Is this JB adequate for the design and use.

[Shaun H]

I found this JB in the loft, the mice have eaten the JB cover as well as some of the wiring, but aside all that in your opinion do you think the JB is overloaded?

 

[westward10]

How are we supposed to know whether it is overloaded without additional information.

 

[brianmoooore]

We can't say if it's electrically overloaded, but at least one terminal is mechanically overloaded.
Irrelevant, since the fixing point for the cover is totally broken off, and it needs replacing ASAP by a more modern junction box, suitable for the number of cables present, such as a Wago box and connectors.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Hmm continental 7 on the bottom right grey cable with a double cross through it, wonder if that is indicative of the installers origin.

 

[loz2754]

The orange 2 core lawn mower flex is also a possible cause for concern, as there is no earth (CPC) in that cable.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Looks fine , whats the problem

Probably been like that for decades and works

 

[ipf]

I didn't know mice were into bakelite.

No way has that been nibbled. Smashed and lid dispatched by a cack-handed DIY merchant, more like.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Yeah some ham fisted sparks added a cable and couldn't get the lid on properly so just mashed it up and chucked it most likely

 

[DPG]

I think any sparky worth his salt would be replacing that. I'd advise getting someone in.

 

[phil 01]

Are there any earths on any of the circuits? But if this a spark asking the question back to college for you

 

[brianmoooore]

Are there any earths on any of the circuits? But if this a spark asking the question back to college for you

We have power in and power out complete with earth wires, plus the switch and lamp wires for two lights, all without cpcs, and then the orange flex feeding a second lamp on one of the circuits.
All, except the flex, pre 1970.

 

[phil 01]

I expect your looking at 60 years old wiring maybe you should look at getting it rewired

 

[ipf]

That permanent live term looks juicy.

OP. Any idea who's numbered the cables?

 

[davesparks]

I expect your looking at 60 years old wiring maybe you should look at getting it rewired

A picture of one broken joint box is hardly a good reason to jump to the conclusion that a rewire may be required!

 

[Dustydazzler]

To be fair it is old twin cable with no cpc so in reality I would be looking at a re-wire sooner than later

 

[brianmoooore]

OP. Any idea who's numbered the cables?

Very likely the comedian who added the orange flex, since it's numbered, and not the highest number.

 

[DPG]

Very likely the comedian who added the orange flex, since it's numbered, and not the highest number.

Logical my Dear Watson. I like it.

Hopefully the OP has got someone to replace it.

 

[7029 dave]

As for the JB would be better to have used 6terminal ashley 601, good quality JB.

 

[brianmoooore]

As for the JB would be better to have used 6terminal ashley 601, good quality JB.

Fitted dozens of them, back in the day, but there's better alternatives now.

 

[ipf]

Very likely the comedian who added the orange flex, since it's numbered, and not the highest number.

They look to be in nice numerical order, to me. Nice, neat job.

 

[7029 dave]

Fitted dozens of them, back in the day, but there's better alternatives now.

Wagos with the silly little enclosures, not big enough IMO with that amount of cables.

 

[davesparks]

To be fair it is old twin cable with no cpc so in reality I would be looking at a re-wire sooner than later

There are CPCs there, can't tell if they are in every cable or just most though.

 

[davesparks]

Wagos with the silly little enclosures, not big enough IMO with that amount of cables.

If the 'silly little enclosure' is not big enough then you have selected the wrong enclosure, it is hardly the fault of the product if you have selected the wrong thing.

 

[7029 dave]

If the 'silly little enclosure' is not big enough then you have selected the wrong enclosure, it is hardly the fault of the product if you have selected the wrong thing.

Thats exactly why my chosen would be a 601 JB #18

 

[brianmoooore]

There are CPCs there, can't tell if they are in every cable or just most though.

Two cables have cpcs, and will be power in and power out. The cables without cpcs go to two switches and originally to two lamps. Standard wiring arrangement at the time.
Orange flex is a second lamp in parallel with one of the originals.

 

[Markyd]

If the 'silly little enclosure' is not big enough then you have selected the wrong enclosure, it is hardly the fault of the product if you have selected the wrong thing.

Wagos with the silly little enclosures, not big enough IMO with that amount of cables.

WAGOBOX XL Junction Box | Wago_Connectors (207-3304)

 

[mainline]

Thats exactly why my chosen would be a 601 JB #18

I can't think why someone would use a screw terminal JB these days, when it's far quicker to wago type and make it maintenance free, whether needed to be or not.

