Electrical

Opinions on electricians offer to fit a new consumer unit?

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.23 PM

I have just had an electrician visit my property over some concerns with a shower that trips the breaker on its ring. It’s an 8.5kw shower on UK voltage, running into an old 30a push button breaker on old Wylex consumer unit. I think the cable running from unit>shower to be 6mm. The following was communicated to me during the visit: · Consumer unit appears to be around 25 years out of date · Shower cover was removed and a multimeter plugged in. I am told the reading which come back was ok, but not absolutely perfect as you would expect with brand new wiring. Good result on earth loop test and earth sleeving was missing. Can't remember if he had the showers pull cord to the off position when he plugged in though, would this not isolate the rest of the ring leading to only the wire running up to the cord being tested if this was the case? · Changed a few of the breakers around to see if that stops the shower from tripping to rule out a bad breaker. I had the thing running full tilt for 6 or 7 minutes and it hadn’t tripped, which it would have done before probably indicating a bad breaker. · Tested for earthing on our water and gas supplies, which came back as positive. He has recommended that he fits brand new consumer unit fitted, then followed by a full electrical test/certification which has been quoted at a price of £380 all in. I mentioned that I think the shower is wired in using 6mm cable (had a little look at it in the attic, it measues 14 or 15mm edge to edge of insulation, and I think 10mm is around 17-18mm) and was told that this should be ok for an 8.5kw shower, but it is borderline the limit where you would install 10mm, and would be ok with a new unit and 40 amp MCB. Is what I have been told correct? Would it be a good idea to have a modern consumer unit fitted on the existing wiring without upgrading the shower circuit to 10mm provided we don't upgrade to a larger shower in the future? I see mixed opinions everywhere so I'm not 100% sure on upgrading just the consumer unit and wanted to ask here.