18th Edition Consumer Unit Upgrade. Plus fault finding.

[@danielohara5749]

I'm a home owner and that dirty word a DIYer. This sort of video shows me the difference between a professional and what I could do. I will be getting a board change and a full inspection. Thanks

[@markpunt9638]

Goodness - so many people would be so grateful to have the original board. Let alone an upgrade replacement.

[@fieldsofomagh]

Very professional finish and thorough execution. Job well done.

[@ryanbound2781]

Good video 👍🏻 For the reasons you’ve shown on the video, ie, broken neutral and short on neutral/CPC on lights in ever change a board without carrying out an EICR first. That way all remedial work can be scoped and priced before you too far in.

[@emolatur]

16 amps for a burglar alarm? What does it do microwave the intruder?

[@VYR1985]

Now that sounds like a marketable idea. 😇

[@ToffeeApple]

Thoughtless leaving all those sockets switched on after testing. Think of all that electricity leaking all over the floor..!

[@AcheForWake]

Feel like that was a call to a mate...’hay buddy do you want a free consumer unit, so long as I can film it to meet my sponsor commitment’ - abs why not. Great video Chris.. nice to see the fault finding, which comes after years of experience. Nice to see you complement the well made off sockets. Keep them coming and wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas

[@Marco-mg9tv]

Always do your testing before you start taking the board apart !!

[@Marco-mg9tv]

@@markhodgson2348 what are you on Mark ??

[@Marco-mg9tv]

@@markhodgson2348 what’s the project, “totally irrelevant KZbin commentary” ?

[@weeniebeastie]

Chris, any chance you could do a comprehensive video about using your test equipment and what all the measurements mean. Videos are brilliant mate.

[@IAAITKEN]

God you would love our house. Changing over old light fittings and discovered last time council rewired (10/15yrs ago) they are all in single core and earth cables with each set of cores twisted together then in the terminal. Back light for example is a single light and switch. Single live and cpc then another two which are neutral and cpc. Both neutrals twisted and all three cpc twisted!

[@Brown969]

Nice Saturday job. Good work Chris. Smokes can only be wired on lights if they are battery backup. Not sure if that's just for the brands I use but most mains smokes are battery backup anyway...

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

@Ellis The DJ In Canada they MUST have Battery Backup to maintain protection in a Power Failure. And those Batteries must be changed regularly (usually every 6 months). If you have a Fire and the Fire Marshal finds out the Battery Backups didn't work, you get MASSIVE Fines and you're Home Insurance will very likely deny your Claim.

[@roydowling2542]

Never seen a smoke alarm without a battery back up.

[@GSHElectrical]

Apprentices please watch. Great video as always Chris 🦾.

[@darkdepth1991]

Hi Chris, very nice video ! Thank you for sharing all the fault finding steps ! Too bad that you have to come back to the client for changing the blanks in the consumer unit.

[@Richardincancale]

Hi there - what was the reason for the CU change? The old one looked pretty tidy (apart from a loose CPC).

[@robswingler]

All it needed was an upgrade to rcbo on the none rcd side . I guess it was just the fact it wasn’t metal

[@barrybritcher]

Probably mates rates as he travelled that far for a special reason

[@Cjrelectrical]

😉

[@b21playa]

Yeah looks like a mate’s job 😉

[@jeffbaldwin4238]

Personally I mark the board up first on the wall then I build the whole board, so I bang the Tails/ RCBO’s/Neutral tails from them etc glands/grommets etc all into it before it’s even on the wall, then i screw it to the wall so I can do the vast majority of it on the floor sat down and then I just connect the circuits up on the steps and I’m done. I’ve always built the whole board sat on the floor, some time I even build the board before going to the job as I always test it on the first visit and do the board on the 2nd so I know it’s all good to build in advance and just swap the board straight away on the 2nd cuts the time right down of sorting on site etc.

