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Recommended checks before CU change

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
As most of you know I’ve only been qualified for just over a year and I’ve got a quote to do for a cu upgrade.


I know I’m nowhere experienced enough to do EICR’s yet, but what would you guys recommend I check/test before doing the cu upgrade and should I do these checks/tests at the quote stage?
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I’m only planning on adding 5-10% on all parts I use on jobs.  Is this about the mark up on parts or should it be higher.  Also, do you charge a day rate on cu replacements or a different fee as they’re usually straight forward?
  • 0
    Because you really need this job for your NICEIC re-assessment you need to keep your pencil sharp. I normally charge 20% markup, but can reduce it if I really want the work.

    The labour charge is based on the time to do the work and then complete the paper work, including the provision of circuit charts/schedules or equivalent forms of information reg 514.9.
  • 0

    Fitzy71:

    I’m only planning on adding 5-10% on all parts I use on jobs.  Is this about the mark up on parts or should it be higher.  Also, do you charge a day rate on cu replacements or a different fee as they’re usually straight forward?




    I have just changed over an old 8 Way Wylex consumer unit in a bungalow. It was reasonably accessible over a sink, in a wall unit. The new consumer unit has 8 R.C.B.O.s and that is a bit time consuming to fit. I normally allow a day for such a job. I do not rush, and the householders usually want to talk so that takes time. I did not stop for a lunch break. Not wishing to be rude I do chat over a cup of tea though. The job went well with only a metal light that was not earthed showing up at the testing stage. Easily rectified. The water pipe was already bonded. No gas. The old retired couple were very nice to work for and paid me in cash at the end. Previously on another smaller job they had paid by cheque which I do not mind. Around here I charge between £200 and £250 per day, depending upon how far away the job is located. My materials markup can be 50 percent just like hardware shops do. That covers my time in obtaining the materials as well. It just depends upon the size of the job. Larger job=smaller markup. (Discount for bulk).


    Sometimes two or three small jobs per day can be more profitable than one large job.


    Z.

  • 0
    Been there,. simple - no basic checks beforehand unless priced on a time end material basis. Carry out the alteration with the proviso that any departures found, are either disconnected or corrrected, by agreement at time and material rates


    Jaymack
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    One more thing guys.


    Is there a possibility that even though I do my inspection & testing tomorrow and all seems ok, but will show it’s ugly head with the new board installed?
  • 0

    Fitzy71:

    One more thing guys.


    Is there a possibility that even though I do my inspection & testing tomorrow and all seems ok, but will show it’s ugly head with the new board installed?



    My first thought was no because how could a fault be introduced into the circuits. My second thought was, however, that we wouldn't do the live tests as well as the dead ones if there wasn't at least a remote possibility of failure.


    I think that your Zs and RCD trip times could only fail if you get your wires muddled and that isn't going to happen, so don't worry.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Sorry guys, but didn’t get answer to this question on a previous post.


    How low would an IR reading have to be to trip rcd’s on a new cu?
  • 0
    To trip them, way lower than the 'start to worry about damp' thresold of one meg ohm, or so.

    Consider 10K will pass 23mA  at 230v - which may be enough to get a 30mA device over the edge, that may vary with the make and model and what else is connected.


    I'd suggest that less than less than 50K is really in the very bad category for a DC test, and 1meg is needs some investigation may be OK.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I carried out my initial inspection and testing tonight and I’m concerned about the IR results, firstly though I think I done the IR test wrong on this board.  I tested (global test) L-E, N-E then L-L, using the live busbar, results were .42Mohms on both L-E & N-E, but the L-L was 0.00???
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Hi Fitzy,

    Doing a L-L would be a dead short so you would expect 0.00Mohms..you sure you don't mean L-N?


    Ts

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