Cable routing inside a consumer unit

[Andy Hames]

Hi

First post and I'm a DIY-er so apologies if this is the wrong forum to start with.

I have a project at the moment that involves replacing a consumer unit. I've arranged for a proper inspection and certification down the line but in the mean time I have made a start on getting the circuits wired in where I can.

This is where I'm up to so far:

and this shows better how the wiring is routed:

I know some of the sheathing on the incoming cables is probably a bit long, but they may move so I've kept a bit of excess. Likewise the neutral and earths are looped as shown to maintain some excess.

The question I have is, is there anything particularly wrong with that routing?

I wasn't sure if it was best for the cables coming from the top to drop straight down and the ones from the bottom to go straight up, or if they should be routed along the bottom and up the sides, e.g. the single one there at the moment, would the earth be better going all the way to the left along the bottom and then up the left hand side, and the live and neutral the same but to the right?

Oh, last thing - this is the bigger picture:

I've added an isolator, looking at it now I think the meter tails should probably be shortened a bit, or at least clipped out the way.

Any advice guys, or anything else that stands out that needs resolving?

Thanks...

 

[westward10]

How did you isolate the power to fit that isolator.
Can you show a clearer picture of the RCDs.

 

[mainline]

Hi

First post and I'm a DIY-er so apologies if this is the wrong forum to start with.

I have a project at the moment that involves replacing a consumer unit. I've arranged for a proper inspection and certification down the line but in the mean time I have made a start on getting the circuits wired in where I can.

This is where I'm up to so far:
View attachment 105829

and this shows better how the wiring is routed:
View attachment 105830


I know some of the sheathing on the incoming cables is probably a bit long, but they may move so I've kept a bit of excess. Likewise the neutral and earths are looped as shown to maintain some excess.

The question I have is, is there anything particularly wrong with that routing?

I wasn't sure if it was best for the cables coming from the top to drop straight down and the ones from the bottom to go straight up, or if they should be routed along the bottom and up the sides, e.g. the single one there at the moment, would the earth be better going all the way to the left along the bottom and then up the left hand side, and the live and neutral the same but to the right?

Oh, last thing - this is the bigger picture:
View attachment 105831

I've added an isolator, looking at it now I think the meter tails should probably be shortened a bit, or at least clipped out the way.

Any advice guys, or anything else that stands out that needs resolving?

Thanks...

Leaving the single insulated cables that long isn't really achieving anything, personally I would shorten them and not bunch them behind the din rail.

The tails could do with being clipped up.

Why not a rcbo CU ?
Did you work live on installing the isolator ?

What is the size of your main fuse ?

Edit : Westwood Posted above as I was typing

 

[JBW175]

First of all, welcome to the forum.

However…

No SPD, they look to be 63A type AC RCD’s, looks to have single 2.5mm cables going into 32A MCB’s

surely this is a wind up?

I can’t see a sparky signing it off and you getting an LABC compliance certificate.

 

[Andy Hames]

The isolation was by removing the main fuse, which I am aware should really have been performed by the DNO.


Is this what you wanted, or each of the banks?

The circuit plan is:

 

[Andy Hames]

Leaving the single insulated cables that long isn't really achieving anything, personally I would shorten them and not bunch them behind the din rail.

The tails could do with being clipped up.

Why not a rcbo CU ?
Did you work live on installing the isolator ?

What is the size of your main fuse ?

Edit : Westwood Posted above as I was typing

The choice of not using RCBOs came down to cost. The person paying the bill didn't have the budget.

The isolator was fitted with the main fuse removed, which from memory is 60A I think. The CU main switch is 100A rated, so is the new isolator.

 

[mainline]

If your main fuse is above 63 amps then the rcds are under rated.

 

[westward10]

You have removed the service head fuse and are actually undertaking these works for someone else with no electrical competence.

 

[timhoward]

My most immediate concern....(of several)
Does this:

lead to this:

as your diagram seems to imply?

 

[westward10]

Have you actually rewired this property.