RCD Protection fuse box change

gp2

I was quoted 300 pounds for a fuse box changed to the current standard, which I assumed he meant RCD protection. This's not including ringmain extention or any floorboard ripping stuff and I am not too sure abt earth bonding thing, but i was told this had already been done previously, so I assume the price's not including that. Any idea whether this's a fair quote, thanks a lot

zax47

About right (or maybe a bit cheap) IF he hasn't got to move the location to meet new regs, the meter tails are the correct size, all earth bonding (to gas and water pipes) is in place AND you get the all important paperwork as this is Part P notifiable work.

Be sure to check he is suitably qualified and certified to do the work here;

www.competentperson.co.uk

The quality of what he fits can have a big bearing on the price as well. I can get a 12 way consumer unit, with dual RCD and 8 MCBs for under £50 from any of my wholesalers- but it's a piece of tat I wouldn't ever fit. My rule of thumb is that if I wouldn't be happy to fit it in my mum's house then I won't use it. The suspicion is that, at that price, he's probably fitting something cheap.

I'd generally be charging around £400 for fitting a fairly decent Wylex or Hager board, slightly more for an MK, slighty less for something like Volex and I wouldn't touch {names on request} or other "no-name" chinese made tat brands with a barge pole.

Where in the UK are you, as this has a bearing on the price too.

gp2

Thanks for the reply... I will ask what brand he will use then. I am in manchester.

suisidevw

I assume this includes the full test as well which will take around half a day?

covlass

We have just had a quote for £350+ VAT I am glad I found his post as I was unsure, could anyone tell us what we should ask apart from asking if i includes the full test please,
Thanks

Richieb_2

You will want a Part P registered electrician (Elecsa/NIC/nappit/etc). Once the job is complete they will send you an electrical installation certificate with all the readings they took and you will then get a cert from your local building control once the electrician has registered the job.

Depending on the size of the property it will cost about £400 for a decent make dual split RCD unit (more if individual RCBOs are fitted) and take about 3/4 day if all the inspection and testing work is done properly.

gp2

is Brand Name: EUROPE any good? I was told this is the brand my electritician will install.

zax47

Europa (not Europe), is branded Chinese no-name tat I'm afraid. It's going to be really cheap from his wholesaler. The better mid price-range brands include Wylex, Hager, Crabtree and one of the most expensive is MK. There are any number of cheapo brands available from my wholesalers, with names no-one would recognise - I would touch any of them with the proverbial bargepole! As I said before, my rule of thumb is that if I wouldn't fit it in my mum's house then I won't use it in my customers either!!

Ask him for at least a Wylex or Hager or Volex - if he baulks at that find someone else. You can go buy a decent 10 way Wylex consumer unit yourself (complete with breakers) from Screwfix for £97 (inc VAT) so you can guess what I would pay at a wholesaler!!

gp2

Thanks, my electrician's actually a nice bloke and he agreed a reduced fit only price but i need to buy consumer unit myself

Do you think this one in B&Q fit my requirement

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9289943&fh_view_size=10&fh_start_index=40&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB&fh_search=wylex&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1258131559913&isSearch=true

I am not quite sure this one's dual rcd or single? Thanks in advance.

gp2

zax47 wrote: »

Europa (not Europe), is branded Chinese no-name tat I'm afraid. It's going to be really cheap from his wholesaler. The better mid price-range brands include Wylex, Hager, Crabtree and one of the most expensive is MK. There are any number of cheapo brands available from my wholesalers, with names no-one would recognise - I would touch any of them with the proverbial bargepole! As I said before, my rule of thumb is that if I wouldn't fit it in my mum's house then I won't use it in my customers either!!

Ask him for at least a Wylex or Hager or Volex - if he baulks at that find someone else. You can go buy a decent 10 way Wylex consumer unit yourself (complete with breakers) from Screwfix for £97 (inc VAT) so you can guess what I would pay at a wholesaler!!

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/72614/Electrical-Supplies/Consumer-Units/Wylex-Consumer-Units/Wylex-10W-Dual-RCD-Board

is that the one you mentioned in screwfix, but does this one need extra MCBs?

zax47

You really need a Dual RCD board for compliance with 17th Edition now, so the Split Load one from B&Q is no good. The Wylex one from Screwfix I mentioned is this one - comes complete with 10 MCBs as well as a 100A main switch and 2 RCDs. The one you looked at doesn't include the MCBs.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/34813/Electrical-Supplies/Consumer-Units/Wylex-Consumer-Units/Wylex-10-Way-Fully-Insulated-Dual-RCD-Consumer-Unit