It trips if you press the yellow bar, so it passes testing.


Andy Betteridge

Presuming that the ELCB works, then in my view it is debateable if this merits "requires improvement" or the lesser "not compliant with current regulations"


However I think that there is a more serious issue, looks like reversed polarity from the small area of inner blue insulation on the tail connected to the side of the ELCB that is connected to the red meter tail. If this IS what it looks like, then that in my view is "immediately dangerous"

If the polarity is in fact correct but simply the wrong colour cable has been used, then it would be good practice to mark the cables with tape that corresponds to the actual function.

It appears to be a voltage-operated ELCB - yet seemingly has no earth connections - so it can't operate as an ELCB - it's just a isolator.

   - Andy.

I went to install a supply for a bathroom towel rail,  the builder had taken a plug socket off leaving the wires sticking out of the back box having turned the circuit off at the single pole RCBO. 


I looked at it and said to the bathroom fitter are the cables still live?  I don't know was his reply so I tested them.

It's not actually an EICR job,  it was a minor installation job, so I have rewired it.

Presumably the idiots who installed the replacement consumer unit did not even have a plug in socket tester costing less than twenty quid, which is what a meter operative would use to check polarity. 


Had it had been an EICR I would have still rewired it. 


So  how about a C1, C2 and C3, but when rewired just a C3?


Andy Betteridge 

well downgrading the VOELCB to an in-line isolator is cheap but electrically OK, if the RCD function is provided elsewhere. The reverse polarity is unforgivable however, and really dangerous especially as the RCBOs are single pole breaking any L-E fault (black to CPC in this case) has the full company fuse to offer.

Now dare we ask about the electrode impedance ?


also it looks like the blue and brown side is the meter, not the CU, I presume there is more crossing over out of shot ?

I presume you don't think 24 amps will take the DNO fuse out?

It was a bit of a WTF moment. 

Andy B