Has anyone cut these before

C

chris day

-

Joined

Dec 24, 2016

Messages

404

Reaction score

82

Location

london

• Aug 30, 2017

• #1

hello guys

I need to put some plastic switches on some switch drops with no Earth and replace the backboxes.
The plan is all class 2 fittings and plastic switches

I have been told these old 12mm conduits and backbones are made of nickel and my multi tool won't cut them, i suspect they had wood blades as they can't be that hard to cut.

Has anyone tackled a similar job with any advice?

 

Leesparkykent

Nearly Esteemed

Joined

Dec 10, 2012

Messages

9,784

Reaction score

10,189

Location

Kent

• Aug 30, 2017

• #2

Just use switches that come with screw covers like BG nexus or Schneider lisse.

 

B

Bobster

• Aug 30, 2017

• #3

Are you sure the conduit isn't the CPC?

 

Pete999

-

Arms

Joined

Mar 14, 2013

Messages

25,946

Reaction score

18,651

Location

Northampton

• Aug 30, 2017

• #4

12mm conduit never seen that size before Chris

 

Pete999

-

Arms

Joined

Mar 14, 2013

Messages

25,946

Reaction score

18,651

Location

Northampton

• Aug 30, 2017

• #5

chris day said:

hello guys

I need to put some plastic switches on some switch drops with no Earth and replace the backboxes.
The plan is all class 2 fittings and plastic switches

I have been told these old 12mm conduits and backbones are made of nickel and my multi tool won't cut them, i suspect they had wood blades as they can't be that hard to cut.

Has anyone tackled a similar job with any advice?

View attachment 37982

Click to expand...

Cant see any fixing lugs

 

andyb

-

Arms

Joined

Nov 28, 2008

Messages

1,703

Reaction score

1,248

Location

West Sussex

• Aug 30, 2017

• #6

Pete999 said:

Cant see any fixing lugs

Click to expand...

Looks like two holes have been drilled and threaded to 3.5mm

 

Pete999

-

Arms

Joined

Mar 14, 2013

Messages

25,946

Reaction score

18,651

Location

Northampton

• Aug 30, 2017

• #7

andyb said:

Looks like two holes have been drilled and threaded to 3.5mm

Click to expand...

Innovative.

 

westward10

Staff member

Admin

Esteemed

Supporter

Joined

Jul 15, 2016

Messages

22,242

Reaction score

28,384

Location

Northamptonshire

• Aug 30, 2017

• #8

It is probably 5/8 conduit and Rob is probably correct, that is the cpc unless it has been butchered.

 

westward10

Staff member

Admin

Esteemed

Supporter

Joined

Jul 15, 2016

Messages

22,242

Reaction score

28,384

Location

Northamptonshire

• Aug 30, 2017

• #9

Pete999 said:

Cant see any fixing lugs

Click to expand...

I suspect there is one in each corner behind the plaster, they probably date back to the 1950s.

 

snowhead

-

Mentor

Arms

V.Nearly Esteemed

Joined

Jan 4, 2012

Messages

5,742

Reaction score

6,131

Location

Mildlands

• Aug 30, 2017

• #10

They've got round internal corners.
They look like maleable cast, the same as steel conduit boxes.

 

telectrix

-

Mentor

Nearly Esteemed

Arms

Joined

Sep 5, 2010

Messages

73,534

Reaction score

71,830

Location

cheshire/staffordshire

• Aug 30, 2017

• #11

scrape a bit of the box down to bright metal. then get Tester and a wander lead from MET to box. check resistance.

 

Rocboni

-

Joined

Jul 31, 2016

Messages

360

Reaction score

204

Location

Scotland

• Aug 30, 2017

• #12

Yep, boxes look like cast to me. They will split with a cold chisel.

 

Pete999

-

Arms

Joined

Mar 14, 2013

Messages

25,946

Reaction score

18,651

Location

Northampton

• Aug 30, 2017

• #13

Rocboni said:

Yep, boxes look like cast to me. They will split with a cold chisel.

Click to expand...

Not if you heat the chisel up a bit? Sorry it's the mischief in me

 

OP

C

chris day

-

Joined

Dec 24, 2016

Messages

404

Reaction score

82

Location

london

• Aug 30, 2017

• #14

Rocboni said:

Yep, boxes look like cast to me. They will split with a cold chisel.

Click to expand...

Yes they are cast like conduit boxes

 

OP

C

chris day

-

Joined

Dec 24, 2016

Messages

404

Reaction score

82

Location

london

• Aug 30, 2017

• #15

The DB has been changed last year so the MECH Earth to conduit is no longer existent.

What class 2 pendants would be complaint with no earth?