old installation, only 1 set of cables.

[poirot]

Are you replacing the switches with metal or plastic fittings? Just because the fuses havent blown does not mean that the installation is safe. It is recommended that an installation is tested every 10yrs. If there is a fault on a metal fitting it could become live and with no earths it may not be found untill it is touched.

 

[tonys]

good job we did get up to things or the younger generation would not exist

you ain't one of those baby boomer

 

[IQ Electrical]

I'll bet the Bill Switchgear fusebox has asbestos flashguards too!

Is this post a wind-up?

 

[telectrix]

you ain't one of those baby boomer

yep. daddy came back from the war.............

 

[telectrix]

jeez, that switchgear is nearly as old as me! car boot? more like gipsy horse fair

 

[Spudnik]

That old grey Bill CU will have asbestos flash guards and really should be replaced.

Also, the main switches also have a habit of snapping off when you go to isolate the installation, and it usually snaps in the closed position.

 

[IQ Electrical]

You got some good advice in the below post too, I mentioned IR values too!

http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...fusebox-cu-black-pitch-tar-service-cable.html

 

[tonys]

Nice little rewire for a part p spark

 

[rabu]

well PVC insulation, not rubber. also, if things were faulty (say in terminal connections) this would blow fuse? all fitting old and new are plastic. "average safe working life of between 20 and 40 years!" so every 20 years people need rewires? "seems ok" well apart from insulation still intack, better than being dust and dropping off. only half the wiring is origional, as it was a bungalow so in mid - late 70s dormers were build meaning upstairs isnt as old and is done in 2.5mm T&E. also a mate (semi retired spark) whos not seen instalation yet has said is should be ok, proving its PVC cable and nothing buring or getting hot or fuses blowing, indicating faults. but thanks again to the people who shed the light on the wiring issues.

 

[poirot]

It a bit worrying that theres been additions i.e. extra sockets and you are not sure if it is a radial or a ring main. Has the fuses been checked to make sure they are the correct size, or is there a nail instead. I have found fuses with 2.5mm copper rather than the correct sized fuse wire. Certainly stops the nuisance tripping ( fuse blowing ).

 

[IQ Electrical]

My apologies, I didn't realise "nothing was burning or getting hot"

Amazing, do you have kids in there?

 

[telectrix]

best thing is get your semi retired mate to give it a once over. do a PIR for you. then you can be more confident. really do reckon that antique switchgear has to go though, even though it's nice and shiny. OH!, and there's some funny little gadgets available now called Residual Current Devices.

 

[tonys]

Yep 2.5mm T+E with 1.0mm cpc? zs reading at each socket, main bonding to the water and gas? metal switch back boxes and metal screws? under sized tails? undersized earth?

 

[rabu]

i didnt do the additions, people who did the dormers got a spark to add the upstairs electrics. To be honest, if something was really wrong, surley the fuse wire (which is wire not a nail) would blow? also since most of it is old as in 1965-1975 if anything was really wrong or faulty wouldnt this have cause problems befour now? fuses are right size wire. also no kids in house.

 

[mickytuff]

hopefully not............