by ericmark »
Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:20 pm
I think in general the 17th Edition is going to cause problems the main consideration is does the Law in the shape of Part P enforce the 17th Editions or does it only refer to 16th Edition i.e. Does it say BS7671 or BS7671:2001 if it says the latter then we may be breaking the Law when following some of the relations of BS7671:2008.
What we must look at is how the courts would be likely to view it. In the main courts look at reasonable behaviour so would to for example demand that a pensioner has a completely new consumer unit fitted in order to have an extra socket to power his freeview box now required as analogue TV is being withdrawn reasonable or would it be considered as extortion and bullying tactics on the part of the electrician even suggesting he needs to spend that much of his pension on providing one socket. We are being forced into the age of extension leads
http://www.ericmark.talktalk.net/pictur ... aiting.jpg is a good example of how they can also include dangers. So I think we need to use some common sense. If the consumer unit will accept a RCBO then that’s the way to go. If not we must consider the options I would consider fitting a box near to the existing Consumer unit. Because of the price difference between 40 and 100 amp RCD’s feeding supplementary boxes using 25, 40, or 63 amp MCB’s makes some sense. At £23 each putting the RCD after the MCB does make some sense and as each circuit is worked on a RCD can be added one at a time. A small bit of trunking between the two boxes would allow changes as and when required. A Protek 25Amp RCD is about £23 against the £50 for a 100Amp model from same manufacture. At £13 to £15 for a 6 to 10 way box this method would really cut down the expense when looking at one or two items which need upgrading to 17th in the long run as the householder adds more to the system it may cost more than complete consumer change but it will reduce cost now which is what most people look for and it means you have two pole isolation which has to be a plus. I only used Protek as an example as I could find the prices on the net but for the first addition this method would add £36 to the parts cost against £112 for complete new consumer unit and which is more to point inspection and testing only on circuit worked on rather than whole house.
May be I am completely up the creak here and I invite your thoughts.
All best Eric
Last edited by ericmark on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
