Modern MK RCBOs in old (1986 vintage) Sentry Consumer Unit
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The main switch appears to be an RCCB (which is an RCD). There is another RCD top left doing something too.
The time clock is a disaster area, because it appears the live terminals are exposed.
The consumer unit is in a convenient place, so JUST REPLACE THE WHOLE LOT.
The time clock is a disaster area, because it appears the live terminals are exposed.
The consumer unit is in a convenient place, so JUST REPLACE THE WHOLE LOT.
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It appears that there might be no main switch (unless its out of frame).
It took me a moment, but it looks like the supply to the top section (lights and shower) is via a set of tails straight of the henleys, while the supply to the bottom section (rings, power, cooker) runs via that RCD (which appears to be 100ma), the circuit then feeding outside power is run via an RCD thats been put on the right hand side of the top section.
OP, theres only 10 actual circuits there and the existing is a bit of a butchered mess, its got to go, other than having the timeclock in there and being on two rows there is not anything particualy unique about the situation, looks like you could fit a 20 way singe row board there easily once that RCD comes out. Timeclock can go in a separate enclosure bushed to board
Not worth doing anything else, you could probably give the old one to @flameport for his virtual musuem!
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As you say, the 'Main Switch' appears to be the thing which the OP is calling the "external isolator", which is actually an RCD. My undressing from what the OP has told us is that the RCD at the top right is feeding all of the circuits in the bottom half of the CU. As you are perhaps implying, it could be essentially redundant, but I can't see thee external one clearly enough to ascertain its characteristics (it might not be a 30mA one).
Kind Regards, John
Yes, it's certainly been messed about with, and needs a good looking at to see what is going on there.
And clearly some kind of incompetent goon fitted the time clock, by butchering the front of the consumer unit to accommodate it, which left the live terminals exposed for anyone to touch.
And clearly some kind of incompetent goon fitted the time clock, by butchering the front of the consumer unit to accommodate it, which left the live terminals exposed for anyone to touch.
That stuff I believe was made by Siemens.
Solution may be to put any make Rcds in a seperate enclosure, butted up to the consumer unit.
Solution may be to put any make Rcds in a seperate enclosure, butted up to the consumer unit.
Yes, now I've bothered to magnify it, you're right - 100mA, and also TD. The one in the CU (which I think is protecting the lower row of circuits) appears to be 30mA, so is not 'redundant'.
Kind Regards, John
Last inspected 1987 - it's decades overdue for an inspection and should have been replaced some time ago.
Attempting to shoehorn modern items into that will end in failure.
It's already scrap because of the live exposed terminals where the cover has been destroyed to fit the timer.
Replace with an 18 way main switch consumer unit with surge protection, 10 RCBOs and 8 blanks from any of the reputable brands. You don't need a double stacked unit.
That separate RCD would also be removed.
Attempting to shoehorn modern items into that will end in failure.
It's already scrap because of the live exposed terminals where the cover has been destroyed to fit the timer.
Replace with an 18 way main switch consumer unit with surge protection, 10 RCBOs and 8 blanks from any of the reputable brands. You don't need a double stacked unit.
That separate RCD would also be removed.
It may have been, but based on the general crapness of it all, I think complete replacement by someone who knows what they are doing may be the answer.
Hopefully the time clock can be salvaged, and put in a separate enclosure.
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