House Re-Wire

[Rustydiesel]

I am about to undertake my first house re-wire project but am undecided on what consumer unit to use. I could either use a split board consumer unit with both sides rcd controlled, or use a split board with one side rcd controlled and the other side rcbo controlled on individual circuits. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? And if going for the rcbo option which individual circuits would best be protected by the rcbo's?

 

[M107]

How many circuits? 

Use rcbo's. From sbs, there is a post with contact details somewhere on the forum.

 

[Theorysparky]

RCBO'S all ccts

 

[Rustydiesel]

Without yet finalising plans I think there will probably be ten circuits, three ring (upstairs, downstairs and kitchen), three lighting (upstairs, downstairs and bathroom), shower, cooker, boiler and possibly one for garage supply. Ideally using rcbo's on all circuits would be the right option but due to the higher costs of these it may not be practical.

I am a maintenance electrician in a manufacturing plant and am not up to date with the seventeenth edition wiring regs so will have to brush up on these before I start the re-wire which I am doing for a mate of mine.

 

[Theorysparky]

firstly you can get a 12 way board with 10 rcbos for about £120 now doing a rewire as big as yours u lot would lose the extra £50 just to get job satisfaction...

secondly this work is notifiable to building control.....

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

When you have finalised you plans come back with what circuits and ratings you are planning then the best Cu can be decided...

otherwise you are doing a bit of cart before the horse surely???

no good getting a board of one size..

then finding you need two extra circuits that you cannot accomodate...

 

[Rustydiesel]

All work undertaken is going through building control and all work will be certified.

Cheers for the response

Were is best to buy these consumer units?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Have you allowed for smoke alarms???

 

[Theorysparky]

Denmans or Eddys

 

[kerching]

Denmans Curve CGD Boards seem ok.

More space. For RCBOs in them

 

[Rustydiesel]

Cheers guys, will check out your recommendations. As for smoke alarms that will be something else to look into before finalising the plans.

I appreciate your reply's

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

However many circuits you decide are needed now...

try to get a CU with couple of spare slots for later additions..

and/or..

I normally also add one extra dedicated test socket below the CU that is not part of the other socket circuits...  and is not RCD protected...

labeled as "test socket None RCD"

can sometimes be a very useful source of power!!

 

[Rustydiesel]

From working in industry I know what you mean there, thanks for the tip

 

[poni]

I would put the fridge/freezer on its own circuit, with its own 16/20A rcbo and with a
twin or single socket at the end

 

[steptoe]

I would put the fridge/freezer on its own circuit, with its own 16/20A rcbo and with a

twin or single socket at the end

thats a big fridge,

personally I dont like to put it on its own OCPD as it may be a while before you realise its tripped.

 

[poni]

6 of one half a dozen of the other, my thinking is that I don't want another faulty appliance taking out the circuit, only a faulty Freezer, that way they lose anything in it anyway, but I always given them the choice first (its only the cable and RCBO what £20?) and as for not knowing fit a switch with a neon and my fridge has a light inside. 

 

[kme]

I`ve never got my head around this one. Why would anyone EVER want to put in a separate circuit for a damn fridge?

Why stop there? Every appliance that you intend to have plugged in all the time could have its very own radial. Tv, skybox, DVD, `phone, kettle, toaster, fridge, freezer, hairdryer etc.

WHY!!!????

 

[Blue Duck]

I`ve never got my head around this one. Why would anyone EVER want to put in a separate circuit for a damn fridge?

Why stop there? Every appliance that you intend to have plugged in all the time could have its very own radial. Tv, skybox, DVD, `phone, kettle, toaster, fridge, freezer, hairdryer etc.

WHY!!!????

My Dad used to have problems with an RCD tripping while he was away and coming back to find water all over the floor and a freezer full of rotten meat.

So I'd say it was a good idea

You needn't take it too far but now the regs says something about having non rcd protected circuits for reasons of practicality why not ? there must be £100 worth of food in my freezer.

 

[steptoe]

what if its the freezer that is tripping it out?

freezer tripped out and how long before you notice as everything else is working fine?

having a freezer on a seperate circuit is NOT a solution to a fault tripping out an RCD.

 

[Blue Duck]

Sorry you mentioned that before, I wasn't thinking about a storage freezer.

In a normal dual load situation it is not practicable but if you are installing rcbo's it is at least an option.?