Why has this consumer unit had this added?
Discussion
I went to disable a lighting circuit and fortunately realised I’d disabled a 32Amp circuit.
Oddly this CU has had a blank fitted after the incoming mains switch which means MCB labels no longer align.
Anyone any idea why this was done? Can it be undone by me removing the blank, sliding MCB along and reinserting the blank?
Oddly this CU has had a blank fitted after the incoming mains switch which means MCB labels no longer align.
Anyone any idea why this was done? Can it be undone by me removing the blank, sliding MCB along and reinserting the blank?
Scarletpimpofnel said:
Oddly this CU has had a blank fitted after the incoming mains switch which means MCB labels no longer align.
Anyone any idea why this was done? Can it be undone by me removing the blank, sliding MCB along and reinserting the blank?
No, the only person that knows why it has been done will be the person that did it.Anyone any idea why this was done? Can it be undone by me removing the blank, sliding MCB along and reinserting the blank?
Could be the wiring was modified, could be there was something removed no longer needing power, could be a cct breaker was defective, we will likely never know.
No, you can't slide them, they are connected to solid copper bus bars inside.
By virtue of the fact that you have asked the above questions, if I were you I would be getting an electrician in to sort it out.
I'm going to guess it had a surge protection device on, it popped, and it's just been rewired and blanked off instead of being replaced.
You can shuffle the mcbs up the bus bars easily enough but everything needs disconnecting and one might need cutting or replacing - you either need an electrician or an ebay sticker advert.
You can shuffle the mcbs up the bus bars easily enough but everything needs disconnecting and one might need cutting or replacing - you either need an electrician or an ebay sticker advert.
It's the wrong label for the board. The board is a split type with two RCDs & the label is for a single RCD board. Amazon do sheets of new labels:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=consumer+unit+lables&...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=consumer+unit+lables&...
Gary C said:
Just relabel
Just not worth messing with it just to get the stickers to align.
Whilst I agree I’m just curious what is behind this. Why was it done?!Just not worth messing with it just to get the stickers to align.
I might isolate the cu and have a look. I’m a natural worrier that something isn’t right there. Even that blank is a different size to the others.
I think I’ll have a look and if all looks well I’ll relabel.
Thanks all. Appreciate your points.
Mr Pointy said:
It's the wrong label for the board. The board is a split type with two RCDs & the label is for a single RCD board. Amazon do sheets of new labels:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=consumer+unit+lables&...
I suspect it is the opposite - ie. it is the right label for the board, but at some point someone has converted it in to a split load board.https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=consumer+unit+lables&...
I am expecting it isn't going to be tidy in there... someone will have needed to split the live feed so that it goes to each RCB.
All guess work without the cover off - and not knowing the OPs understanding, I am not suggesting he does that.
(OP: If you are comfortable with having the front off after turning off the main switch,, a picture might reveal more)
Scarletpimpofnel said:
I don t understand why an electrician making a change would leave the cu mud labelled like that. Seems dangerous to me?
It is poor/dangerous as it misleads you in to which circuit you have isolated (though you should always test).I suspect a great lazyness descended upon them and it was time to go home.
Scarletpimpofnel said:
I don t understand why an electrician making a change would leave the cu mud labelled like that. Seems dangerous to me?
I don't understand why you would put a question mark at the end of a sentence that wasn't a question. It amazing what people will randomly do! 
Scarletpimpofnel said:
I might isolate the cu and have a look. I m a natural worrier that something isn t right there.
With all due respect, unless you're a qualified electrician I wouldn't recommend removing the cover. How do you propose isolating the consumer unit; is it fed by a double-pole isolator? If not, just by turning off the main switch? Obviously if you do this the tails/incoming side of the main switch is still live and then exposed. Please be careful; I'm not sure what you're achieving by 'having a look'. If you're concerned, enlist a qualified electrician to carry out a full EICR and report on your fixed wiring. DorsetSparky said:
Scarletpimpofnel said:
I might isolate the cu and have a look. I m a natural worrier that something isn t right there.
With all due respect, unless you're a qualified electrician I wouldn't recommend removing the cover. How do you propose isolating the consumer unit; is it fed by a double-pole isolator? If not, just by turning off the main switch? Obviously if you do this the tails/incoming side of the main switch is still live and then exposed. Please be careful; I'm not sure what you're achieving by 'having a look'. If you're concerned, enlist a qualified electrician to carry out a full EICR and report on your fixed wiring. Mark V GTD said:
How come there are several 32 amp circuits? One of them seems to relate to sockets. I thought 32 amps was normally only for 6mm wired circuits for hobs, higher powered ovens and perhaps electric showers?
Ring mains for sockets. 2.5mm cable will do roughly 20 amps iirc but if you do a ring back to the mcb to split the energy flow into two it’ll cope with 40 amps in theory.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff