Consumer Unit age?

[jwadd215]

Hi all,

A family member is looking at having a new kitchen fitted and has aging electrics, I’ve advised it will most likely want an EICR prior to a new consumer unit being fitted as they want new electric oven circuits and an induction hob, and new socket circuits fitting.

Their consumer unit is old and has no RCD protection or SPD I’m curious as to whether anyone knows the approximate age of the CU please see attached?

I think this model had fuses which were then replaceable with trip switches that just slotted in like a fuse.

Thanks,
James

 

[littlespark]

original fuseboard (and possibly the wiring in the house) 70's to 80's.... Replacement circuit breakers, late 80's early 90's at a push. By the 90's we were fitting the standard 61008 circuit breakers on a DIN rail in a crappy plastic flimsy box.

RCD's introduction was 2000's

Give or take a few years as they came into common usage.

 

[PS Electrics]

Hi all,

A family member is looking at having a new kitchen fitted and has aging electrics, I’ve advised it will most likely want an EICR prior to a new consumer unit being fitted as they want new electric oven circuits and an induction hob, and new socket circuits fitting.

Their consumer unit is old and has no RCD protection or SPD I’m curious as to whether anyone knows the approximate age of the CU please see attached?

I think this model had fuses which were then replaceable with trip switches that just slotted in like a fuse.

Thanks,
James

Wylex produced these over a long period of time.

However I found info online that said the up for on switch configuration came in around the mid 1980's maybe someone else can confirm this?

So I say at between 30 and 40 years old

 

[R-fur]

The wylex main switch was always up for off. I fitted loads of these in the 70s and 80s. Up for on mcbs appeared in the 80s as they were type tested for the worldwide market and made that way to keep the americans happy. So I agree with littlesparks estimate of age.

 

[PS Electrics]

The wylex main switch was always up for off. I fitted loads of these in the 70s and 80s. Up for on mcbs appeared in the 80s as they were type tested for the worldwide market and made that way to keep the americans happy. So I agree with littlesparks estimate of age.

Thanks for this, they must have been confused with the change to the MCBs. I wasn't completely convinced myself and knew someone would be able to verify.

 

[brianmoooore]

This one is up for 'on' on the main switch, so one of the later ones.