To remove or not to remove the unused MCB's

[Goody]

I came across a CU with one RCD. Two ring circuits are on 32 Amp MCB each and 3 lighting circuits on 6 Amp MCB each; the other MCB’s are left on the CU serving no circuits. Should I remove them and put blanking plates (plastic) to cover the hole or leave them there with label “not in use”

This is my assessment, what would be the best practice?

Cheers!

 

[Electricalserv]

I'd remove them mate. Any diy'er could come along and put a 32 amp ring on a 6 amp breaker

 

[paturback]

A blanking plate, if not mark as spare but disconnected from buzbar

 

[truckster]

I'd mark them indelibly as spare , you may have trouble disconnecting from the busbar in some units. If some DIYer comes along after it's not your problem.

 

[Goody]

The CU is one of those "Magnuss" 16th edtion boards and I have only done a spur extension for "Minor Job for assessment" - I did not put that in. I will see if I could remove & put blanking plates, else I will mark them "Spare".

Thanks for all your replies!

 

[paturback]

Your welcome!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Take them out & sell them on E-Bay !!!

 

[Knobhead]

And if I were the householder I’d be after your blood for theft. It’s the householder’s property, it’s up to them what to do.

 

[Goody]

Take them out & sell them on E-Bay !!!

And if I were the householder I’d be after your blood for theft. It’s the householder’s property, it’s up to them what to do.

I should bear this in mind "Thou shalt not steal." (Exodus 20:15 KJV) and if I steal God will send "rats" on me when I work in the loft.

I will mark them "Spare"

Thanks guys, for the caution!

 

[morph]

leave them for sure its not your property is it

 

[Goody]

leave them for sure its not your property is it

It's not a question of "my property or theirs" but I wanted to know if it's good practice to leave the unused MCB's on the board or replace them with blanking plates (I will certainly hand over the removed MCB's to the home owner for safe keeping)

I have just done a twin socket on a spur extension from a ring as a minor job for my assessment and this board with MCB was already in place. Would the assessor raise question about the MCB's being left there?

Cheers!

 

[robd]

I'd leave them there personally, at the end of the day your cert will state what work you've done so your covered if they diy something on. Added to that they are their MCB's and might come in handy if anything else gets added on later, esp if it's much later and you can't get another MCB to fit.

Don't see it as bad practice as they're doing no harm just being in the board. As for the diy'er adding something on, well if they add want to add something they'll do it any way and probably just in the nearest thing with another existing circuit, you can't legislate for what a diy'er might do.

 

[Amp David]

Leave them in this scenario.

On my own jobs if they arn't being used i wont fit them and use a blanking plate. Hate it when someone marksthe up as spare, then when you go in and have to add another circuit, you have to find a label to cover the permenent pen they use to write spare

 

[Big n Daft]

Remove and fit blanks.
Give mcb's to householder. End of story.
Just my preference, it doesnt matter either way.

 

[Geordie Spark]

And if I were the householder I’d be after your blood for theft. It’s the householder’s property, it’s up to them what to do.

Oh dear.

Didn't you realise that I was making a joke?

Ok, maybe I'm not in the same league as Telextrix - either as a comedian or a spark - but the smiley at the end should have been the give-away !!

For the record though; I would remove them & hand them to their rightful owner & fill the gaps with blanks ..... just as I did today.

 

[ferg]

I'd remove and fit blanks give mcb's to householder. better to have less confusion at the CU if they have a problem.

 

[Rikki Barrett]

Been to a house today to change a 3-gang dimmer switch. Isolated downstairs lighting, still live, isolated upstairs, still live? Hold on...........theres two SPARE. Isolated one, one switch isolated?! Eh??? Isolated the second and the rest was isolated!!
Either or either I think, people still do what they like.

 

[pushrod]

Another vote for fit blanks and give mcbs to householder (no winking smiley cos i mean it)