Old style Wylex fuse box and wiring

[mderoy]

Hey all,

I bought a house and it consists of a extension and the extension has a new small mini little consumer unit but the main house fuse box is the old wylex boxes where the fuses are with fuse wires that need replacing if they pop.

I’m no electrician but wanted advice from the electrician gurus about regs and stuff. Is it all good to keep that old unit in place for now? I’ve read mixed messages some people saying if it has that old box then means the wires are old too which apparently may be the older type wires that don’t have long life or something along those lines and some people were saying the fusebox needs replacing. And others were saying it can be kept as it is for now. If that’s the case at what point would i need to look at changing it? Just trying to plan ahead. Could temporarily the fuses be replaced out for those retrofit mcb type flick switches. Ive seen quite a lot of them around where you replace the actual fuse with a mcb style breaker on each fuse. Ofcourse I understand this isn’t going to be long term.

Also wants the rules in regards to getting electrical certificate to certify the electrics for piece of mind. And how often does it need doing?

Thanks

 

[AndyPRK]

usually best to get the CU changed before doing decoration or getting loads of furniture.

No point using plug in mcbs

Has it got an RCD and how many mA ?

Take a pic behind one of the light switches will give us a clue to age of wiring

 

[Murdochcat]

Those fuseboards were still being installed in the 1980’s

More importantly how old is your property?

 

[flameport]

Is it all good to keep that old unit in place for now?

Impossible to know without proper inspection and testing.

And others were saying it can be kept as it is for now.

If it's in good condition then you can keep it as long as you like - provided you don't want to add, extend or alter any existing circuits and you are entirely happy with having fuses that provide protection for the installation wiring only.
Probably quite safe 40+ years ago when every appliance was Class I and using items outside was pretty much unheard of.
Today perhaps not so much.

Could temporarily the fuses be replaced out for those retrofit mcb type flick switches.

Theoretically yes if you could find such things, but it would achieve nothing.
They existed as an option at the time the fusebox was installed, you could have rewireable fuses (cheapest), cartridge fuses (somewhat more expensive) or plug in circuit breakers (the most expensive).
None of them were intended as a retrofit or upgrade to anything.

the extension has a new small mini little consumer unit

Shoved in because those that had the extension were penny pinching scrooges who didn't want to pay to have the consumer unit replaced.
Who knows what other things they decided were not worth paying for.

Also wants the rules in regards to getting electrical certificate

If you intend to live in the property there are none. However only a fool would move in to an unknown building and not have the electrical installation properly inspected and tested. The same for any gas installation, plumbing, heating, changing the locks and the rest.

If you intend to rent the property then there are many things which have to be done, one of which is the electrical installation complying with the 18th edition of BS7671.
A rewireable fusebox from half a century ago will not comply with that.

 

[Murdochcat]

If you intend to rent the property then there are many things which have to be done, one of which is the electrical installation complying with the 18th edition of BS7671.

not sure I agree with the property having to comply with the 18th edition - it certainly needs to be inspected to and C3 codes are acceptable for many non compliance

A rewireable fusebox from half a century ago will not comply with that.

Questionable, but rewireable fuses with no RCD protection would be an issue

 

[Jurassicspark]

Questionable, but rewireable fuses with no RCD protection would be an issue

If it's a flat then most likely no RCD, code 3.
If it's liable to outside usage then it's a C2.

Some things have changed but a C2 on something that was permitted and wasn't a problem before is a bit harsh...

 

[EFLImpudence]

Some things have changed but a C2 on something that was permitted and wasn't a problem before is a bit harsh...

More than being a bit harsh; I would say it is illogical and wrong.

 

[flameport]

not sure I agree with the property having to comply with the 18th edition

You may not agree with it, but that is what the legislation states.

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

These Regulations impose duties on private landlords of residential premises in England in respect of electrical safety standards. The duties do not apply to landlords of social housing. The Regulations require local housing authorities to enforce the duties, and include a power to arrange...

www.legislation.gov.uk

 

[flameport]

Some things have changed but a C2 on something that was permitted and wasn't a problem before is a bit harsh...

How far back does this concept go?
10 years? 20? 50? 100?

What determines when 'the old ways are best' becomes unsafe?

 

[Deleted member 142255]

@mderoy you may find this article and documents of use. Keep in mind the possibility of asbestos in your current fuse box.

EICR Myths

electrical.theiet.org

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/0b5ifhuw/best-practice-guide-1-issue-5.pdf

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/mi1oqkur/best-practice-guide-4-issue-7-1.pdf

 

[ericmark]

As time has gone on, the electrical equipment we use, has changed, in 1966 the rules on earths to lights changed for example, but since the bit in the old rules which allowed no earths, stated the lamps must be filament type, even if installed before 1966, today the lights need earths to comply, and we no longer use tungsten bulbs.

It has been a requirement for years, to follow manufacturer's instructions, and I noted one boiler manufacturer stipulated using a type A RCD of 30 mA, odd since my boiler is the only item in the house not RCD protected.

But in real terms, forget the rules, it is your safety which is important. It took me around 6 months to get the old Wylex fuse box changing for an all RCBO consumer unit. The basic idea was that needs doing before other items are upgraded, as at some point, you will want something, which needs RCD protection.

The main problem I see, is in 2008 the rules on bonding were relaxed if, and only if, the bathroom is RCD protected. Today we see more and more plastic pipe being used, and it is hard to keep track of if when an item is fitted in a bathroom, is still bonded, plumbers have got use to the new regulations, so don't fit bonding which is only required when there is no RCD.

So at some point it will need changing, so needs to be on the to-do list.

 

[Taylortwocities]

As above. It sounds like you'll be doing all that new house stuff, like decorating it your way.
Before you buy even one matchpot, get the condition of the electric, and other services, checked. I have been to so many houses where the decoration is done, the engineered wood floors are all down and it all looks loverlee.
As an afterthought they decided that they should update that old fuseboard and a subesquent inspection says that a full rewire is needed.

Just saying...

 

[SUNRAY]

Those fuseboards were still being installed in the 1980’s

More importantly how old is your property?

1990's. I moved in where we are now in 1993 and upgraded to a wylex then added the plug in MCB's

 

[Murdochcat]

You may not agree with it, but that is what the legislation states.

View attachment 371498

View attachment 371499

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

These Regulations impose duties on private landlords of residential premises in England in respect of electrical safety standards. The duties do not apply to landlords of social housing. The Regulations require local housing authorities to enforce the duties, and include a power to arrange...

www.legislation.gov.uk

I don’t agree, nor do the authors of the best practice guide No 4 as they don’t conclude that a plastic CU is a reason to give an unsatisfactory EICR

And IIRC you and your buddies on your podcast concluded the same

 

[Murdochcat]

1990's. I moved in where we are now in 1993 and upgraded to a wylex then added the plug in MCB's

My question was aimed at the OP