Advice on safety of new Consumer Unit Install

[UNG]

A mate of mine is the manager of a wholesalers and they get joe public and some supposedly qualified sparks asking them what they need to do various electrical jobs and talking to other wholesalers it is becoming more common to be asked what they reccommend for jobs

 

[Dartlec]

A mate of mine is the manager of a wholesalers and they get joe public and some supposedly qualified sparks asking them what they need to do various electrical jobs and talking to other wholesalers it is becoming more common to be asked what they reccommend for jobs

Which is worrying, given that wholesalers may have good knowledge of the products they sell (or have had manufacturer 'training' on), but don't in my experience have much knowledge about regulations or what is needed to do a compliant install.

 

[Dartlec]

I am giving BG the benefit of the doubt not a bad panel it does have a level built in !

They aren't awful - I think they suffer some by selling most of their stock through the sheds.

I used to use their plastic ones by preference, but the metal ones are VERY solid, to the point that removing knockouts can be a real pita sometimes. They also have some odd design choices on their knockout location (on the last generation at least)

Any brand can be installed badly - but I guess that BG are the ones most likely to be installed badly since they are the cheapest and most available option to those who are most likely to install it badly...

 

[UNG]

Which is worrying, given that wholesalers may have good knowledge of the products they sell (or have had manufacturer 'training' on), but don't in my experience have much knowledge about regulations or what is needed to do a compliant install.

I forgot to point out they offer no advice on what to use for a particular job but may offer alternatives if the customer asks for a particular product and they have a number of different items in stock

 

[Dartlec]

I forgot to point out they offer no advice on what to use for a particular job but may offer alternatives if the customer asks for a particular product and they have a number of different items in stock

Some of them can be a good source of knowledge on products for sure, certainly compared to Screwfix staff!

Probably know best which lights/accessories don't come back often too, as it's in their interest.

But then there is always the risk that they are on a higher percentage on certain makes.

 

[pc1966]

Some of them can be a good source of knowledge on products for sure, certainly compared to Screwfix staff!

Probably know best which lights/accessories don't come back often too, as it's in their interest.

But then there is always the risk that they are on a higher percentage on certain makes.

Very true. I have found the guys at my local Holland House to be helpful, they will get any stuff I specifically ask for, but often have suggestions of alternatives that they stock and have little problems with which occasionally turn out to be better than my original idea.

 

[UKMeterman]

Just to add to your question, it may help it may not. I am one of the end terrace of a terrace of 7. We are all on a looped supply, 1 loop comes up my side wall splits to mine then feeds 2 other properties so 3 of the 7 from the incoming loop on my wall, then the remaining 4 in the terrace are looped together on a separate incoming loop on the end of the wall of the other end terrace the other side.

Its a rubber incoming cable with 2 cores. The earthing arrangement has always been like this.


I have also attached a photo of the setup before he came in and installed the new CU
View attachment 98921

On another note regards the loop, have a look at these pictures and see how dangerous this looks to you

View attachment 98922View attachment 98923View attachment 98924View attachment 98925

DANGER DANGER DANGER
Phone 105 NOW and state you have bare damaged supply cables.

 

[nicebutdim]

Update.

I did ring the DNO, Northern Powergrid, I explained on the phone about the cables being bare, they asked me to email pictures (the exact ones I posted on here) within 45 minutes someone came out to look at them, within 2 hours of that, they (DNO) were digging up the garden and replacing it, So it has been replaced.

DANGER DANGER DANGER
Phone 105 NOW and state you have bare damaged supply cables.