Looking to Upgrade Electrics and electrical questions

bery_451

Hi,

Below is picture of old electrics:



I know consumer unit needs to be updated so I want to update it to crabtree consumer unit.

When upgrading consumer unit what other recommendations can be recommended or required to do as well from looking at the above picture?

I called in 5 qualified electricians and they are all saying different things :huh:

Which brand is best and which consumer unit is recommended to run old wiring in old house and also run new wiring in the new extension as well attached to the old house?

What else can be upgraded or added?

Risteard

You need to get a periodic inspection of the electrical installation carried out. Without doing this no-one can say definitively what remedial work is required.

EachPenny

The first thing you need to do is to contact J J Atkinson and ask him what you are allowed to do

jamesperrett

bery_451 wrote: »

Which brand is best and which consumer unit is recommended to run old wiring in old house and also run new wiring in the new extension as well attached to the old house?

I would say MK are still one of the best but we really don't have enough information to say much more. Given the questions that you are asking, I think you are going to have to leave the choice to someone more knowledgeable but it might be useful if you could post more details of the quotes you've been given.

Dave23_2

Ask your supplier for a smart meter and to fit an isolator at the same time. This would allow your qualified electrician to fit a new consumer unit safely. Always get qualified engineers as your safety is more important than cost and could have a bearing on your house insurance.

bery_451

Risteard wrote: »

You need to get a periodic inspection of the electrical installation carried out. Without doing this no-one can say definitively what remedial work is required.

Periodic inspection of the old or new wiring?

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]You could pay for a Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report which might cost about £200 and give you much more detail about the current installation and a list of items which can be upgraded.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]When you choose a new consumer unit allow at least a couple of spare slots for any future new circuits you might want.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I went for a Wylex unit and used individual RCBO's for each circuit which is more expensive but if you get a short you know which circuit has blown.[/FONT]

bery_451

Tom99 wrote: »

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]You could pay for a Domestic Electrical Installation Condition Report which might cost about £200 and give you much more detail about the current installation and a list of items which can be upgraded.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]When you choose a new consumer unit allow at least a couple of spare slots for any future new circuits you might want.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I went for a Wylex unit and used individual RCBO's for each circuit which is more expensive but if you get a short you know which circuit has blown.[/FONT]

Ok understood so Wylex do the best consumer units? Better than Crabtree and MK?

Which wylex consumer unit model you got and where can I get RCBO's at a good deal? RCBO's for every circuit? I have about 13 circuits.

xyz123

bery_451 wrote: »

Ok understood so Wylex do the best consumer units? Better than Crabtree and MK?

Which wylex consumer unit model you got and where can I get RCBO's at a good deal? RCBO's for every circuit? I have about 13 circuits.

Don't over think this. Your chosen electrician may have a preferred brand mainly based in space available foe wiring, ease of fitting. Etc. Generally for vast majority there are no problems with consumer units. Once installed you won't remember whwt brand was it.. Any of the mainstream brands will be ok.

bery_451

Dave23 wrote: »

Ask your supplier for a smart meter and to fit an isolator at the same time. This would allow your qualified electrician to fit a new consumer unit safely. Always get qualified engineers as your safety is more important than cost and could have a bearing on your house insurance.

So only my energy supplier is allowed to install the isolator? Do they fit for free?

Also what other things are the responsibility of the energy suppliers?

bery_451

I also like to ask that I am after a carbon monoxide and a heat detector/fire alarms.

What is the difference between a heat detector and a fire alarm?

I like these alarms on the ceiling not battery powered. Where can I find these alarms that requires wiring not batteries? Any good deals on these?