No Ring... Where To Start?!

[jagillham]

What if the consumer unit needed changing...

Under what conditions would you expect that to happen?

Just was thinking out loud really. I don't know, managed to drop the iron on it, smashed the cover off? Or, like we had a few years back, the old one (bakerlite!) gave up the ghost. Just seems like that the current system could make things worse. A sort of "all or nothing" approach, where sometimes the financial choice is between "something or nothing", just forces people towards nothing.

Any rough guesses of how many getting the whole thing done would be if I had all the boards up ready etc? I'm down in Kent.

I don't really understand that question. If you're asking how much it would cost, there are others here who might be able to give you some idea - although they are bound to say that 'it depends' on the actual situation.

Yep, that was basically it. Just wanted an idea, we talking couple hundred, coming upto £1k.... more?! etc

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

By the sounds of it the method used to spur your sockets does not comply to the requirements.

Might be a radial.

Upstairs for example, one wire comes up into the bedrooms only double socket, then 3 spurs off this down to the kitchen (on the upstairs breaker too!)

Even if a radial, as I read it there is 3 spurs from one socket.

 

[JohnW2]

]I don't really understand that question. If you're asking how much it would cost, there are others here who might be able to give you some idea - although they are bound to say that 'it depends' on the actual situation.

Yep, that was basically it. Just wanted an idea, we talking couple hundred, coming upto £1k.... more?! etc

As I said, others may be able to give you some idea, but I would think you'd probably be looking at appreciably more that £1k for a complete re-wire plus CU change.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Even if a radial, as I read it there is 3 spurs from one socket.

I'm not in any way endorsing the arrangement that's being described, but ... in relation to what you say, apart from possible problems in terminating all the cables, what's wrong with a 3-way branch in a radial circuit?

Kind Regards, John.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Just was thinking out loud really. I don't know, managed to drop the iron on it, smashed the cover off?

If all that is wrong is a damaged CU, then all that needs replacing is the damaged CU.

Or, like we had a few years back, the old one (bakerlite!) gave up the ghost. Just seems like that the current system could make things worse.

It doesn't.

A sort of "all or nothing" approach, where sometimes the financial choice is between "something or nothing", just forces people towards nothing.

I still don't see where you get this "all or nothing" idea from.

If circuit(s) need rewiring that does not necessarily mean that the CU needs replacing.

If new circuit(s)s are added that does not necessarily mean that the CU needs replacing.

If a CU is replaced that does not necessarily mean that circuits need rewiring.

The only time any change would lead to other things needing to be changed would be if those other things were dangerous or would simply, with the best will in the world, just not work any more.

Yep, that was basically it. Just wanted an idea, we talking couple hundred, coming upto £1k.... more?! etc

About the same price as a second-hand car.

 

[JohnW2]

About the same price as a second-hand car.

The OP may welcome a slightly more specific answer - the prices of second-hand cars start around zero

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

And I'm sure they are worth every penny, just as a rewire starting at around zero would be.

With a bit more info from the OP, like numbers and types of circuits, numbers and types of accessories and luminaires etc, lengths of cable runs, preferences for RCDs/RCBOs, number of RCD sections, numbers of rooms, types of wall construction, peculiarities of layout, then someone might be able to tell him whether he's likely to be looking at a 10-year old Ford Escort or a 1-year old Mercedes S class.

 

[JohnW2]

With a bit more info from the OP, like numbers and types of circuits, numbers and types of accessories and luminaires etc, lengths of cable runs, preferences for RCDs/RCBOs, number of RCD sections, numbers of rooms, types of wall construction, peculiarities of layout, then someone might be able to tell him whether he's likely to be looking at a 10-year old Ford Escort or a 1-year old Mercedes S class.

Indeed - but, given the terms in which the question was asked, it's probably reasonable to tell/warn him/her (as I did) that the answer is going to be in four figures.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

£1,000 - £9,999.

Sounds reasonable.

 

[jagillham]

1900's "2 up 2 down" terrace with the stairs up the middle, consumer box under the stairs. Stairs are moving to the side of the house and the load bearing walls are going. So downstairs the entire floor will be up at some point. Same again upstairs if needed.

"Normal" number of sockets per room, whatever the norm is these days. 2 double sockets per corner or whatever? Two bedrooms, one lounge/diner and one kitchen.

A rough idea will do

 

[JohnW2]

1900's "2 up 2 down" terrace with the stairs up the middle, consumer box under the stairs. Stairs are moving to the side of the house ...

Are the supply entry and the meter currently also under the stairs? If so, having them moved will represent a further, again very substantial, expense.

Kind Regards, John

 

[jagillham]

Yup, the whole lot is under there!

I've researched moving the lot, and it does seem depends a lot of who the supplier is if you talking >£100 or £000's!

If it is more than a couple hundred, I'll work around it. Either behind a sofa, or take the back off a cupboard to hide it away. Presume that is OK!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Basically you need an electrician with local experience who can give you a quote for the work you want done on your installation and who can discuss options of meter/CU placement and give you a rough idea of what the DNO in your area tend to charge for moving supplies.

Time to get people in to discuss and quote....

 

[JohnW2]

Yup, the whole lot is under there! I've researched moving the lot, and it does seem depends a lot of who the supplier is if you talking >£100 or £000's! If it is more than a couple hundred, I'll work around it. Either behind a sofa, or take the back off a cupboard to hide it away. Presume that is OK!

I think you'd be extremely lucky to get it moved for as little as 'a couple of hundred'. As BAS says, a local electrician could probably give you a good idea of what the local supplier charges. 'Hiding it away' is, within reason, acceptable, provided that it remains adequately accessible (don't forget, meters get changed).

Kind Regards, John