Electric shower needing RCD - is this a fair quote?

JayS90

Hi all,

Just had an electrician round to inspect an electric shower as we noticed a fishy smell coming from the wall that runs behind the bathroom. This smell was initially noticed back in Dec/Jan and we had the electric shower replaced as the cable termination inside the old one looked like it was burning out. This seemed to do the job, but then I noticed the smell again yesterday.

He opened up the shower and confirmed that it was ok, but said that the shower should have an RCD switch as it currently just runs to an MCB (see attached photo). Flat was built in 2003 so I assume this requirement came in after that.

He quoted £80 for the call out which I paid, was this fair?

He then quoted £500 (inclusive of materials) to come back on Wednesday and fit the RCD switch, is this a fair quote?

After discussing with him he believes the smell isn't related to the shower, but didn't offer any further suggestions as to where it could be coming from. Any opinions regarding this?

Look forward to reading any replies - thanks!

JayS90

Here's an image of the circuit board:

FreeBear

JayS90 said: He opened up the shower and confirmed that it was ok, but said that the shower should have an RCD switch as it currently just runs to an MCB

He then quoted £500 (inclusive of materials) to come back on Wednesday and fit the RCD switch, is this a fair quote?

For £500, I'd be wanting a whole new consumer unit. A (much) lower cost solution would be to fit an RCBO is fthere is enough space in the existing CU. £30 for materials, 30 minutes to fit and test.

There will be those that say "you must fit an RCBO that has been approved by the manufacturers for that consumer unit"... Make up your own mind if that is true.

Rodders53

That Consumer unit has a date of 8th April 2004 on it (with retest due in 2014) so this particular  flat was completed in 2004 it appears.

It is a "dual supply" install :  i.e. E7 for the heater circuits on RHS and the others on the 'peak rate' supply.

Kitchen ring circuits are on a 32A RCBO with 30mA trip (likely single pole) Square D (now Schneider UK) SQOR device.
The 'Flat Ring' should also likely be a RCBO but isn't (why not??) for safety if the kitchen ring was protected that way?

The shower is a 'fixed appliance' like the cooker, and water heater(s) and other heaters so had no need for RCD at the time this lot was installed (probably)... but earth bonding of water pipes in bathroom and kitchen would have been mandatory.

That age all likely to be wired in red (L), black (N) and green (E) cables; 2004 was the year IET finally adopted Brown, Blue and Green/Yellow...

NB https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/rcbos/3405278 has a safety warning about the Square D RCBOs of that approximate era, so the kitchen one may need a check by a competent person anyway.

But £500 would seem stupidly expensive unless a new metal CU is being offered with RCDs or RCBOs on all circuits (and split for E7 as currently).

Risteard

FreeBear said:

JayS90 said: He opened up the shower and confirmed that it was ok, but said that the shower should have an RCD switch as it currently just runs to an MCB

He then quoted £500 (inclusive of materials) to come back on Wednesday and fit the RCD switch, is this a fair quote?

For £500, I'd be wanting a whole new consumer unit. A (much) lower cost solution would be to fit an RCBO is fthere is enough space in the existing CU. £30 for materials, 30 minutes to fit and test.

There will be those that say "you must fit an RCBO that has been approved by the manufacturers for that consumer unit"... Make up your own mind if that is true.

It is true. You cannot simply mix and match parts in a type-tested assembly. You become the manufacturer if you do and are responsible for type testing it etc. Presumably the quote is for replacement of the DB as parts are unlikely to be available for that.

fenwick458

what are they going to do for £500? I'm sure you can still buy Schneider iKQE RCBO's that will fit in there and are about £40

greenface2

should have a trip switch agreed but 500 rips is expensive unless we know what exactly they are going to do 

JayS90

Hi all,

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments. I spoke to him again and it turns out the quote was for a new consumer unit, supply and fit and also a certificate. Apparently I must have "misunderstood" him but he failed to explain this clearly to me otherwise I would have mentioned it in my initial post.

I'll definitely get a few more opinions and quotes from others, as he has essentially ignored my main concern which was the smell.

fenwick458

new consumer unit for £500 sounds rather cheap. would be about right if it was a dual RCD, or was the quote for a new consumer unit with type A RCBO's and a surge protector?
electrical fire smells can linger for a long time btw

Risteard

JayS90 said:

Hi all,

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments. I spoke to him again and it turns out the quote was for a new consumer unit, supply and fit and also a certificate. Apparently I must have "misunderstood" him but he failed to explain this clearly to me otherwise I would have mentioned it in my initial post.

I'll definitely get a few more opinions and quotes from others, as he has essentially ignored my main concern which was the smell.

As I pointed out it fairly obviously had to be for replacement of the distribution board.

JayS90

Risteard said:

JayS90 said:

Hi all,

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments. I spoke to him again and it turns out the quote was for a new consumer unit, supply and fit and also a certificate. Apparently I must have "misunderstood" him but he failed to explain this clearly to me otherwise I would have mentioned it in my initial post.

I'll definitely get a few more opinions and quotes from others, as he has essentially ignored my main concern which was the smell.

As I pointed out it fairly obviously had to be for replacement of the distribution board.

It may be fairly obvious to yourself perhaps, but I have no concept of cost regarding this type of work so I wouldn’t be able to make that assumption. But I do appreciate your insight, that’s exactly why I came here for advice 🙂

Regardless, I would expect him to explain things to me properly - especially as he took £80 from me and ultimately didn’t do much at all.