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Sam Bowe: While we were doing our electrical status report in South Wales, we came across the picture shown – no need to worry about having a box on your RCBO!
Although the notable issue was the attachment (or lack thereof!) on the RCBO, there are several other observations that need to be documented on the EICR.
The absence of an RCBO enclosure would generate multiple monitoring codes. This installation appears to have been in the process of installing a new smart meter, where the smart meter installer placed a clear plastic sheet as a temporary cover over the offending RCBO.
The RCBO itself is connected to the main switch of the left consumer unit via a four-core flexible cable. Flexible cables are not suitable for fixed wiring unless they meet the requirement S of Regulation 521.9.1. The green and yellow conductor of the four-core flexible cable is used as the neutral conductor. The reference conductor of the RCBO is connected to the neutral/earth terminal of the service head which is used only to terminate the earth conductor.
Single insulated conductors are exposed in the meter tail terminal blocks where the double cable jacket and earth have been removed. An AC circuit breaker of the RCD type is not permitted for the circuit supplying the solar PV meter and a second circuit breaker is provided in common with the RCD supplying the solar PV meter. The cable jacket connected to the solar PV meter has been removed, exposing the single insulation to allow the circuit breaker to be terminated.
The AC insulator does not comply with the IP requirements of Regulation 416.2.2 with two flexible cables entering the top of the insulator.
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