Should this really be replaced?

[Steve]

Theres a few of these in a place I visit often, but most are disused. This one isnt, and is happily supplying a rusting 2 gallon stored water heater.

By the way, when the fuse holder is removed from these, are there exposed live parts? Theres a couple, not used, with missing fuse holders, but they may well still be live.

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• Steve
• 24 Mar 2012
• 1

When were these last fitted?

 

[sparkwright]

These were last fitted just after 1970.

From memory with the fuse carrier removed there aren't exposed parts as such, yet hardly ideal as perhaps something could be inserted into the holes.

 

[RF Lighting]

There's nothing wrong with them, infact I probably passed those very switches on the periodic

The fuse holder has 2 blades on it that push into two holes on the FCU, so there is nothing live exposed it's just like an unshrouded socket.

It's not ideal, but not really a massive risk.

I'd imagine it's probably 30 - 40 years since they were fitted as they pre date both MK logic and MK logic plus ranges.

 

[Steve]

Fugly things though arent they!

 

[Adam_151]

Its probably better made than a lot of switched fused spurs you can buy today, Don't see the issue other than it looks a little old hat

 

[sparkwright]

Fugly things though arent they!

No, I don't think so at all. They have a great retro feel now. I'd like to see this range brought back, though perhaps with a more slim-line profile at the back to save chasing in 35 mm deep flush boxes!

 

[Steve]

This place also has the old light switches with a curved front, cream colour, small concave rocker. Anyone got a pic? Or pics in general of old stuff lol. Irony is, all this Old stuff in this place is fed by relatively modern panels.

 

[JohnW2]

This place also has the old light switches with a curved front, cream colour, small concave rocker. Anyone got a pic?

You mean these:

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• JohnW2
• 24 Mar 2012
• 1

? - they were great switches.

Mind you, any type of rocker is 'new-fangled' in comparison with the original plate switches - which had a plastic version of a toggle (more like the SFCU pictured in this thread).

Kind Regards, John.

 

[Adam_151]

Try flameport's website Steve, if hes still got the address listed on his profile

 

[17thman]

This place also has the old light switches with a curved front, cream colour, small concave rocker. Anyone got a pic?

You mean these:

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• JohnW2
• 24 Mar 2012
• 1

? - they were great switches.

Mind you, any type of rocker is 'new-fangled' in comparison with the original plate switches - which had a plastic version of a toggle (more like the SFCU pictured in this thread).

Kind Regards, John.

yes, i have purposely cleaned up a few of these and installed them in my house, i like the look and the older they are the quieter they are.

 

[JohnW2]

yes, i have purposely cleaned up a few of these and installed them in my house, i like the look and the older they are the quieter they are.

Same here - I have a good few of these installed in my house - not only were they great switches, but they remain great switches, despite their age - and their appearance is marginally more in keeping with the age of my house than is the more modern stuff! (not that the Georgians and Victorians {I have a mixture!} would have known what a plate switch was!).

Kind Regards, John.

 

[timtheenchanter]

got them everywhere in my house, as they were when I moved in, got the matching sockets in most places too

 

[NewOrder]

See a load of those MK switches in a lot of houses. I do wonder when I see them though if that means the electrics haven't been checked for 40+ years or if they are just there as they haven't been replaced. I have replaced nearly all the switches and sockets in our house as they have all failed, yet the rare MK stuff in the house still works perfectly.

Does anybody know when the switches posted above came out? I have always assumed they were mid to late 60's vintage.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The fuse holder has 2 blades on it that push into two holes on the FCU, so there is nothing live exposed it's just like an unshrouded socket.

Surely it's just like an an unshuttered socket, i.e. the type not permitted by the regulations?

I don't know where/what this place but "a place I visit often" doesn't sound like a private or controlled space, so I'm not sure that IP3x (probably) is OK for live parts.

 

[JohnW2]

The fuse holder has 2 blades on it that push into two holes on the FCU, so there is nothing live exposed it's just like an unshrouded socket.

Surely it's just like an an unshuttered socket, i.e. the type not permitted by the regulations?

Indeed, they are unshuttered. .. but how do these FCU fuse carriers differ conceptually (other than having smaller blades, hence smaller holes into which to poke things) from the fuse carriers which are to be found, say, in many a CU?

Kind Regards, John.