28/08/2026
Posted with the customers consent.
Earlier this week, I got called by a customer who had a fuseboard fire on his wylex rewireable unit which was original to the house. Rather than call in a professional, he attempted to change the consumer unit himself with an off the shelf item from Toolstation 😳
He called me and explained the situation, that after installation, 2 rcbos were tripping if one of them was energised after the other. I agreed to attend but advised I don't usually touch DIY installs.
On arrival, I explained due to the condition of the install that I couldn't put my name to it, but was prepared to quickly find the fault as long as he agreed to have a new consumer unit to be installed properly and safely.
On first inspection, I found the following....
▪️tails incorrectly sized showing exposed copper
▪️tails loose
▪️all circuits loose
▪️original lighting goes from 1mm to 2.5mm in JB
▪️ringmain split in 2 x jbs over 2 rcbos (the fault)
▪️busbar loose
▪️every circuit extended in jbs above ceiling
▪️scorching to top of new rcbo
▪️main cpc & bonding incorrectly sized
▪️no extra spare ways left on installation
▪️no fire strip or containment in back of board
▪️no ferrule crimps on fly leads for rcbos
▪️cables entering the top of CU with no fire groms
To name a few (see if you can find more).
The customer understood the advice and the telling off i had given him for even attempting to do this himself. I explained the dangers that it would void his home insurance in the event of a likely electrical fire without the installation certificate by a competent person.
The customer was very lucky on this occasion. If those rcbos hadn't tripped, I would never have been called by him, meaning this would have gone unnoticed.
I know it may be cheaper to have a go yourself at changing a socket or light fitting etc, but ALWAYS call a qualified electrician to do your electrical work if you're unsure.
I am posting this to raise awareness more than anything. I'm still a firm believer that it should be law for the likes of Screwfix / Toolstation UK and others to not be selling these items to anyone, without first seeing their qualifications.....a hard task when online shopping is readily available to anyone with a debit card.
Scary!
