Jerry Brown Domestic Electrician Telephone: (01684) 567565

Glossary

Below is a list of useful terms and abbreviations used in the electrical trade

	M.C.B. (Miniature Circuit Breaker) Electronic version of a fuse, often called a "trip switch."
	R.C.D (Residual Current Device) A safety cut-out that will disconnect the power quickly in the event of an electrical fault. often called a "safety cut out switch."
	R.C.C.B. (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) Same as R.C.D.
	R.C.B.O. (Residual Circuit Breaker with Over current protection) and combination R.C.D. and M.C.B. in a single unit
	C/U (Consumer Unit) Another name for the Fuse Box. There are commonly 5 levels of consumer unit available to most domestic situations. Each varies in price and have both advantages and disadvantages.
	1. Dual R.C.D. consumer unit with 2 R.C.D’s splitting the property’s electrical installation in to 2 sections, if 1 R.C.D. trips only half of the installation will be affected (compliant with BS 7671-2008 17^th Edition Wiring Regulations)
	2. Consumer unit with Main Isolator and relevant sized R.C.B.O’s (compliant with BS 7671-2008 17^th Edition Wiring Regulations)
	3. Split board consumer unit with Main Isolator and required circuits protected by R.C.C.B. (compliant with BS 7671 16^th Edition Wiring Regulations)
	4. Consumer unit with combined R.C.C.B. Main Isolator and relevant sized M.C.B's (compliant with BS 7671 16^th Edition Wiring Regulations)
	5. Consumer unit with Main Isolator and relevant sized M.C.B's
	P.A.T. (Portable Appliance Testing) What is a Portable Appliance? An electrical appliance may be classed as "portable" if connected to the mains by way of a flexible lead, apart from all the usual types of hand held appliances like drills, hairdryers etc. this also includes TV's, PC's, fridges, printers and microwaves, even hand dryers & electric heaters etc fixed to the wall, are all classed as portable and come under this category.
	Solar PV (Photovoltaic) are panels often fitted to a south facing roof or appropriate surface used to generate electricity, generally in a domestic situation this falls under the title Micro Generation and allows the reduction of domestic electricity bills and if installed by a MCS (Micro Certification Scheme) registered contractor can qualify for cash income under the FIT’s Scheme (Feed in Tariff) where you get paid for electricity generated by the electricity supplier (please contact for further information)
	Final Circuit - A circuit connected directly to current using equipment or to socket outlets
	M.E.T. (Main Earthing Terminal) A common point of earthing either inside your consumer unit of close by
	P.M.E. (Protective Multiple Earthing) A common means of main earthing in this area, where the supplier uses the neutral of the main incoming cable (where suitable) as your point of earth.
	T.T. Earthing System. Where a Earthing spike is used as the main point of earthing, it should be connected to the M.E.T. with 16mm Green/Yellow earthing cable and be clearly identified with a safety warning label.
	Sheathing. An alternative means of earthing if P.M.E.is not available and T.T.is not suitable, this uses the suppliers cable sheath (where suitable) as the main point of earthing.
	C.C.U. (Cooker Control Unit) This is the local isolation switch for your cooker, it should be visible and not placed over or above the cooker itself (usually to the side)
	C.C.O. (Cooker Cable Outlet) This is a wall mounted cable outlet point usually behind the cooker itself, where the cable is connected to the cooker. This allows the cable to be disconnected from the cooker for removal.
	P.I.R. (Passive Infra Red) Usually a means of switching on external lighting automatically, detects movement which switches lighting on for timed periods, often prone to triggering by animals and trees.
	BS 7671-2008 (I.E.E. Wiring Regulations 17th Edition) Current standards electricians should work to. Now incorporated into Building Regulations as "Part P".
	Main Bonding. Means of Earthing all incoming services into the property (e.g. Water/Gas/Oil)
	Supplementary Bonding. Means of earthing all metallic surfaces in the bathroom/kitchen/shower room
	Competent Contractor. Registered Electrician with one of four professional bodies who has been assessed as capable to trade in accordance with part P of the Building Regulations and BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations 16th Edition)
	Notifiable Work - Electrical work carried out at in a dwelling or associated garden, conservatory or outbuilding in England and Wales need to be notified to a building control body, whether independently or through a registered electrical association (e.g. NIC EIC)
		NIC EIC - National Inspection Council of Electrical Installation Contractors, NICEIC acts as the electrical contracting industry’s independent voluntary regulatory body for electrical installation safety matters throughout the UK. It maintains and publishes registers of electrical contractors that have been assessed against Scheme requirements, including the national electrical safety standard BS 7671, the IEE Wiring Regulations.
		NIC EIC - Domestic Installer. (Register qualified and verified electrician dealing primarily and often specializing in the Domestic market) with the new UKAS Certification. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the UK national accreditation body responsible for assessing and accrediting the competence of organisations in the fields of measurement, testing, inspection and certification of systems, products and personnel. It operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Trade and Industry, which has licensed UKAS to use accreditation marks that feature the Royal Crown, and to sublicense the use of these marks to UKAS accredited organisations.
		NIC EIC - Approved Contractor.(Register qualified and verified electrician dealing in the Commercial work, Industrial work and some Domestic work)
		TrustMark is an award-winning scheme supported by Government, building industry and consumer protection groups to help you find reliable, trustworthy tradesmen to make improvements and repairs inside and outside your home.

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