[@force311999]

in the room with the broken wire between the two outlets was there a ceiling box that it may have passed threw ? Interesting video , your panels are much more complex then ours al but we are catching up with combo ark faults etc do your breakers monitor the ring ohms to protect from an open ring with could cause overload on wires

[@samuel2j213]

8:10 60mm earth, damn I need one of them cables 🤣

[@whatthedeuse]

Quick way of finding the rough area for the break is to disconnect the faulty conductor of the ring from the DB put it in a wago, turn it on and go around with a plug in tester and see between which 2 sockets you get the fault of a missing live, neutral or CPC obviously works great on a proper ring starts getting a bit less effective when it’s JB wired 🤪 and with everything unplugged and under completely controlled circumstances, ie only you onsite and customer being locked in a cupboard 😂

[@ashleynery8092]

just a thought, what is that single cover next to the double ? was that an old 13a single perhaps and its got connectors in it that are disconnected perhaps? at 17:52 or was that blanking plate to cover something else? or are you thinking more towards a nail has gone through it when plasterboarding over the studs?

[@supersparks9466]

Yeah I would of had a look behind that plate, could of saved a lot of time.

[@jeffbaldwin4238]

Yer agreed , as soon as I saw the blanking plates I thought they’re worth a look inside although when I saw bother corners had one I thought maybe it was just some sort of data etc that was just blanked off but worth a look tho.

[@craigemmott4976]

With hindsight, do you wish you'd have tested first before fitting the new CU?

[@davidhibbert9885]

So the rcbos are manufactured and tested to sit together side by side. What with SPD's and mcb etc and main switch. We do not always have the space to space 🤔

[@ek6868]

Nice video always enjoy fault finding👍

[@amarcy5369]

Isn’t life fun Chris . If one thing in this trade finds faults it’s a dis board change . That’s why a lot of contractors avoid them . But as they say someone has to be prepared to take up the mantle. Hope the customer gets you to investigate more . Best wishes as always . 😀👍

[@ibrahimabdullah4430]

What a great video 👌 thanks for sharing 👊😎

[@Skelton1996]

Do you have to disconnect loads with an insulation resistance test from neutral to earth?

[@richardwhitear1570]

Very interesting video, especially the bit about fault finding.

[@jahedul.H]

Hello Chris been watching all your videos just now keep up the good work

[@nisarasghar4463]

Nice board , nice job ☺️

[@johncollins347]

How much are you charging above CU install price?

[@andyhorobin1605]

Excellent video just wondering do you always split ring into 2 radials with cable fault or do you go looking for break. Ie if it was kitchen with lots of load

[@Cjrelectrical]

Yes would look for it but not on this one with concrete floors and ceilings.

[@haydenuk02]

Keep up the great work and thanks for the awesome content stay safe and take care

[@pichacker]

Chris, noticed a main incommer fuse then the isolator switch..... Where's the meter? If the meter is remote in an outside cupboard or communial area surely this must be protected by a fuse where it is fed from the main supply cable. In this case which fuse do you use for your certs? Also how does this sit with the SPD requirements?

[@sparky9282]

My guess is that this property is an apartment as that is a red head (solid linked cut out) the protection will be in a rye field unit in an comunla cupboard with 60/100A protection

[@TheHomeent]

Great video. Brilliant content. Just enough if your in the know.

[@kevin11007]

my guess broken cable was @hidden socket or spur that you didnt find?

[@ashingtonelectrical212]

Top Guy! Great upload.

[@moodyga40]

love change outs interesting how the electrics are so different here in Australia

[@CAsCurryKitchen]

Would have liked to see what you did with the cables going up the wall behind the CU with regard to fire and so on.

[@g.williamswilliams8442]

Chris. The little mirror ? Where from mate ? ( Great video as usual)

[@osianmeilyr89]

Those blanks on the board would look fine pained to match the case. Not that anyone has to look at the face of the board often anyway

[@barfbad123]

burger alarm

[@anthonyjerak8324]

love the blue screwdrivers dude

[@labelectrical]

Really enjoyed this vid, good testing content etc. Back to basics.👍

[@ConjuredUndead]

The only critique is them flexi tails, the way they twist round one another is triggering my OCD. Great job Chris. Happy New Year.

[@Cjrelectrical]

I agree but now the cupboard has the shelves back in and is rammed with stuff. What tails 🤣

[@benjenkins7660]

I was going to say the same... but we will let him off it was a Saturday 😂

[@ecoterrorist1402]

Where did get that insulated mirror, better than using the iPhone

[@calvinhale2723]

Nice vid mate.... where did you get that little mirror ? Insulated ? Great idea. I use all round band on the tails as doubles up as a precaution for premature collapse also looks nearer that the cleats, tails all twisting round... Would've put some trunking along the top or move board up to hide those cables. Love that you go the extra mile finding the faults ! Good work

[@johnblanning2500]

Not sure why the board was replaced... oversell? .... 'You need a metal CU now!'?

