Fuse board upgrade (PRIVATE)

[CopiamElectrical]

Hey guys,

Im starting to put my company out there more. And this is all a new journey for me being an apprentice and now being qualified/2391-52 qualified as well.

I was speaking to a friend about how he would go about a board change which I don’t agree with.

• tell customer a fixed price £800 inc materials and carry out a board change
• inform customer that the new board may not swim through (successful) due to XYZ fault.

Now this is my approach

- Carry out an EICR on a existing installation
Inform them £150-200 for an EICR (Hi madam/sir “name” your existing installation will require a periodic test to come to a conclusion whether it’s acceptable for a board change or not. (They might not like the sound of that and people don’t like pulling out money these days) I’m gonna also make it very clear that there may be faults which will require XYZ materials and labour time IF THERE IS.

- Once existing installation has been made safe/sound to BS7671 Regulations. And it’s satisfactory.

- Carry out a board upgrade - Conduct test again and issue out EIC.

I don’t even know… I might even be over complicating this from a customer point of view as they all get scared lol.

 

[Rockingit]

Fundamentally there are three reasons for a domestic CU change:

1. Cosmetic - as in, the client just wants an upgrade to be ‘modern’
2. As a result of alterations/existing CU isn’t big enough or doesn’t conform for new works
3. Because it’s been called out on an EICR

2&3 of above means that there has/should be pre-existing testing done to support whatever replacement and enabling works need to happen along side and (1) above means the customer needs to know that in order to facilitate their request that it may not be just as simple as changing the box.

All three of these scenarios involve testing which means a chargeable service - how you present that to a client is up to you!!

 

[davesparks]

- Carry out an EICR on a existing installation
Inform them £150-200 for an EICR (Hi madam/sir “name” your existing installation will require a periodic test to come to a conclusion whether it’s acceptable for a board change or not.

Personally I completely disagree with this approach.
If a customer has asked you to quote for a new CU then give them a quote for a new CU, explain that there may be hidden faults that aren't apparent and cover yourself from that perspective.

I can't see how an EICR is going to tell you whether an installation is 'acceptable for a board change' as you put it?
If a new CU is required then the EICR result is guaranteed to be unsatisfactory now, and if it was satisfactory then you wouldn't be doing a CU change in the first place!


You wouldn't accept a garage charging you for an MOT before they start any work on your car!

 

[Markyd]

Always test install before fitting new CU

 

[Dustydazzler]

As above , with everything now having to be RCD protected either Via split RCD or individual RCBO its wise to do some pre-board swap testing. Nothing worse than getting to 5pm and a circuit won't hold in.
I like to start any board change nice and early say around 8am and try to get in on the wall and all connected up before lunch to then allow a nice easy afternoon doing the testing and paperwork.
I rarely insist that an EICR is done prior but if the house is old and if it looks like a shed load of alterations have been added over the years then an EICR is never a bad idea.
Board swaps are pretty much the only job I do 'On Fixed Price' and I would say £800-900 for a basic RCBO board is about right.
Maybe a bit less if its a real basic swap, maybe a bit more if you need new bonding and it means getting a 10mm GY across the house.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I can't see how an EICR is going to tell you whether an installation is 'acceptable for a board change' as you put it?

A read through of this old thread, especially your own contributions to it, may help clarify why a thorough test and inspect in advance of a board change is a good idea:

No earth at lights, customer won't change?

Lots of people perpetually restating that the OP messed up isn’t going to help him much though. I’m sure lots of us could list various mistakes over the years (the time I managed to do a global IR of a wylex board with the fuses still out still haunts me - that was the start of 3 days of pain!)...

www.electriciansforums.net

 

[buzzlightyear]

We all been there changing the consumer units, it's like ----ing a coin heads or tails
Customer to see if you have any faults.
Me test first ask questions after.

 

[davesparks]

Always test install before fitting new CU

I completely agree with this, what I don't agree with is the suggestion that an EICR must be carried out before fitting a new CU.

A read through of this old thread, especially your own contributions to it, may help clarify why a thorough test and inspect in advance of a board change is a good idea:

No earth at lights, customer won't change?

Lots of people perpetually restating that the OP messed up isn’t going to help him much though. I’m sure lots of us could list various mistakes over the years (the time I managed to do a global IR of a wylex board with the fuses still out still haunts me - that was the start of 3 days of pain!)...

www.electriciansforums.net

Testing and a damn good look I completely agree with, but that's not the same as doing an EICR.

To clarify my objection here is to insisting that a customer pay for an EICR prior to having the CU replaced when the inevitable result of the EICR will be a recommendation to replace the CU.

 

[7029 dave]

Most of the time a good visal inspection will be adequate along with some basic testing, your eyes are a big part of seeing what's Infront of you.

 

[CopiamElectrical]

Fundamentally there are three reasons for a domestic CU change:

1. Cosmetic - as in, the client just wants an upgrade to be ‘modern’
2. As a result of alterations/existing CU isn’t big enough or doesn’t conform for new works
3. Because it’s been called out on an EICR

2&3 of above means that there has/should be pre-existing testing done to support whatever replacement and enabling works need to happen along side and (1) above means the customer needs to know that in order to facilitate their request that it may not be just as simple as changing the box.

All three of these scenarios involve testing which means a chargeable service - how you present that to a client is up to you!!

Thank you dude