Main Isolator mounted sideways, ok?

[garethpa]

Hi,
Just moved into a property and it has a Wylex REC2S DP Isolator mounted horizontally on the board. Obviously it does its job, but does this contravene any regs, or simply bad practice?

Cheers,
Gareth.

 

[acat]

IMO bad practice closest I can find is 537.2 page 119 which deals with being clearly marked and not subject to being unintentionally switched.

Hope that helps


Chris

 

[DurhamSparky]

was it a tight squeeze!!!

as long as the Enclosure is Fully compliant with IP Ratings then i see no problem with it been sideways!!

not good or bad practice just unusual! not as if the electricity is going to fall out (hopefully)

in regards to chris's post yes that may be a problem but to switch on of the bloody things off requires little more than a simple tap! (unless u use a hammer) just pay attention to the RED/GREEN indicator tabs and teh On / OFF printing on switch

 

[garethpa]

Cheers guys,
It all looks secure, no exposed conductors etc, just looks unusual.
It looks like it was done to keep the tail length to a minimum.
We have from left to right - Meter, Incomer, Consumer unit. Mounted sideways it fits just under the incomer.

Gareth.

 

[DurhamSparky]

happy days

 

[AEC]

The switching action should be vertical.

Bad practise to mount horizontally.

 

[Steve D]

As long as the side of the enclosure (now the top) is IP4X for a horizontal top surface, I can't really see a problem

 

[garethpa]

that was the only bit that was puzzling me - the sideways switching, but then distribution boards have sideways mounted breakers, don't they?

 

[Phil]

that was the only bit that was puzzling me - the sideways switching, but then distribution boards have sideways mounted breakers, don't they?

true enough

 

[gaffer]

The way the switch is mounted has no effect on the operation of the switch.Many of the major manufacturers supply US and Australian markets with the same products.The US use dis boards where MCBs and the main switch are side ways mounted,also in Australia and some Eastern european countries.

 

[garethpa]

this may, or may not be interesting for you whatever your disposition.

Can anyone id the age of this cut out?


And here it is with the broken & insulation taped up cover removed:


Expecting to find a fuse holder and actually seeing this behind the cover brought me out in a cold sweat, lol.

To me it looks like a cast iron dual fused system that has had the fuse holders removed to 'convert' it to live only fusing with a bit of wire wrapped around the posts. So, are we talking 1920's/30's ish??

Needless to say, I've got WPD coming to replace this next week, lol

Gareth.

 

[DurhamSparky]

looks like some thing from the work shop Frankenstien was made in!

yes very very very old! would be a bit twitchy having that in my property nowadays! but then again its lasted so long its probably fine

good call getting it replaced

 

[AEC]

The way the switch is mounted has no effect on the operation of the switch.Many of the major manufacturers supply US and Australian markets with the same products.The US use dis boards where MCBs and the main switch are side ways mounted,also in Australia and some Eastern european countries.

Maybe you have just agreed with me. Its all about design. If it meant to be sideways then fine. for your info. 3 phase boards here , the breakers are mounted horizontally too.

The original question was about a switch designed and specified to be fitted veltically was not fitted that way. If it was fitted at 45 degree angle would that be ok?