[@rickycunningham6368]

Another great video. Hope you've had a great christmas and that you have a happy new year stay safe chris and james

[@ahmadhafiz8595]

I am from Malaysia, tq for sharing knowledge.good job bro!!

[@nigellewis804]

Show us some Malaysia electrics please

[@NielsEHolm]

I love your videos. As a Danish electrician, it is exciting to see how you do the installations over there. In Denmark, we do not make ring connections, but I can see that it is a good idea. In our boards we have 3 X 400 V + N. By the way - say hello to James from me :) You are a good team.

[@calebbrookes7896]

3 phase in domestic properties?

[@NielsEHolm]

@@calebbrookes7896 yes

[@calebbrookes7896]

@@NielsEHolm wow that seems like a bit overkill :0 As for ring circuits, they are good but too much stuff can go wrong.. DIY'ers always make a mess of them haha. Also with the amount of stuff we put in our homes these days, earth leekage is becoming more and more prominent and when there are so many points on one circuit it can be a bit of a problem.

[@NielsEHolm]

@@calebbrookes7896 Overkill I will not call it. This has always been the case since we got AC power. On the other hand, in Denmark we use 1.5 square mm and 2.5 square mm. The stove is insured with 3X16A for example. Off the road there are often 3X25 A fuses. They're sitting in a cable closet out there. For an extended period, it was 35A.

[@ef7480]

@@calebbrookes7896 - hence maybe the benefit of 3-phase?

[@alexacb63]

Was there actually a meter anywhere or was it remote from the premises, as looked like tails went cutout -> isolator -> CU with no metering?

[@Cjrelectrical]

Metering was located in the riser elsewhere.

[@lettsgetiton7787]

Hi seen a few vids keep it up, which software are you using for eic,eicr etc on your iPad and is it good? I'm after some so i dont have to do them when I get home.

[@chrisjw1983]

Great video as always! Could/should the split ring be on two 20 A RCBOs (instead of 16 A) to achieve greater selectivity between the 13 A plug-top fuse and the RCBOs? Recognise the limitations of what's available at the time. Not criticising, just trying to learn. Many thanks!

[@Marco-mg9tv]

Without knowing the installation method how would you know what the maximum current current capacity is of the cables? In any case if you’ve got something that’s going to blow 13 amp fuse chances are it’s a short circuit appliance - I wouldn’t be worrying about selectivity Id just want something to blow or trip as soon as possible!

[@chrisjw1983]

@@Marco-mg9tv Ahh yes, could be 101 so assuming 2.5 T&E would therefore be limited to 17 A hence the 16 A RCBO. Agree that's always going to take precedence over selectivity. Thanks for the clarification!

[@fouadoulmi7125]

I like how u work mate .I am new electrician all what u show very professional and leron a lot for u .can u give me advice to start work as electrician?

[@David_11111]

Still worried about the redundant cable :) was it borrowed for another circuit ???

[@Cablesmith]

Nicely done Chris

[@syaz4380]

What screwdrivers are those

[@normanboyes4983]

What’s that connecting box beneath the CU with half a dozen white cables (BNC?)?

[@Richardincancale]

It’s a TV distribution amplifier to amplify and split the TV antenna to go to outlets in each room.

[@normanboyes4983]

@@Richardincancale Thank you.👍

[@normanboyes4983]

@Dusty 99 Thanks 👍

[@Randyhenderson868]

Crazy that they allow exposed wire at the fuse board. Here in the states the inspector would laugh, red tag it and walk away.

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

The Inspector would only Laugh IF the Electrician was nice and Polite to them. If the Electrician was Rude, Arrogant and/or just Pissed the Inspector Off, the Inspector would take one look at the exposed wires, Rip the Electrician MULTIPLE new Waste Disposal Orifices while screaming Bloody Murder and then start writing Tickets... THEN the Inspector would tell the Electrician to redo the Circuit Panel Installation PROPERLY (i.e. to Code) at the Electrician's own expense...

[@JasonEDragon]

What are you guys on about with exposed cables? I have way more exposed cables in my New York home - basement, attic, garages, and the service entrance cable on the side of my house. At least in the UK all the new circuit cables are RCD/GGI protected.

