Discuss Old WLYEX fusebox in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
Guys is 82 it only blew once when an old lamp went, I know the board needs changing etc but there's no point the guy hasn't got long left whole house needs an update lol
The plug ins are free as I have some for some reason the Screwfix was just an exampleI get the concept but I'm afraid I think this is flawed. Rewireable fuses are far less likely to need attention in the first place unless something is really wrong (e.g. faulty lamp). A bulb blowing won't pop a rewireable.
So plug in MCB's will probably need the elderly person to visit the consumer unit far more. If eyesight is failing it's paramount that the CU is 100% safe.
Bottom line - if there is no cover available you are leaving behind C2's or worse - you can in fact see live parts in the photograph.
In my view the £40 for four new plug in MCB's would be better off going towards a new board. Even if it's a £65 screwfix special Chint unit. At least he gains RCD protection and zero chance of zapping himself at the board.
Its a flawed concept full stop upgrading accessories and boards on an old installationI get the concept but I'm afraid I think this is flawed. Rewireable fuses are far less likely to need attention in the first place unless something is really wrong (e.g. faulty lamp). A bulb blowing won't pop a rewireable.
So plug in MCB's will probably need the elderly person to visit the consumer unit far more. If eyesight is failing it's paramount that the CU is 100% safe.
Bottom line - if there is no cover available you are leaving behind C2's or worse - you can in fact see live parts in the photograph.
In my view the £40 for four new plug in MCB's would be better off going towards a new board. Even if it's a £65 screwfix special Chint unit. At least he gains RCD protection and zero chance of zapping himself at the board.
Fully agree, but the question was will Wylex breakers fit without their correct bases, and unfortunately, the answer is, no, they won't.I think people are getting a bit extreme here.
All he wants to do is replace the rewireables to make the old boys life easier.
He’s not going to ok a rewire or RCBO board change at his age, this is the next best thing and leaves the situation no safer than it was before, but ALOT easier for the end user.
Get the correct bases and breakers, and happy days in my opinion.
Well technically they ought to be able to, remove the shroud/shield and it removes the 'keying' so anything should fit anywhere, thr obvious downside is you're likely to create instant C1s and not leaving the installation safer than you found it ?Fully agree, but the question was will Wylex breakers fit without their correct bases, and unfortunately, the answer is, no, they won't.
they will if you have access to aneedle file.Fully agree, but the question was will Wylex breakers fit without their correct bases, and unfortunately, the answer is, no, they won't.
My experience is they only trip when something else goes 'bang'.My main rationale for questioning this is that the breakers are likely to require more human interaction than the existing fuses.
This would be preferable to leaving the bases off altogether (which would also work, but beyond dangerous). The raised section around the base would also need to be removed to allow the breakers to be pushed fully in.they will if you have access to aneedle file.
5 words that are an Electricians best friend; This install is life expiredThe problem with minor upgrades is it tends to prolong the life of the installation
Beyond what it should be
True, but some judgment is also needed.The problem with minor upgrades is it tends to prolong the life of the installation
Beyond what it should be
All the comments that have been posted are correct about changing etc and I am a qualified electrician however all I wanted to know was if the bases needed changing the rest is irrelevant.An instantaneous shower needs an rcd imo
Not sure what bs7671 says on that
That's no problemAll the comments that have been posted are correct about changing etc and I am a qualified electrician however all I wanted to know was if the bases needed changing the rest is irrelevant.
That's no problem
Just saying looking at that board with the instantaneous electric shower on an MCB i wouldn't be happy
Ok well I'm not familiar with bs7671 don't work here ,so can be shot downWhy not, if it tests well?
Presumably OK when it was installed.... and probably been like that for a decade or two (or three, or more).
These days is does, but probably at the time of installation (16th edition) then supplementary bonding was enough for a bathroom installation.Ok well I'm not familiar with bs7671 don't work here ,so can be shot down
So long as the CPC is good then ADS is ensured.How long until the heater tank develops a fault
Obviously not talking about all cases but, believe me, there really are much worse things being installed these days than many of the well constructed installations of the period we're talking.Ok well I'm not familiar with bs7671 don't work here ,so can be shot down
How long until the heater tank develops a fault
Trained? ?Some older installations are a work of art compared with the lashes in new wiring you see today
some recent stuff I come across looks like it was thrown in by a bunch of trained apes
I hope the apes you’re talking about aren’t the same apes that show up on members of this forums profiles
The rcd will clear the faultThese days is does, but probably at the time of installation (16th edition) then supplementary bonding was enough for a bathroom installation.
The Best Practice Guide #4 would have C3 for this case (no RCD but bonding good) or C2 if no supplementaty bonding when inspecting things.
So long as the CPC is good then ADS is ensured.
Of course, even if the regs did not say so you would still want an RCD for other reasons. Like protecting against the results of cable damage, or to reduce the risk of a double fault being fatal (so #1 loss of CPC and then #2 insulation failure).
Not quite sure what point you are trying to make here, this is very cheap minor improvement to make a guy's final years a bit easier when a major upgrade might cause that much stress it would see him off and having an RCD would not stop it happeningThe problem with minor upgrades is it tends to prolong the life of the installation
Beyond what it should be
I have to chuckle at the blind faith that people have in RCD's when they are more prone to failure than the MCBAn instantaneous shower needs an rcd imo
Not sure what bs7671 says on that
I never realised as a child the level of risk I was exposed to when the sockets, the shower and for that matter the whole installation had no RCD's then I started work and for a number years myself and the people I worked with did not routinely install RCD's because they weren't around then. But back then equipment was built to last and we worked with what we had and rarely tested anything other than a Pyro when ELCB's (current type) became available we were taught that they were only for secondary protection these days the quality of some equipment that is installed is debatable so I can only surmise that RCD's are needed as primary protection to cover up for poor installation design and the poor quality kit that is available and also to protect people from their own stupidity or that electrician that doesn't know what he is doingThat's no problem
Just saying looking at that board with the instantaneous electric shower on an MCB i wouldn't be happy
Many years ago the real driver for RCD use was folk being killed outside when they mowed through a cable or similar while barefoot or in sandals.I never realised as a child the level of risk I was exposed to when the sockets
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