Adding a Fuse Spur on to a Consumer Unit Circuit

[davesparks]

It’s not going on the ring circuit. It’s going directly on to a circuit on the consumer unit. It is only a small load though. It’s fused down to 3amp. As long as he doesn’t add it into the lighting circuit or the ring main circuit.

I agree it shouldn't be added to a lighting circuit but why do you say not a ring circuit?

 

[RDB85]

I agree it shouldn't be added to a lighting circuit but why do you say not a ring circuit?

It could do. But as it’s such a small load. I thought put it on a lower rated MCB.

 

[James]

I’ve had a disagreement with one of the Engineers in work. So we are doing an install. Installing an Intruder Alarm. Rather than go with my suggestion of coming off a Socket and adding in the Fuse Spur as he’s been doing it 15 years it’s now going next to the Consumer Unit. Which at a guess is 20 years old. He said it’s fine to just add in a circuit to an existing circuit.

Myself personally I’m dead against it. He’s not a qualified electrician. Thoughts?

So as you say neither of you are qualified electricians.

you are doing an electrical installation of a new circuit or maybe an alteration to an existing circuit.

If you are doing this for reward, i.e. it is a paid job, how on earth have you got insurance to trade doing work that you cant show competence in?

Who fills out the installation certificate?
how do you show compliance with the regs and how do you test and document it?

 

[DPG]

It’s not going on the ring circuit. It’s going directly on to a circuit on the consumer unit. It is only a small load though. It’s fused down to 3amp. As long as he doesn’t add it into the lighting circuit or the ring main circuit.

It can be added to the ring final via a fused spur, or from the origin (ie. MCB/RCBO) of the ring final. As above, it could even by added to the lighting circuit in a similar way to a TV aerial amplifier (someone slated me for saying that before but I'm not bothered!)

The current draw is only going to be a few tens of mA.

 

[RDB85]

So as you say neither of you are qualified electricians.

you are doing an electrical installation of a new circuit or maybe an alteration to an existing circuit.

If you are doing this for reward, i.e. it is a paid job, how on earth have you got insurance to trade doing work that you cant show competence in?

Who fills out the installation certificate?
how do you show compliance with the regs and how do you test and document it?

Exactly. That’s my point. I’ve my level 2 and 3 2365. But that doesn’t mean I’m qualified. But our place don’t care.

 

[DPG]

Exactly. That’s my point. I’ve my level 2 and 3 2365. But that doesn’t mean I’m qualified. But our place don’t care.

Who's name is on the cert.

 

[RDB85]

Who's name is on the cert.

What certification? This is the whole argument and why I’ve refused to even do it.

 

[DPG]

What certification? This is the whole argument and why I’ve refused to even do it.

I thought you said you were both doing it?

 

[RDB85]

I thought you said you were both doing it?

We’re both doing the install. I’m not added the circuit to the consumer unit. As I’m not qualified and neither is the other chap.

 

[DPG]

We’re both doing the install. I’m not added the circuit to the consumer unit. As I’m not qualified and neither is the other chap.

I'm with you. Well luckily whoever tests and certifies it will be responsible.