ᐅ Retrofitting Residual Current Devices (RCDs) in Older Electrical Systems
Created on: 27 Jan 2021 20:26
R
rennschnecke
Hello,
as some of you have already read, I am currently renovating one of my 1.5-room apartments. Unfortunately, there is no RCD (residual current device) installed in this apartment. I would of course like to have one added.
Since I don’t really know much about electronics, I wanted to ask for your advice before calling an electrician. As you can see in the photos, there are already outlets with green-yellow protective earth (bathroom, kitchen, partly in the living room), but also outlets without green-yellow protective earth (also in the living room).
The photo with the black/red/gray cable shows a switch.
Now the crucial question: Is it possible to retrofit an RCD without having to break open all the walls? If there were a green-yellow protective earth conductor everywhere, I would have said yes—at least based on what I have read. With a "neutraling" system (i.e., without this protective earth), no.
But how does it look here? I don’t want to tear open the entire walls. If retrofitting is not possible, I would probably install RCD-protected outlets in the bathroom and possibly the kitchen.
Best regards
as some of you have already read, I am currently renovating one of my 1.5-room apartments. Unfortunately, there is no RCD (residual current device) installed in this apartment. I would of course like to have one added.
Since I don’t really know much about electronics, I wanted to ask for your advice before calling an electrician. As you can see in the photos, there are already outlets with green-yellow protective earth (bathroom, kitchen, partly in the living room), but also outlets without green-yellow protective earth (also in the living room).
The photo with the black/red/gray cable shows a switch.
Now the crucial question: Is it possible to retrofit an RCD without having to break open all the walls? If there were a green-yellow protective earth conductor everywhere, I would have said yes—at least based on what I have read. With a "neutraling" system (i.e., without this protective earth), no.
But how does it look here? I don’t want to tear open the entire walls. If retrofitting is not possible, I would probably install RCD-protected outlets in the bathroom and possibly the kitchen.
Best regards
rennschnecke schrieb:
RCD (residual current device) can be retrofitted. The distribution board needs some modification because otherwise it won’t fit. Yes, that is exactly what I wrote before.
rennschnecke schrieb:
The quote will arrive in the next few days, but he is expecting around 800 euros net. The electrician is making a good profit there :-). About 50€ for materials and if it goes well, half a day of work. But that’s just how it is.
R
rennschnecke3 Feb 2021 19:50WingVII schrieb:
Yes, that’s exactly what I wrote earlier.
The electrical master electrician makes good money from that 🙂. About €50 (around $54) in material costs and, if everything goes well, half a day’s work. But that’s just how it is. When I receive the quote, I can give you the exact figures. According to him, the material costs are about €100-150 (around $108-$162) net per apartment.
The hourly rate for an electrical master electrician is €55 (around $59) net.
But as I said, I will share the quote here as soon as I have it.
rennschnecke schrieb:
per apartmentAh, I had overlooked the electrical panel. Then the price is actually reasonable.R
rennschnecke8 Feb 2021 17:47I probably need to hire a second electrician. After more than a week without receiving a quote, I followed up. He said he hasn't had the chance to review the pictures he took. Due to the old wiring, he would prefer not to leave the junction boxes as they are. He would plan for about 1.5 days of work and estimate around 1800 euros including materials.
That is obviously a significant amount, which I need to digest first.
That is obviously a significant amount, which I need to digest first.
R
rennschnecke12 Feb 2021 15:58The offer is available, approximately 1400 euros. I had hoped for a lower price.
K
knalltüte12 Feb 2021 16:16Well, I would say this is not uncommon. He significantly marks up the material cost (300%), but since the overall material costs are low, this is probably acceptable. And regarding the labor costs, I can't really complain, as I never want to have to pay myself 😉 (I mean, they are within the usual range). Whether the number of hours is necessary, you will only find out by supervising the work. And if you don’t trust the electrician in this regard, he wouldn’t be the right one anyway.