More Old Regs Stuff

[securespark]

Been trawling online bookshops for old regs and guides again, sad old git that I am.

My latest is this:

It's the September 1976 Metric edition.


Ever wondered where the inspiration for Appx. 15 came from?

Four things immediately slap me in the face here:

1. You could use a 15A CB instead of an FCU.

2. Three sockets on a non fused spur. In my early copy of the 14th, you could have two single sockets or one double or one stationary appliance. Maybe the Metric 14th was changed? Can anyone with a Metric 14th tell me what A40 says?

3. Recommended fusing for plugs is at 3 or 13A, which is what is recommended now.

4. Mention of CCA cable. As late as 1976.

Changes to the definition of LV in April 1976

 

[ericmark]

Had some old books from father-in-law, but got lost in the move. Seem to remember the guides to the IEE regulations were actually done by the Union.

Also, the early regulations books had a lot of the guidance included in the books. I remember the knife switches on the Queensferry bridge, (Wales not Scotland) and I wonder when they were outlawed. It was built between 1925 and 1927 to replace an earlier bridge, which had sections which rolled out, and it seems they did not meet very well, so the bus would stop one end, all passengers would alight and walk with the bus across the bridge, and my grandmother thought it was daft, as weight on bridge not reduced. Maybe the bus could not get over the miss alignment with passengers on it?

But the point is not really that long ago, and it had knife switches.

 

[JohnW2]

I thing that this has been posted on previous pages - what is sometimes described as the "1st edition of Wiring Regs" (all 4 pages of it), dated 1883. It makes quite fascinating reading ...

 

[securespark]

Yea, I have that. I did post it here somewhere but couldn't find it.

If you read the whole of the "1st Edition", you can see that some of the rules are recognisable in today's regs.

 

[JohnW2]

Yea, I have that. I did post it here somewhere but couldn't find it.

I suspected that - and it must be the reason I have it!

If you read the whole of the "1st Edition", you can see that some of the rules are recognisable in today's regs.

True - but I suppose that's understandable in view of the fact that Physics hasn't changed.

On the other hand, attitudes to 'risk' have certainly changed a lot Feeling how hot a cable gets to determine whether it is of an appropriate size is an 'interesting' technique

 

[securespark]

My boss used to do that to find out which circuits were in use!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Somewhere, I have/or had, a practical electrical book dating for the early days, which explained how to set out the timber cap and casing.

 

[securespark]

Nice!

I have seen quite a bit of that in my day (still in use at the time), but not for a while.

 

[flameport]

what is sometimes described as the "1st edition of Wiring Regs" (

That April 1883 item is an amendment or slightly altered version of the 1st edition. Only ever published in the IEE Journal, not as a separate document.

1st edition dated June 1882.

 

[ericmark]

Just a tad before my time. It is however interesting, thanks.

 

[JohnW2]

That April 1883 item is an amendment or slightly altered version of the 1st edition. Only ever published in the IEE Journal, not as a separate document. ... 1st edition dated June 1882.

Many thanks.

I think one of the most interesting questions is how the rate ("per electrical installation") of injuries, deaths and fires due to electricity in the days of regs of the 1880s compares with what we see today.

If such a comparison could be made (probably essentially impossible), I suspect than many people would be very surprised by the answer!

 

[333rocky333]

I mentioned an mcb used as a fcu years ago, during a discussion on here regarding what accessories are allowed on a ring and noone believed me, i'm not sure when it got deleted as i was at college early 80s.
This reg would likely have allowed 16a commando sockets off the ring which may have been beneficial
 

 

[JohnW2]

I mentioned an mcb used as a fcu years ago, during a discussion on here regarding what accessories are allowed on a ring and noone believed me, i'm not sure when it got deleted as i was at college early 80s. This reg would likely have allowed 16a commando sockets off the ring which may have been beneficial

I suspect that it's purely by 'oversight' that the reg permitting ring finals has never been updated to allow such circuits to supply things other than "accessories to BS 1363". Don't forget that that reg was born long before MCBs (and probably 'commando sockets) came into being. Maybe something for us to mention during the consultation for the next edition of the regs?

The '16 A commando socket' might, however, raise other issues if connected to a 30/32 A circuit, since it has no fuse

As far as I am aware that (strictly speaking) restriction only applies to ring finals -i.e. the regs would be happy with an MCB being 'used as an FCU' on a radial circuit.

 

[SUNRAY]

I mentioned an mcb used as a fcu years ago, during a discussion on here regarding what accessories are allowed on a ring and noone believed me, i'm not sure when it got deleted as i was at college early 80s.

I have also made similar comments on here as I'm totally convinced it was in the regs, I've certainly fitted a few 16A+RCD in an enclosure for external circuits off a ring

This reg would likely have allowed 16a commando sockets off the ring which may have been beneficial 

Not permitted as they have no shutters, allegedly even the interlocked don't qualify

 

[pete01]

Two single sockets spurred from a ring that used to be allowed...didn't it?

Not sure why I wouldn't be allowed as it makes sense

What edition did that change?