[@ADF-js9vi]

Was that your brother? Definitely a relation or close friend. Nice video BTW.

[@andythehighlander]

What’s the width of that particular board mate? I’m doing an 18th edition board spd with rcbos and I’ve got 400 mm maximum. Looks like that one has 12 useable ways too

[@Cjrelectrical]

Check consumer unit world website they have all dimensions on there.

[@andythehighlander]

@@CjrelectricalAwesome. Perfect :) Just the ticket !:)

[@davidb3537]

Hi Chris, Hope you've had a great Christmas, was that a single pole isolator??

[@malcolmdick9409]

why the new consumer unit?

[@m_lopez8272]

Is this thorough testing of circuits a normal routine for residential in this country? I’m from United States and I have never seen this before... been watching some of your vids and notice you do this testing quite often

[@ef7480]

That's because England gave you the language to mess about with.

[@sandman873]

Good job mate 👍

[@MARTINA-gc3tq]

5 spare ways available...was a great opportunity to split the rings and fuse them properly as radials....

[@stevecraft00]

But why? Nothing wrong with ring circuits.

[@MARTINA-gc3tq]

@@stevecraft00 Oh dear.....is there another country in the world that thinks protecting a circuit run in 2.5 mm2 cable with a 32 amp fuse is a good idea?

[@stevecraft00]

@@MARTINA-gc3tq it's run in a loop. Hence ring circuit. Hence you effectively have 5mm² cable. I agree it's an outdated concept. However we still fit them as council spec. We sometimes fit 4mm² rings where insulation is an issue ie bungalows.

[@MARTINA-gc3tq]

@@stevecraft00 It was a post WWII cooper saving idea in the housing reconstruction emergency that should have been outlawed years ago. To have a consumer unit with 5 spare fuse ways and not splitting rings and fusing them correctly is IMO verging on negligent .

[@stevecraft00]

@@MARTINA-gc3tq how can it be negligent when rings are still fitted today and perfectly acceptable and listed in the regs? I regularly fit new consumer units with loads of spares but maintain ring circuits. As I said, it's council spec and we only have access to 12 way split load or 16 way split load from our stores. The houses we work in usually have 6-8 circuits. Let me guess you think split load boards are negligent too. Your way isn't the only correct way.

[@acelectricalsecurity]

I am guessing that job wasn't done in December

[@donnierobertson3088]

Great job and video

[@andreawyatt3059]

So why would you not do a quick insulation and ring continuity test first, avoid any surprises! before changing the board.

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks Chris

[@garethhodson3896]

I always test before changing the board

[@davids5498]

Shouldn’t really have limitations on an Electrical Installation Certificate. Got to test IR between L-N on lighting circuits.

[@Chocolatestarfish1]

Its not reasonable to remove all loads on an eicr.

[@davids5498]

@@Chocolatestarfish1 Wrong. This is not an EICR, he fitted a new consumer unit therefore he would be issuing an Electrical Installation Certificate. Can’t have limitations on this. An EICR is a report on the condition of an existing electrical installation and that’s a far as that goes. He made an alteration to the electrical installation and is now required to ensure that the installation is safe to re-energise, insulation resistance must be tested on all conductors.

[@travoltasbiplane1551]

@@davids5498 he didn't install the lighting circuit though did he. Best practice or not for a consumer unit swap this is acceptable if dismantling is impractical.

[@aaa000777]

Putting the smoke alarm circuit paired with a lighting circuit means that if the cb trips someone will notice and figure out what is wrong. Otherwise the smoke alarms could be dead and no one would be the wiser.

[@Cjrelectrical]

They beep after 20 minutes at loss of mains.

[@Lacking_something]

is it worth paying extra for a hager? Are they much better than something like a Contactum?

[@Cjrelectrical]

Hager are fantastic quality if your client is willing to pay the extra

[@Lacking_something]

@@Cjrelectrical actually I'm the client... I want my sparky to fit a Hager but he's keen on contactum. Another question... What's a fair price to replace a bathroom/kitchen downlight (parts and labour)? Hole and wiring already there, just needs IP/fire rated ones.

[@Cjrelectrical]

Contactum are fine I actually like them also.