 

[Mike Johnson]

As most of the cables are Red & Black T&E I would not think this JB has been put in recently so the reference to "these days" is probably not appropriate.

 

[Dustydazzler]

This just reminded me I have a couple boxes of old 20a and 30am round JBs I still need to use up before buying a nother load of Wago boxes

 

[Mike Johnson]

Take them to the local clay pigeon shoot.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Take them to the local clay pigeon shoot.

Yeah Or might throw a couple in free when I sell my red black cable stock

I have over 1000m of red black twin and earth soon to hit Ebay when its over £1 per mtr

 

[brianmoooore]

As most of the cables are Red & Black T&E I would not think this JB has been put in recently so the reference to "these days" is probably not appropriate.

You think the replacement should be 'period' appropriate?

 

[Dustydazzler]

You think the replacement should be 'period' appropriate?

I could sell them some old JBs and drums of old red black cable and they could go full on sympathetic 'to the period'

 

[mainline]

You think the replacement should be 'period' appropriate?

I can't think of what else he means. ?

Maybe he can explain.

 

[Mike Johnson]

You think the replacement should be 'period' appropriate?

Should I take out the RCBO's and replace with re-wirable fuse's.

 

[DPG]

Should I take out the RCBO's and replace with re-wirable fuse's.

The comment was referring to someone's suggestion of replacing the OP's existing JB with a J601 screw terminal one rather than a wago type. He wasn't referring to the original junction box.

 

[7029 dave]

I can't think why someone would use a screw terminal JB these days, when it's far quicker to wago type and make it maintenance free, whether needed to be or not.

Whats wrong with screw terminals, they have been around for decades.
Just for info I was altering some wiring last year for a friend, wagos in the back of a switch for the N not much slack so instead of cutting the wago off (push in type) I pulled the conductor out and it didnt take much to pull out, just thought id share that.

 

[DPG]

Whats wrong with screw terminals, they have been around for decades.
Just for info I was altering some wiring last year for a friend, wagos in the back of a switch for the N not much slack so instead of cutting the wago off (push in type) I pulled the conductor out and it didnt take much to pull out, just thought id share that.

And MCB and main switch terminals also are screw type.

 

[mainline]

Whats wrong with screw terminals, they have been around for decades.
Just for info I was altering some wiring last year for a friend, wagos in the back of a switch for the N not much slack so instead of cutting the wago off (push in type) I pulled the conductor out and it didnt take much to pull out, just thought id share that.

I've nothing against them, it's more to do with ease and also being maintenance free.

 

[7029 dave]

I've nothing against them, it's more to do with ease and also being maintenance free.

They are only MF if used with the enclosure

 

[mainline]

They are only MF if used with the enclosure

Would you use them without ?

 

[7029 dave]

Would you use them without ?

Nope just stating the wago itself is not MF

 

[davesparks]

instead of cutting the wago off (push in type) I pulled the conductor out and it didnt take much to pull out, just thought id share that.

Why would you cut it off when you can just remove the conductors from it?

A pull with a bit of a twist is the method for removing the conductors.

What are you actually trying to get at here?

 

[7029 dave]

Why would you cut it off when you can just remove the conductors from it?

A pull with a bit of a twist is the method for removing the conductors.

What are you actually trying to get at here?

Nothing

 

[ipf]

Would you use them without ?

I don't see what the difference is, if using another make of box. I use Wiska boxes with them and can't see a problem.

 

[mainline]

I don't see what the difference is, if using another make of box. I use Wiska boxes with them and can't see a problem.

My question was in using them without an enclosure at all.

Also, I think the enclosure would have to be stamped MF if used as BS 5733 Maintenance Free box.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Seen plnety Wagos just thrown under floors and in voids without a box of any kind

 

[ipf]

Seen plnety Wagos just thrown under floors and in voids without a box of any kind

Damn sight worse than an Ashley 301 or 401.

 

[nicebutdim]

Damn sight worse than an Ashley 301 or 401.

It's to be expected. The same people who routinely left loose connector blocks in their wake, now have a faster and easier way of leaving a mess.

 

[ipf]

It's to be expected. The same people who routinely left loose connector blocks in their wake, now have a faster and easier way of leaving a mess.

Things never change.......but more people may be qualified to do it, these days.