Do I need to test an old wiring installation?

[KingKenny]

Hello again everyone - I've been asked to assess a small old house pending the possible (ok, probable) replacement of the old CCU.

I've attached a composite picture of the two boards currently in place at the site. The new Wylex to the right was installed about 8 years ago and has circuits for Heating (Dimplex storage heaters), smoke alarms and heat alarms and so on.

The older CCU is a MEM (I think) with 6 ways, 2 5A (only one used) and 4 15A (only 2 used). No RCD or ELCB. It has an (I think) 6mm-ish unsheahed earth conductor and twin neutral and live tails coming into the unit from the meter.

I've climbed up into the draughty old loft and traced all the cables and have confirmed there is a single lighting circuit and three radial circuits to socket outlets in three different rooms.

The wiring is sponsored by luck it seems - The lighting circuit and two of the radial circuits are all routed through "custom made" JB's smothered in insulating tape. None of the lighting circuits have earth conductors, 1 of the radial circuits has an earth connection at one outlet, but not at another. 1 of the others has an earth connection, the other does not. In short, it's a mess.

My question is - How do I go about testing this installation (or do I even NEED to - should I just recommend the client gets an isolating switch/meter fitted and get the house rewired asap?).

View attachment 18668

 

[ayjay]

attachments no good

 

[telectrix]

link won't work. from description.go for a rewire. JBs covered in tape= recipe for disaster. rewire the lot.

 

[Andy78]

I would quote them for a rewire.
As an option, I would also quote them for a DB swap with all the associated remedial work needed to satisfy you and your test sheets. I would point out the extent of this work and suggest that by the time it's all done they might as well be rewiring (by the sounds of things). Stress all the positive benefits a rewire would bring, and do some testing beforehand if they go for the cheap(ish) option.

 

[Kate]

Yes test before!!! When I'm asked to change DB I always stipulate that a preliminary test needs doing first, I usually have to quote and state this in the quotation along with saying that any faults found would incur extra costs.

 

[PEM]

I always test before. At least then your certification justifies what you say. Plus you have a starting point.

 

[KingKenny]

Thanks, as always, for everyone's replies - it's much appreciated.
I'll try and post the photo again - You'll just about see the unsheathed earth conductor to the old box behind the one to the new wylex.

In regard to testing - my question is what exactly I CAN test and record?

Ze, PFC, Continuity (between line conductors) and Insulation Resistance (live only, mostly), Polarity... - sure, I can get these. I can get and R1+R2 value from one of the radial circuits, but not from the lighting circuit.

I guess I'm being put off by the lack of obvious consistent earthing in the installation.... but now that I've listed what I CAN do (!), I guess there's quite a bit ...

Are the posters basically saying ... 'Look, test, record the results and basically use it as pretty clear evidence to suggest a rewire'?

KK

 

[chrish_1977]

As previous have said, you may want to test first , then you will have an idea what your dealing with, nothing worse than agreeing a price to do a board change then come back with loads if extras. You should test what you can and speak to the customer about all problems that arise

 

[lauriehurman]

TAKE THE SMOKE ALARMS OFF THE ECONOMY 7!

Sorry to shout but that's a 2 rate meter and you're saying that the smoke detectors are on the board with the storage heaters.

That's the most important issue at the moment.
Laurie

 

[Spoon]

Have to agree with Chrish. The customers don't understand why extra costs should be added after your quote. They will most probably think that you are trying to rip them off. If you test first then you know what you are letting yourself in for and you can quote accordingly.

 

[ED17]

I quoted a similar job a couple of months ago, the installation was a mess and the remedial work was almost as much a a rewire. Never heard back but found out that the woman had a "spark" change the consumer unit for £175 cash!

We can't win.

 

[KingKenny]

TAKE THE SMOKE ALARMS OFF THE ECONOMY 7!

Sorry to shout but that's a 2 rate meter and you're saying that the smoke detectors are on the board with the storage heaters.

That's the most important issue at the moment.
Laurie

Laurie - Thanks for this - I'll double check this for sure - I 'think' the client has only a single rate meter, not 2 (i.e. not economy 7 or 10), etc.. but I'll have a look at this, yes.

 

[monkeyelectric]

Always test before a cu change, i'm in the middle of an eicr at my mrs' old mans place and its a nightmare, the house is huge, lighting partly earthed by other circuits, class 1 brass fittings/switches everywhere, borrowed neutrals on 3 circuits. He said yesterday " how long do you think it will take to sort as i only wanted a new fusebox" , the place needs rewiring in my view but i don't think he'll go for that, it would have looked very bad if i'd quoted to change the cu's and then found all this after,bloody house stinks of dog **** too

 

[telectrix]

good luck with that one. relatives always expect it for nowt or a few quid beer money.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

link won't work. from description.go for a rewire. JBs covered in tape= recipe for disaster. rewire the lot.

yep....its all about what you cant see/verify as well....
sometimes its better to go for new throughout.....sometimes...