Reconnecting old wiring.

[hydeselec]

Hi all,

I am looking at a potential job at the moment it is a barn conversion on a farm, All the mains boards are in the barn at the moment that supply the farm house.

Some of the wiring is the old cotton wound cables into the old MEM fuse boards with porcelain fuses. These obviously need moving ....

Do i...

A. move and reconnect in old board ?
B. Tell them they need the farm house re wiring?
C. Reconnect in a new board ?

Any other suggestions welcome ...........:santa3:​

 

[RISElectrical]

My point was that if the op is installing a new cu, and the new cu is up to current regs, including the supply tails etc then he wouldn't have direct responsibility for other areas of the installation. However if he moves, connects into, adapts or alters the original installation then if it is unsafe or needs upgrading this would have to be also up to standard.

In no way way I saying that any of what the op suggested about moving the items would be ok and like I said I would probably walk away if the client wouldn't agree to my design and upgrades that I recommended.

In simplified form, Remember your only giving a cert for the work you do. Like changing a cu only, so long as the cert states cu change only that's all your liable for.

 

[sedgy34]

"hydeselec"
Nice job to get but deffinately recomend rewire afterall its a refurb, and you need to comply to 17th edition

 

[GLENNSPARK]

if you start putting RCDs in here.....with old cable/s....well i dont need to go any further do i....

 

[sedgy34]

Ris
As you know before you change a consumer unit you should test all circuits and upgrade the equipotential earthing arrangements so you know if you introduce an rcd in the new db you wont have any faults to find, also all testing is to be done to all exhisting circuits this is when reccomentdations come into play and and exhisting cables in such state need to be renewed.

 

[RISElectrical]

Indeed but I was talking about if the OP installed a new board for his work, and didn't touch the other consumer units the he wouldn't be taking responsibility for them and could highlight that they required attention thus covering his arse so to speak. Your not telling me that in a multi consumer unit environment if you changed or added a board you'd test the whole installation?

 

[Guest111]

bit groggy last night, thought he was on about adding new wiring to board,definately have to replace old stuff or walk away if you were looking to connect in new circuits then as I said new board on its own but trying to do anything with the old stuff NO you could be leaving yourself wide open for a lot of grief.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

you test/verefy the work YOU DID.....thats the reason why we use add-on boards sometimes....but if you are replacing an old C/U for new....but utilising the existing wireing....then you really should ensure that the existing wireing being fed from the new C/U is still good for continued service....by both inspection and testing....as has been pointed out earlier in this thread....its old fabric covered cable....i wouldn`t even bother subjecting something that old to any continuity or dielectric tests......

 

[sedgy34]

No! only the board you replace and the circuits connected to it, these circuits You would be resonsible for. i think some how we went off the topic

 

[Octopus]

The best place to start would be an EICR for the entire installation.

That, or walk away.

 

[sedgy34]

that is correct

 

[Knobhead]

hydeselec, do you seriously think you can reroute cables that old without problems? If it’s VIR cable the rubber under the cotton will just crumble, then you’re stuck with bare conductors to sort out.
As for reusing the old boards I’m speechless. Replace the board and the chances of a RCD holding in with the old cables are remote to say the least.
If the boards are in the part of the property that has been sold are you proposing to move them in to the farmhouse? What happens to the service head and metering?
As to your responsibility, you altered it, it’s your baby.

I’m sorry but you need to take a reality check on this.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

hydeselec, do you seriously think you can reroute cables that old without problems? If it’s VIR cable the rubber under the cotton will just crumble, then you’re stuck with bare conductors to sort out.
As for reusing the old boards I’m speechless. Replace the board and the chances of a RCD holding in with the old cables are remote to say the least.
If the boards are in the part of the property that has been sold are you proposing to move them in to the farmhouse? What happens to the service head and metering?
As to your responsibility, you altered it, it’s your baby.

I’m sorry but you need to take a reality check on this.

this is what i have been getting at all along Tony....old knackered cable that i wouldn`t even waste time testing.....as its bound to fail a visual at some point along its length...and as for introducing an earth leakage device into this....lol....

 

[Des 56]

guitarist I am not really considering anything at this moment in time my thread is purely based on other people opinions on the matter

But hypothetically yes it is an option to unscrew the board and move it.

The boards in question need moving as it is in the location of the new dwelling and its what supplies a farm house. As they have sold the Barn to a client its going to be hard to say " hey i know you sold your barn but now you need your house rewiring!"

Isn't there a regulation stating you can "re-connect" old wiring with no earth so long as everything is Class 2 and labelled correctly ?

It is a tough situation because no matter who does the job they are going to have to do something with these old rewireable fuse boards........

There are times that we sparks have to be hard nosed so and sos

An alternative could be to make structural alteration so the boards change location without being moved if you get my drift

They just sold a barn off,and you are worried that they are too tight to consider making their electrics safe
If they value their safety above the size of their bamk account,they should jump at the chance of improvement

Why are you seemingly in a dilemma about trying to avoid the cost of maintenance of these peoples own equipment
Why didn't they resolve this problem before selling off the barn,did they think it reasonable to knock someone up at perhaps 2 in the morning to change a fuse

 

[Guitarist]

My experience of people who deal with barn conversions is that they have lots of money, but don't like to share it with "tradesmen".
I'm sure the exposed beams that cost the earth are splendid... Now tell them to get the wiring and boards replaced.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

its a case of explainin to em what may happen to their lovely timber roofed barn if theres a fire caused by dangerous electrical install........that should wake em up..lol....