what type fuses in consumer unit?

northernsoul

Hi
I have a Square D Qwikline QOS-12 consumer unit.
I have 3 -32A ring main fuses, 2 are Type2 32A MCB's for the living room and upstairs, and 1 is a B32 Qwik-Guard Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breaker Type QOE for the kitchen.
I have 2 -Type2 6A MCB's for the downstairs and upstairs lighting.
I have 1 -Type 2 45A MCB for my 9.5KW shower.

As i would like to update to the latest type fuses I have 5 questions.

1) Is the Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breaker for the kitchen currently the best protection i can have for the kitchen sockets?

2) Would you recommend fitting similar circuit breaking fuses for my other 2 ring mains, the living room and upstairs and even for the 2 6A lighting circuits as well?

3) I am concerned i have not got the correct type of fuse for the shower, would you recommend a Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breaker? I have a Double Pole switch located outside the bathroom

4) Should I have an RCBO , what i believe is a combined RCD and MCB, in any of my circuits.

5) What size wire should i thoretically have for the shower, and what would people recommend. I think i have 6mm and the run is approx 12mtrs. i have had this shower running for approx 10 years with no problems

Thanks

benood

Why do you want to change things? I think that RCD's are the key to a safe installation but you'd be better talking to a qualified electrician.

northernsoul

HI
As i said in the post, just want to get up to date with the latest fuse protection. I believe now the recommendation is any circuit which has the capacity to power an outside appliance like a mower (which basically means any downstairs circuit) now needs an RCD. Also where an earth fault current is not sufficient to trip the fuse within the designated time allowance like a shower, so the recommendation is for a RCD. But also i think i had have read some shower manufacturers require an RCBO for their shower.
Just trying to be safe

northernsoul

can anyone advise? (bump)

diable

northernsoul wrote: »

can anyone advise? (bump)

Buy a petrol mower ;o)))

muckybutt

If you are wanting to change mcbs / consumer unit you will have to go via a part p electrician as it is notifiable works.

You should be able to get rcbo's similar to the one you have for your kitchen to replace the ones for the ring and shower, however this would probably be an expensive way of doing it.

Probably better and cheaper to get a new 17th edition approved consumer unit with dual rcd's that way everything is protected. Never been a fan of sq d stuff myself, I personally have always gone down the MK route.

jkgray

muckybutt wrote: »

If you are wanting to change mcbs / consumer unit you will have to go via a part p electrician as it is notifiable works.

The actual poisition is where a householder wishes to carry out notifiable electrical work they must notify building control before commencing work. Building control will arrange for the work to be inspected and tested at various stages and will charge a fee to cover any costs incurred.

So assuming that your are competent (in the eveyday sense) then you coudl DIY subject to teh above. However, due to the above, it is often not much more expensive / less hassle to go via a part p electrician.

northernsoul

Hi
I may have not made myself clear, i am quite happy with my consumer unit and do not want to change it unless neccessary, due to the cost of employing an electrian.
Is it really cheaper to employ an electrician and buy a new consumer unit, rather than just update the (2) fuses??
I cannot believe i cant change my fuses! What is it coming to! Its paranoia about safety!! I fully rewired my whole house and fitted the consumer unit 10/15 years ago. Not one problem since. I only got a friendly electrician to connect the tails.
If i have to employ somebody to change a fuse i think i will leave it
I notice in another thread someone said 'he would never get in a shower not protected by an RCD (like mine) . Thanks for all your advice especially Muckybutt

27col

I do wish that you would stop calling them fuses.

Mankysteve

jkgray wrote: »

So assuming that your are competent (in the everyday sense) then you could DIY subject to the above. However, due to the above, it is often not much more expensive / less hassle to go via a part p electrician.

27col wrote: »

I do wish that you would stop calling them fuses.

Agreed really if you don't know the difference between a MCB and fuse you need to leave well alone.

I think if you need to ask your not competent(bit of generalisation but usually true). Its a professional electrician jobby.

Duel RCD Fuse board as suggested by above. Only took the electrician who changed the one in my old rent about 2 hours to change the box, only lost eleci to the sockets for about half an hour. But you have got a MCB already which is more than a lot of places.


You could retro fit RCBs but not as simple as fitting a new MCB in place you'd have to cut the cables and add them in after the main fuse box. Hence why it would be cheaper just to get a qualified electrician to change the whole box


Also 6mm cable is too small a rating for a electric shower.

northernsoul

Hi. I do know the difference between the old type fuse wire consumer unit (i had one) and the MCB , RCB , RCBO types. Fuse was just my way of a general term for every type. i cannot think of another word to describe the different types that fit in a consumer unit and even shops use the term fuses.
My unit has 1 RCB (for my kitchen) and i far as i remember it was a pretty straightfoward job to fit it. As i said, i rewired the whole house, ring main, lighting circuit etc and have had no problems in 10/15 years. I just wanted an opinion whether to fit an RCB on my lounge ring main and shower, or indeed an RCBO on my 2 ring mains and shower. As far as i understand a RCBO (which i think was not avalable 10/15 years ago) is the best of both worlds, combining the operation of an RCB and MCB into one unit.
If it is, and it looks like it is from comments on here, illegal to fit a MCB, RCB , or RCBO , i wont do it, even though i think i could.
I appreciate advice regarding 6mm is too small but once upon a time it was seen as okay. The 6mm wire also goes inbetween partitions so it has plenty of ventilation. As i said its been in 10 years but i will now check the wire for stiffness (for want of a word) and for temperature when the shower is being used. On https://www.new-team-showers it shows a table for a 10.5KW shower using 6mm for a max length of 18mtrs (9KW 21mtrs), for 10.5KW, 10mm wire 30mtrs and it recommends an RCB+MCB or a RCBO protective device.
Thanks