old fuse box

[EFLImpudence]

Why do you want a new consumer unit?

 

[flameport]

Yet the regulations would force you to excavate the entire wall to replace them causing huge amounts of dust and mess.

Entirely untrue.

If you get an EICR done it will list items which should be fixed.
You can ignore the whole lot if you want to.
However would seem rather pointless getting such a thing done if you intend to ignore all of it.

The risk of fire depends on what you're plugging in. A phone charger is not going to draw enough current to cause the wires in your walls to melt is it.

If the installation is designed and installed properly, nothing plugged in could cause any wires to melt.

All these safety regulations are not always proportionate.

No idea what 'regulations' you imagine apply here, or how you think they might be enforced.

Ultimately it's up to you to decide whether you want your electrical installation checked or not, and after that, whether you want a new consumer unit or not.

 

[Murdochcat]

A phone charger is not going to draw enough current to cause the wires in your walls to melt is it. About 50% of the sockets in my house arent even used at all in which case what risk of fire is there?

The only flames I’ve seen in our house came from the DC side of a phone charger !

Load isn’t the reason for faults or electrical fires - poor diy work, old installations and rodent damage are all triggers

Do you have any idea of how old the wiring is ? How old is the house ?

 

[akhil]

Why do you want a new consumer unit?

its building regulations. its not optional

 

[Murdochcat]

its building regulations. its not optional

Er - really ?

 

[Jurassicspark]

its building regulations. its not optional

Are you extending/adding any new circuits?

 

[akhil]

The only flames I’ve seen in our house came from the DC side of a phone charger !

Load isn’t the reason for faults or electrical fires - poor diy work, old installations and rodent damage are all triggers

Do you have any idea of how old the wiring is ? How old is the house ?

i think the house is about 60 years old?

 

[akhil]

Are you extending/adding any new circuits?

i added an external AC and this has opened up can of worms. Theyre saying it cant be plugged in to socket. But it cant be wired back to the fuse box since its too old. And they wont replace the fuse box without rewiring entire house. Its ridiculous

 

[akhil]

Er - really ?

thats my understanding. Its not easy to find out because different people say different things.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

they wont replace the fuse box without rewiring entire house

Maybe there is no need for it and they're trying to up-sell you unnecessarily. Or maybe the rest of the installation is decrepit and they think that as soon as they make any changes it's going to set off a cascade of other failures that you'll blame them for. I suggest you get a couple more quotes.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

But it cant be wired back to the fuse box since its too old. And they wont replace the fuse box without rewiring entire house. Its ridiculous

So, you tell 'em to add a separate small, new consumer unit, just for the a/c, and leave your 'fusebox' undisturbed..

 

[Murdochcat]

i think the house is about 60 years old?

If that’s the case and the wiring is original, then you should be saving up for a rewire and new CU

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If that’s the case and the wiring is original, then you should be saving up for a rewire and new CU

60 years, will mean PVC, and PVC which hasn't been abused has an indefinite lifetime, which suggests the OP might potentially get away with a bit of upgrading and a new CU. The OP's best bet, is an EICR, from a trustworthy individual.

 

[JohnD]

its building regulations. its not optional

No it isn't.

Who told you that, and why?

Are you doing some alterations? Are you turning it into a HMO?

 

[akhil]

No it isn't.

Who told you that, and why?

Are you doing some alterations? Are you turning it into a HMO?

so where does this rule that you cant plug a fixed appliance into the wall socket come from?