[@killerkhan]

Nice, thanks,

[@JayLovesProgramming]

Wish my gaffer were like you ahah. He hasn't rang for a while, think I'm sacked..

[@jamesburns2]

It is what it is, to be fair

[@supersparks9466]

You missed the scrap copper pipe under the units, can’t pass up free copper 😉

[@matthewstapleton3847]

Wow green trunking and accessories must've been a special expensive order lol. Merry Xmas thanks for the content this year. 👍

[@darrenplant619]

I had a broken neutral on a ring the other day. When the client took the fused switch to the washing machine socket to do his tiling he mixed the neutrals up in the back. One leg of the ring to the load and one to the supply.

[@MrSJT]

Chris what size is your tablet?

[@Cjrelectrical]

About this big 🙌

[@MrSJT]

@@Cjrelectrical lol i meant the screen size? 10" ? I was gonna get a tablet but the keyboard took quite a lot of the screen coz my software don't show that great on vertical screen coz of incompatibility issues. I resorted to using an 8" screen but bought myself an 8" bluetooth keyboard so its like a mini laptop

[@FelixBank]

4:56 - Cable Vomit!

[@andrewlougher-harris5492]

good job

[@janetambrose2602]

Where was the meter?? Didn't see one?.

[@Cjrelectrical]

On Mars

[@MrDamodee]

No James? Was that the customer walking with you and if so could they have not tidied up a little bit?

[@bertbergers9171]

They probably had tidied up, and maybe even more then a little bit😁

[@MrDamodee]

@@bertbergers9171 sorry!

[@MrSJT]

Aren't you better off testing before changing. Just get the continuity and IR at least. Those built in spirit levels are usually rubbish

[@grahamwatson6612]

Theres nothing like a back entry kit.

[@cjkokay]

I am disappointed. The busbar is to what I got for Hager is not the right version, even though it is supplied with the unit.

[@danielhearnden3776]

Square knockouts are crap on Hager

[@andrewlougher-harris5492]

he can't say that on a sponsored video for Hagar !

[@richardsheppard5881]

Do you have board model number ?

[@beargun42]

VM112KSPD according to the sticker @1:41

[@RichardArblaster]

I'm disappointed, James should be dedicated, no time off 😆😆😆

[@Mike_5]

Classic Virgin Media install within touching distance of the consumer unit

[@andrewlougher-harris5492]

2500 points for a set of BLUE SCREWDRIVERS 1£ per point I don't thing i've enough life span left !!!!!!!

[@t147han]

Ring mains are a pain in the backside.Only UK uses them.

[@donkeyuk]

Hi Chris do you do work in swindon area at all ?

[@Cjrelectrical]

Possibly send me an email please.

[@donkeyuk]

@@Cjrelectrical whats your email bud

[@donkeyuk]

Got it now email sent

[@David_11111]

yay

[@eddo167]

White carpet ? No cover sheet, insurance claim in the making, roll of self adhesive carpet protector not so very expensive, lower in cost than new rug !!

[@tireddad4095]

Good thinking, it’s about £25 a roll which is fairly expensive. Do you Bill it to the client?

[@eddo167]

@@tireddad4095 that is for many metres of material and yes charge either to the day rate of direct to the clients account if on day work

[@peterpeterson9903]

What actually is wrong with this board, you say plastic but there is nothing that says buildings need to be retrospective brought up to standard. Just seems so wasteful.

[@richardsheppard5881]

Where is the electric meter !?

[@davefranz8766]

Good god EXPOSED WIRES FROM THE SERVICE TO THE consumer unit and 240 volts to ground youve got to be kidding me not to mention miniature breakers protecting branch circuits .Non of this would be tolerated in AMERICA. If i did this theyed pull my license

[@Marco-mg9tv]

Fairplay for posting but the wiring on that board is a mess. And you wanna try keeping your tools and test kit neat and tidy instead of being strewn across the house😂

[@jlewis1688]

Had this guy just moved in there was junk everywhere!!!

[@paulprescott7913]

No female presence by the look of it. Hence the untidiness 😂

[@joshuabest100]

No need to judge them you don't know their life

[@paulprescott7913]

@@joshuabest100 it was meant as humour. But totally get what you mean no offence intended.

[@joshuabest100]

@@paulprescott7913 he could be running his bike repair business from home due to covid you never know

[@supersparks9466]

Nearly as much junk as at the emirates