1960;s house wiring

[5544]

doing an inspection of a small 1960;s house which has been tampered with, added, fiddled and basically shows no real resemblance to what it would have looked like when it was first done. but still exisiting earthing and fuse board. Both lighting live cables are in one fuseway. both circuit live cables going into second fuse way.
immesion heater in a separate cartridge fuse fuseway separate to this fuse board,, then two storage heaters wired into two further separate fuseways. a great deal of dead cables floating around.
The whole thing is a shambles.
Q. I would have assumed the lighting to be on two separate radial circuits in a house this size. but since i have resistance figures which indicate a ring, is there any reason why they would have wired it like that, or has someone cross connected both. the lighting looks original. (no investigation done yet)
Q since the socket cables are 4mm multi thread i would assume that this would again normally be two separate radials, but again in same fuseway. I Have not checked resistance readings yet, but same question As per lighting.

since it is a friend house but he is hoping to rent it out, i was going to suggest changing the consummer unit for a larger one and brinding everything together and give extra safety, but fear i will be opening up pandora,s box.

 

[alectrician 1]

could i suggest a rewire

 

[PC Electrics]

Q since the socket cables are 4mm multi thread i would assume that this would again normally be two separate radials, but again in same fuseway. I Have not checked resistance readings yet, but same question As per lighting.

I'm guessing you haven't come across imperial cables before? It's probably 7/029 (actual csa = 3.0mm), ccc rating 31A.

 

[5544]

thanks for that. my issue is that i would be suprised if the whole house was placed on a single ring main from its original wiring and would expect it to have been two radials. which gives me a problem. the customer does the usual, of completely redecorrating the house, and i mean completely. they then ask me to check the electrics with the view of renting it out. apart from the multitude of fuse boards which i have now made sense of, i am cocnerend with the issue of being able to do any remidial work to trace wiring issues. my main one at the moment being circuit separation for lights and sockets.
the other issues are- standard wall mounted fan heater on the wall in the bathroom without the correct IP code, no thermostatic cut out on the immersion heater, no hard wired smoke detectors, and somwhere along the line a shared neutral between the lighting and the sockets. ( i did a quick test on the sockets and found that one out.) from looking at the insulation readings to earth the wiring seems to be in good order apart from the above. i stopped once i realised what was going on as the job is turning out to be 'getting it ready to pass a periodic instead of doing one'

 

[malcolmsanford]

thanks for that. my issue is that i would be suprised if the whole house was placed on a single ring main from its original wiring and would expect it to have been two radials. which gives me a problem. the customer does the usual, of completely redecorrating the house, and i mean completely. they then ask me to check the electrics with the view of renting it out. apart from the multitude of fuse boards which i have now made sense of, i am cocnerend with the issue of being able to do any remidial work to trace wiring issues. my main one at the moment being circuit separation for lights and sockets.​ To be honest then don't worry about the division of the installation. The regs can not be retrospective and it even tells us that in the very beginning of the book. Remember in the 1960s there were very little electrical appliances available for use perhaps a television, a radiogram and a few bits and bobs, so you were lucky to get more than a double socket in one corner and perhaps a single in another. Thel ighting I would have expected 2 circuits, but not surprised there isn't

the other issues are- standard wall mounted fan heater on the wall in the bathroom without the correct IP code,If there is central heating installed now I would recommend them removing that or at least replacing for a modern one that conforms.If not then I would code it on a PIR definitely a 4 for the environment or a 2 if actual water can damage it

no thermostatic cut out on the immersion heater, Again I would recommend replacing this which is not that cost prohibitive. If the cold water tank is plastic then a code 2 if not then definitely a 4

no hard wired smoke detectors,This is not a requirement of the BS 7671, but could be one of the local building control demands if he wishes to rent it out. Again it's not that too expensive and he should be made aware of his care of duty and fit regardless.

and somwhere along the line a shared neutral between the lighting and the sockets. ( i did a quick test on the sockets and found that one out.) That for me would be a code 2 and does really need sorting out and could be the biggest problem with disruption from looking at the insulation readings to earth the wiring seems to be in good order apart from the above. i stopped once i realised what was going on as the job is turning out to be 'getting it ready to pass a periodic instead of doing one'

See above .........................bottom line is unless he is renting through an agent that insist that properties have RCD protection, then he does not need to fit them. You will have to make sure that you achieve ADS on the protection devices. Personally I would change the board to RCBOs as it is leaving the installation in a better and safer condition, and it would overcome some of the division issues.

Did that lighting circuit have a CPC if yes make sure they have not been snipped off at the fittings/switches

 

[5544]

I have to say, i use the gas forum and this forum alot. your reply was of real value, and logical. i would like to thank you for putting it in such a clear way. I am confident with modern wiring but older systems make me feel like i should check all the time.
really appreciate it.:hurray: