Replacement consumer unit and testing

ChasingtheWelshdream

We want an overview of our aged electrics and asked a couple of electricians to quote for testing and potential work.

Both said the consumer unit has no RCD protection and needs replacing so they would quote for that at the same time. Only one has quoted (after chasing for 2 months) and it is more than we had expected but we haven’t used an electrician for years. We trust the guy but just wanted to see if this is a fair ball park.

- new consumer unit with RCBO for each circuit 
- test the house as fully as possible (5 beds, 3 storeys, floorboards are already exposed)
-notify building control and issue certification 

£800 + vat

The caveat is that testing will not include fault finding, so we may have additional costs on top.

How does this feel? We would happily use him and he has a good reputation but it is more than we had expected. 

Risteard

Seems reasonable enough on the face of it.

DougMLancs

We had our electrics checked and CU replaced recently by our trusted sparky and it was very similar to your quote.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thank you both, that’s reassuring as we would like to use him.

ratrace

The new CU with RCBO'S on each circuit is the way to go and is not cheap as rcbo's are essentialy rcd's and mcb's combined (looking to start a sparky's course in the new year and leaving the motor trade)

some of the brands that are recommended are mk logic or schneider  etc...

i was quoted £600 for a replacment cu unit but it was for a split board with normal mcb's and 2 rcd's which is cheapr to buy

so your quote is a fair one also note i was given my price before covid so prices have gone up since then

make sure there a few spare ways in the cu unit as future proofing just in case you need to add some power hunger appliances that may need they own circuit

so the quote you have been given seems fair

hope that helps you out op

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thank you, yes it does. 

Risteard

ratrace said:

The new CU with RCBO'S on each circuit is the way to go and is not cheap as rcbo's are essentialy rcd's and mcb's combined (looking to start a sparky's course in the new year and leaving the motor trade)

some of the brands that are recommended are mk logic or schneider  etc...

i was quoted £600 for a replacment cu unit but it was for a split board with normal mcb's and 2 rcd's which is cheapr to buy

so your quote is a fair one also note i was given my price before covid so prices have gone up since then

make sure there a few spare ways in the cu unit as future proofing just in case you need to add some power hunger appliances that may need they own circuit

so the quote you have been given seems fair

hope that helps you out op

MK Logic (as in Logic Plus) is a range of accessories and grid switches etc.

MK Sentry is the consumer unit range. MK are rubbish - they were once a good brand, but the quality has long gone. This range was discontinued until another company bought the rights to produce it recently. It's definitely not a typical go-to range nowadays. Hager would be a good bet if money isn't an obstacle, although there are decent cheaper brands.