Dangerous Intake and fusebox in a North London Flat.

[kai]

OLD_ELECTRICS_INTAKE_LONDON_FLATS

• kai
• 21 Feb 2016
• 1

WYLEX_ELECTRICS_REWIREABLE_FUSEBOX

• kai
• 21 Feb 2016

This is what I call a dangerous installation, the intake arrives at the front hall, in the form of a TNS 3 phase supply, That cut-out header only has solid copper links in it, the measured PFC comes to 46kA, which is about the average for every property in that North London street. The old supply feeder comes straight off an 400amp fused supply at the substation next door.

There are no switchfuses in the tails or indeed anywhere in the supply feed.

The rewireable consumer unit is situated inside the upstairs flat.

What do you think will happen if a 22kA fault developed? - The place will probably go up in flames, as the breaking capacity of a rewireable is only 1kA, far short of the supply 46kA PSCC.

It looks like a classic case for a full strip out and re-wire, in order to make it safe.

 

[RF Lighting]

Nothing wrong with it. There's a bs88 in the supply so all is as it should be, and the same set up that served every house throughout the land up until 30 years ago.

 

[chivers67]

What's going on with those floating choc blocks? and that cable that snakes bottom left to top rightish?

Read more: //www.diynot.com/diy/media/old_electrics_intake_london_flats.97145/#ixzz40pLU3tLi

 

[Iggifer]

What's going on with those floating choc blocks? and that cable that snakes bottom left to top rightish?

I think both of your questions actually relate to the same thing. The connector blocks appear to be connected to bell wire, and the top right to bottom left cable is feeding that doorbell transformer under that bottom meter.

 

[kai]

It appears that the installation has had poor DIY additions carried out to it over the years.

 

[PBC_1966]

That cut-out header only has solid copper links in it

Are you sure? That would be rather unusual, to say the least.

Obviously there's some tidying up needed here and here, and a blanking plate needed on that Wylex Standard board, but otherwise I'm not seeing anything which really suggests that it needs a "strip out and rewire in order to make it safe." (Although obviously there could be problems we can't see.)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

obviously there could be problems we can't see.

Kai does seem to be a bit of an expert in seeing problems which other people cannot.

 

[JohnW2]

That cut-out header only has solid copper links in it

Are you sure? That would be rather unusual, to say the least.

True, but it would also be unusual having fuses in the "cutout head" feeding straight into (what appear to be) BS88 fuse carriers (probably with fuses) a couple of inches away, wouldn't it?

Kind Regards, John

 

[PBC_1966]

I thought he was saying that it's those fuse carriers which are fitted with solid links instead of fuses. If not, then what's the problem?

 

[JohnW2]

I thought he was saying that it's those fuse carriers which are fitted with solid links instead of fuses. If not, then what's the problem?

I thought he was saying that the three fuse thingys attached to the top of the cutout had solid links - which, as I said, would make sense given the separate fuse carriers.

If I'm right, then, as you say, I can't see what the alleged problems is. Each phase is fused, very close to the cutout, simply not in the precise place 'originally intended'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[PBC_1966]

Oh dear, I think I had my monitor brightness turned way down and only just realized we're talking about those fuse carriers immediately below the trunking which had disappeared into the blackness when I looked before.

So yes, a little bit unusual, but realistically, so long as one set of carriers contains appropriate fuses, not really an issue that I see.

 

[JohnW2]

Oh dear, I think I had my monitor brightness turned way down and only just realized we're talking about those fuse carriers immediately below the trunking which had disappeared into the blackness when I looked before.

Them's the ones (at least, the one's I've been talking about!)

So yes, a little bit unusual, but realistically, so long as one set of carriers contains appropriate fuses, not really an issue that I see.

Quite so. Maybe kai didn't see those fuse carries, either??

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

Or maybe he just doesn't have a clue what he's on about.

 

[kai]

Oops, Now I realise that those black "Henley blocks" are in fact fuse holders! - That makes more sense now - just a really unusual way of doing things these days.

 

[JohnW2]

Oops, Now I realise that those black "Henley blocks" are in fact fuse holders! - That makes more sense now ...

Quite so.

- just a really unusual way of doing things these days.

I suspect it arose because DNO staff were not prepared (or allowed) to routinely go anywhere near those seemingly metal fuse carries at the top of the supply head - so (by some process!) they installed the external plastic fuse holders, and replaced the fuses in the original holders with solid links.

Presumably 'in due course' (don't hold your breath!) the entire cutout will be replaced - but again, assuming that someone is prepared/allowed to touch the present one - it might require an external disconnection of the supply. It's on occasions like this that I miss westie - who I'm sure would have had something to say about this.

Kind Regards, John