Major Rewire of My New Flat

sounds like you're doing the right thing.
Some people leave electrics to after plastering.

Get a few quotes, use someone from the registered bodies.

Makes it easier when you sell the house.
 
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I'd probably use this board, plenty of room for expansion:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102504&ts=35518&id=53390

pair of these for the rings: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102504&ts=35566&id=20900

one of these for the shower: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102504&ts=35627&id=20793

Couple of these for lighting and central heating programmer: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102504&ts=35724&id=20630

One of these for the cooker: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102504&ts=35796&id=49549

If you are on a TT supply will need to swap out the main incommer for one of these: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK6980.html

Obviously this is just a rough thing off the top of my head, and the calcs have to be done to check it all etc, but its what I'd approach it with to start with as a starting point.

Not sure B6 is best choice for the lights, might be better with a C6 (http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/MK8706.html) or possibly a B10 (http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102504&ts=35843&id=44992) depends on how many lights and stuff you have, instantanious trip on C6 is very similar to B10, but the thermal element is different.

Not sure I really like the idea of split loads boards tbh, thats why I thought I'd try and convert you to RCBOs, less of a nuisense :)
 
If I were doing this flat I would put in a split load arrangement with TWO rcd's.

A main switch would go after the meter and a split load kit inside the consumer unit would do the rest.

You could use RCBO's everywhere, but that would, in my opinion be overkill.

Split load with 2 30mA RCD's would be my preference. One for power and showers etc and one for lighting, heating etc.

You NEED a 100mA RCD for a TT system, but the above arrangement would be my preference (and safer )

Make sure you get all in writing before job is started and CERTIFCATION is also vital.

here's a copy of something i did for a job early next year- details changed for obvious reasons.
http://www.baldelectrician.com/host/samplespec.pdf
 
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i would advise you go with baldelectricians way of using 2 seperate RCDs fed from 1 main switch. that way, if there is a fault on the lights for example, you only loose whats connected to that RCD, whereas if it was a time delay feeding another RCD, you loose everything. some makes already make a CU ready for this. but it isnt too much work to modify a CU to do this
 
Or use two separate boards and have an isolator in the tails before they split in a henley.

Still prefer my idea of a time delayed 100ma feeding a board of mcbs and rcbos where appropiate though.

Or ask your rec for TN-C-S and dump overall RCD protection
 
RCBOS are nice but VERY expensive 10 times more than an mcb.

Try asking Scottish Power for something they don't have to do and they charge like a raging bull.

They don't have to supply an earth, but are required to maintain an existing one.
 
Adam_151 said:
Still prefer my idea of a time delayed 100ma feeding a board of mcbs and rcbos where appropiate though.

but if the RCD trips, you loose everything. and if its a N-E fault, its not simply a case of switch off MCB. its either repair the fault now or remove neutral from neutral bar in CU.

whereas if you have an isolator feeding 2 RCD's, you wont loose all power
 
DSCN0839.JPG


As you can see it's a new meter (June '04) and there are no green and yellow wires in sight! :confused:
 
Can you do us a wider angle picture, or stand back a little? I want to see what that is on the right edge of your pic, and more of the incoming cable head at the bottom.

Is that a pair of nasty rubber and cotton cables I can see fastened to the new tails out of the meter? Where do they go? Could it be that some suicidal person has cut them off and taped over the ends?

Have you observed yet if the supply comes in overhead suspended from poles, or up from an underground cable?
 
DSCN0862.JPG


they are cotton cables coming from the meter and taped onto the tails!

Also i'm 100% that it's underground. The only earthing point i can see is on the mains gas pipe. I need to get under the floor boards to see where everything runs though.
 
Can I see two cables at the bottom of the service head?

oops - you were too quick for me - more edits coming....
 
Contact your local supplier asking them to supply an earth. As there is an underground cable this should not be a problem.

You should do this before you get any other electrical work carried out.
 
Thanks for quick response! Glad to see it has at least got an RCD, though you ought to test it, and without a proper earth it may not work well. You press the little grey button and that diagonal lever will pop round about a quarter of a turn, to reset you turn it back.

Thhe two incomers to the cable head, is it one going in from the side and one from the bottom? Can you see them joining together somewhere, perhaps in a thick sheath or conduit? The one going in from the botton looks as if it has a thinner wire going in with it, is that right and can you see where it goes, and what colour under the white paint? Do they appear to be covered in glossy PVC under the paint, or is it a rubbery or tarry material? In your pic they look to be fatter than your new meter tails, which is good.

You mentioned that is is a flat, possibly the other floors have their own mains soming in from the street, or possibly they all gather together, perhaps in the hall or cellar - do you know? What floor are you on? It is certainly an old installation and overdue for renewal. The tails from the incomer to the meter have been stripped back too far (the grey sheathing ought to continue into the enclosure) so you could ask your supplier to replace them next time tou are having work done.
 

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