The £1300 AFDD consumer unit

For example, how does the price of a basic CU compare with a window? Yes, just one window.


A typical 4ft by 4ft with fanlight and casement, with locking handles is perhaps 150- 200 ex works. We are no longer talking single glazing and putty for dwellings, that would still be still cheap, but infra-red reflecting coatings and inert gas filling are rather more  complex to organise.


And against this, how long does it last ? - at this rate of regs changes we'll be lucky if the consumer unit  lasts 10 or 20 years. Nearly all windows have a guarantee of at least 10 years, and well made ones may be twice that, and to be honest we'd be very suprised  if it did not last for 30, and replacement glazing units are very much still available in pretty much all sizes ever made


Also there is considerably more raw material in a window. Do not be fooled by apparent complexity of the CU, electronics can be assembled un-touched by human hand, and injection moulded plastics are pennies, once the moulds are made at perhaps 100K for hard tooling - so making a lot of the same is the most cost effective way.

 I agree that the expectation of a £50 quid CU is unrealistic, but I think expecting folk to fork out hundreds for an update that adds little to the house safety is also misplaced, and folk will keep the old stuff going for longer. There are plenty of BS3036 hot wire fuses still giving good service, and some still will be in 2040 at this rate.

M

Mike

For example, how does the price of a basic CU compare with a window? Yes, just one window.


A typical 4ft by 4ft with fanlight and casement, with locking handles is perhaps 150- 200 ex works. We are no longer talking single glazing and putty for dwellings, that would still be still cheap, but infra-red reflecting coatings and inert gas filling are rather more  complex to organise.


And against this, how long does it last ? - at this rate of regs changes we'll be lucky if the consumer unit  lasts 10 or 20 years. Nearly all windows have a guarantee of at least 10 years, and well made ones may be twice that, and to be honest we'd be very suprised  if it did not last for 30, and replacement glazing units are very much still available in pretty much all sizes ever made


Also there is considerably more raw material in a window. Do not be fooled by apparent complexity of the CU, electronics can be assembled un-touched by human hand, and injection moulded plastics are pennies, once the moulds are made at perhaps 100K for hard tooling - so making a lot of the same is the most cost effective way.

 I agree that the expectation of a £50 quid CU is unrealistic, but I think expecting folk to fork out hundreds for an update that adds little to the house safety is also misplaced, and folk will keep the old stuff going for longer. There are plenty of BS3036 hot wire fuses still giving good service, and some still will be in 2040 at this rate.

M

Mike