All I wanted to know at this stage is why is there still power at one set of tails, and none on the other when the power is off?

 

[Andy™]

if you dont even have the basic equipment to make sure something is dead, then you shouldnt be doing it. even a cheap

 

[matt.leung]

do u have any pic's that you can show us, so we can help you out.

 

[Ash]

Bet you mess up the RCD configuration or do it to stoneage regs.

Just sayin'

Also why don't you just merge the shower unit into the new CU?

No main switch before the henley block either I bet.

 

[fatgav]

Definatley use a decent test meter which you can get a reading from and DONT go with that driver Chris, is your son-inlaw a spark? If so wouldnt do any harm to have him shadow you. Are you gona run the shower straight from the db on its own circuit?

 

[ParkySparky]

The honest answer is how on earth can we tell you if it's dead without testing it with an approved voltage indicator!

Don't you just live b and q!!! I like how they even have nice pictures showing anyone where the connections are made for new CU's! I personally think its a disgrace that this is allowed to go on! I don't see a picture showing me the gas connections for my nice new shiny combi boiler!!!

So your relying on the

Meter having no money in as a safe form of isolation for now yes?

What about when you replace tails?

Your bonding up to date? Gas, water? What size?

It's all well and good giving advice on here to people who are not competent or qualified for an incorrectly wired light switch but I'm sorry I will not be part of trying to tell him how to test if the mains tails are dead or not on a consumer unit change!

The fact he's had to ask this question is frightening enough but to be using a neon on the main tails is brave to say the least!!!!

I'm sorry but it's just not right!

Would you do gas works???