Very old henley fuse box

[JohnW2]

the neighbors wont be to happy with me costing them money to get it fixed if its working, although it is unsafe they will see it as working and the insurance will pay if it go's up in flames, on the other hand if its free there wont be a problem. how do you find out who owns it ?

Do you and the neighbours own these flats, or are you renting? If the latter, then the electrical installation, particularly (but not exclusively) those 'communal' bits' would be the landlord's responsibility. If it is rented, then I would have thought that the landlord would probably be on the wrong side of some regulations/laws by permitting that electrical installation to persist as it is.

...and don't take it for granted that, in the presence of an unsafe electrical installation, an insurance company would necessarily cough up if the place went up in flames.

Kind Regards, John

 

[curlyzoo2002]

Should be a LNE in the silver box that sits in the middle, a little conduit coupler and another box above with a 3A fused spur.

Then you have a source for the door control.

That's subject to whatever the LHS box isolates, and what the RHS box is.

As a communal area you shouldn't be messing about unless you have liability cover and are qualified.

o good idea. so i should switch the switch off open the wee silver box and if there is a connector block check and make sure its not live if its not wire up to the 3a fused spur and wire that to the door entry system ?

if there is no connector block i can weight till the light comes on then switch the switch to make sure the powers off

 

[Robin0577]

...and don't take it for granted that, in the presence of an unsafe electrical installation, an insurance company would necessarily cough up if the place went up in flames.

Absolutely, insurance companies love any excuse not to pay up. Read the fine print and make sure there's no clause requiring regular electrical inspections...

 

[curlyzoo2002]

the neighbors wont be to happy with me costing them money to get it fixed if its working, although it is unsafe they will see it as working and the insurance will pay if it go's up in flames, on the other hand if its free there wont be a problem. how do you find out who owns it ?

Do you and the neighbours own these flats, or are you renting? If the latter, then the electrical installation, particularly (but not exclusively) those 'communal' bits' would be the landlord's responsibility. If it is rented, then I would have thought that the landlord would probably be on the wrong side of some regulations/laws by permitting that electrical installation to persist as it is.

...and don't take it for granted that, in the presence of an unsafe electrical installation, an insurance company would necessarily cough up if the place went up in flames.

Kind Regards, John

there are 6 flats everyone is bought, 3 of them are rented out and 3 of them the owners live in. my mother owns the flat and lives there.

 

[JohnW2]

there are 6 flats everyone is bought, 3 of them are rented out and 3 of them the owners live in. my mother owns the flat and lives there.

Do you know who owns, or is responsible for, the communal/common areas?

The owners of the three rented-out flats could be in trouble if they are renting out part of a building that has an unsafe electrical installation.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Robin0577]

I assume therefore there is some kind of residents committee responsible for communal maintenance?

I think you have a duty of care to inform them of the problem, it's then up to them do decide what if anything they're going to do about it.

 

[JohnW2]

o good idea. so i should switch the switch off open the wee silver box and if there is a connector block check and make sure its not live if its not wire up to the 3a fused spur and wire that to the door entry system ? if there is no connector block i can weight till the light comes on then switch the switch to make sure the powers off

I'm sorry to appear a wet blanket but I really don't think these sort of proposals should be pursued by someone like yourself. Quite apart from the general issues about the safety installation we've been discussing, I think you (or your mother) really have to choose between living without the door entry system and getting an electrician in.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

I think you have a duty of care to inform them of the problem, it's then up to them do decide what if anything they're going to do about it.

Excellent information

 

[curlyzoo2002]

well there is a factor that the had for 10 years but they sacked him and got a new one. he came out and got the windows above the door sorted, that were broken for 8 years lol so you would think they would of had a look but then again i dont know.

my mother wont contact the factor because it will cost her money she would rather do without the intercom, but i will let her know that her insurance will be void but again i know her and she will just plead ignorance,

come to think of it tho she got a new electric meter last year its a new small one, but that was in the flat, i dont know how they fitted it

 

[curlyzoo2002]

o good idea. so i should switch the switch off open the wee silver box and if there is a connector block check and make sure its not live if its not wire up to the 3a fused spur and wire that to the door entry system ? if there is no connector block i can weight till the light comes on then switch the switch to make sure the powers off

I'm sorry to appear a wet blanket but I really don't think these sort of proposals should be pursued by someone like yourself. Quite apart from the general issues about the safety installation we've been discussing, I think you (or your mother) really have to choose between living without the door entry system and getting an electrician in.

Kind Regards, John

ok i respect what you are saying that i should not be messing about with it, but if it is as simple as what i have said then whats the point of paying someone else to do it. if its not then i wont do it thats why a came on hear for advise. (see im not a total idiot) i do appreciate all the info everyone has giving me, is that way safe ? if not i wont try it.

and it is my mothers flat i stay around the corner in a council flat

 

[JohnW2]

ok i respect what you are saying that i should not be messing about with it, but if it is as simple as what i have said then whats the point of paying someone else to do it. if its not then i wont do it thats why a came on hear for advise. (see im not a total idiot) i do appreciate all the info everyone has giving me, is that way safe ? if not i wont try it.

The problem is that it's such an old and iffy installation (and we don't necessarily know what's going on in some of those boxes etc.) that no-one here will be able to reassure you that what was proposed would necessarily be safe - so one has to assume that it could be unsafe. Even many an electrician would probably be a bit nervous around that installation!

Kind Regards, John

 

[Robin0577]

Connecting a new supply from the lighting system should be fairly straightforward as you say. It's how you'd safely disconnect that old cable that would worry me....

 

[JohnW2]

Connecting a new supply from the lighting system should be fairly straightforward as you say. It's how you'd safely disconnect that old cable that would worry me....

Indeed. Furthermore, we all seem to have been distracted away from the original problem - namely that the (presumably once working) intercom system had stopped getting power. There has to be some reason for that- which ought to be investigated.

Kind Regards, John

 

[curlyzoo2002]

Connecting a new supply from the lighting system should be fairly straightforward as you say. It's how you'd safely disconnect that old cable that would worry me....

i think that simple look at the picture the old cable in the intercom has a connector box on it i would simply leave the connector box on it and tape it all up and leave it in the box then drill a new hole for the new cable to come in with a rubber gromit. and connect that up with the old wire safely taper out of the way. i know its dead the now, but thats the now. and it should be safe in there if it dose get power again.

 

[rjm2k]

How do you know the red and black have no power, how have you tested that?