Rewirable fuses and the old wylex boards

[ackbarthestar]

Sorry Edd, I must have missed your point could you just run over it again?

 

[Engineer54]

One point about these old Wylex CU's that hasn't been mentioned, a good few of these CU's were either installed new, with HRC cartridge fuse or converted to them!! This was long before the first push button MCB became available. Can't imagine anyone calling a CU with such fuses, Dangerous?? Probably better protected than with either of the two later MBC conversions, both were to be honest Rubbish, if not dammed expensive!!

 

[Edd]

Given up

 

[ipf]

Now someone has actully agreed with what I was saying. I wonder if the people who were arguing and disagreeing with me have now desided maybe I was right and they were wrong!!
I mean I tryed to make myself clear throughout all the posts, with picture links, regs etc.. did I really make no sence and you all completely misunderstood me.. Have I still got it wrong and the others like me have got it wrong as well???
really I like this forum and If Im screwing up with such a basic thing like exposed conductive parts and the regs I may not bother anymore..

You'll always get misunderstandings and differences of opinion.
Are you screwing up ? Chill out man:rockon:

 

[baldsparkies]

I think there may be more misunderstandings regarding the safety aspects.
I for one AM NOT saying a correctly loaded Wylex board, used properly, and fused accordingly, is unsafe.
I AM saying the modern boards as described in earlier posts is a much safer option.
If they were not, then they would never have superseded the older wylex board in the first place.
Its so much easier for joe public to turn on an mcb when a lamp blows rather than fiddle with a bit of fuse wire.
Torch under armpit, oh! hang on a minute, I will use this one its not much thicker !! ect ect.
I truly feel the general public are safer served with modern consumer units.
There are so many homes with J/Bs under the floorboards that under overload conditions, and with poor connections can create heat spots that old rewirables will allow to turn into something quite nasty. MCBs with there closer protection often pop out before things become to serious. There not foolproof but I fail to see how anyone can say there not better ??
That seems like a sensible enough opinion, and one that I know is shared amongst many sparkies.
Just ask them.
Sadly I dont think I am going to change opinions on this.
But I respect your views and will have to agree to disagree with you on this one.
Mind you, if the regs changed to outlaw rewirable boards in the future, would you bother to question it ??
Stranger things have happened in our industry, lol.

 

[Des 56]

I think after reading this thread that the conclusion to this debate has to be very simple and could have been apparent at the outset

Wylex fuse boards were the bees knees for decades,they were the ultimate in design and available material and technology
There is no way that such a first class piece of equipment can suddenly become something necessary to change willy nilly

Since the advent of plastic enclosures and mcbs, fully insulated boards with much greater scope for design of circuits and space for the extra cabling nowadays installed makes it a no brainer for comparison

It is also a no brainer to condemn wylex fuse boards just because they exist
Damage or missing parts are as applicable to both new or ancient equipment

The one achiles heel of a fuse board is the possibility of incorrect fuse wire replacement,but its a little off putting for me when I hear people mutter those scammers words. because its outdated its dangerous,it needs changing,well does it,Really?

 

[Edd]

I give up

 

[Deleted member 9648]

52 posts summed up in post no 51.arty:

 

[baldsparkies]

Des I like your post.
Its very well put, and proves its not what you say, but the way you say it.
You like em, as does a number of regulars on this forum.
In that big wide world outside this forum, you will find plenty of good sparks who dislike them for various reasons and because of various experiances.
I like to see advances in technology, that enable consumers to operate electrical appliances within there homes without the risk of fatal electric shocks.
A modern dual rcd consumer unit goes a long way in providing that level of protection.
I have seen cables blown apart under fault conditions, even though the rewirable fuse has melted. That may have been accepted in the 60s and 70s.
But not nowadays.
In summing up, I like your post.
But in its entirety, cannot agree with all thats said.
Respect your opinions though, and it would be a boring world if we all thought the same.

 

[Engineer54]

Do i disagree with you on giving a Wylex fuse board a code 1 when the fuse cover is missing??

Yes!!!

Do i disagree that all these Wylex CU's should be changed because they are dangerous??

YES!!


Do i agree that these Wylex boards don't and can't offer the same protection as a modern CU and should be advised to upgrade/replace them ??

YES!!


Can't see where i have changed my mind on what i've previously stated here on this thread to be honest with you... I'm also not one to state anything i don't believe in either. I certainly don't buckle, as you put it, when one or many don't agree with me!!!

To be honest, i'm not really sure what your aiming at here, are you looking for some sort of praise or something??

 

[baldsparkies]

So did Engineer54 and specialist and others read all my posts wrong?
or did they disagree with me but now changed their mind?
did they make a mistake and now realise it?
Do they still disagree with me and now others?
are they man enougth to admit they were wrong, or am I and now others still wrong?


Ive replyed as best I could to all posts and defended my position with reasons and regs...
this forum is so good, but If you have to fight so hard to get a point across, and get flamed and shot down in bits.. then sudenley when someone else agrees with you, all you see is the tumble weed when the flamers go quite,, it does make yer think!!!

Edd,
The great thing about forums such as this, is the ability to voice our thoughts and opinions.
Frankly the area we are discussing is far from black and white, and peoples opinions will differ. J
ust enjoy a good debate, respect other peoples opinions, as I know they respect yours.
And please dont beat yourself up over it. Stay safe my friend.

 

[Engineer54]

My whole agument from start to finish was that with the fuse cover missing there are exposed live parts. ive said theres nothing wrong with the boards and will give decades of service, but a board under the stairs with the fuse cover missing should be classed as dangrous... then people like you kept putting words into my mouth.. please quote me... and as for prase no i dont care about that crap, I just hate people saying stupid dangrous things.

You seem to have some sort of chip on your shoulder,... Tough!!!

The post you quoted, ....was what ''I'' had stated on this thread ...NOT you!! In other words confirming what i had basically said!!!

It's You putting words in my mouth here, rather than me putting them in yours!!

 

[Edd]

I can now see why you say that but you had dissagreed with almost every post i had wrote, so just asumed.. sry about that, I made a mistake...

Im given up, There really is a few penis's on the forum but that is mostly over shadowed by some really Inteligent people
im throwing my regs book on the fire,, and the NIC can go stick it where the sun dont shine .

 

[Engineer54]

I can now see why you say that but you had dissagreed with almost every post i had wrote, so just asumed.. sry about that, I made a mistake...

Im given up, There really is a few penis's on the forum but that is mostly over shadowed by some really Inteligent people
im throwing my regs book on the fire,, and the NIC can go stick it where the sun dont shine .

We all make mistakes at times, i often misread posts myself, ...i just have to blame age creeping up on me, while i'm not looking!! lol!!!

 

[CrazyScozzese]

So, in summary, old Wylex boards were top notch, and some still are functioning perfectly suitable for the environment they are in.
Some however, are damaged and require replacement parts if available.
Some are damaged/dangerous if handled incorrectly, and may be beyond repair, so need to be replaced.
Some are no longer suitable for the environment they are employed in, and depending upon their condition, require to be replaced or have new kit fitted beside them to share the burden.
Some are no longer loved by the user and need to be dumped for a younger model with better looks and more features.
Some people don't care, don't understand, don't want to know, can't afford to change, only think about it when it is faulty, and/or only want it to go away and be made better so they can watch Rogue Traders/Cowboy Builders in 10 mins.

Now if we all keep getting LED TVs, LED lights, low power appliances, log burners, lower power PCs, efficient heating and cooking, maybe the trend for power will turn a corner and we can stop worrying about capacity...

I forgot about instant h showers. oops. And electric cars that we will need to charge.