Very old henley fuse box

[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....

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

the person at one of the top flats phone started to to hum. all thats connected to it is telephone wire so she got someone out who disconnected the full system instead of fixing hers. my plan is to disconnect the top two flats so there wont be any problems if there phones are still attached this was about 10 years ago

 

[curlyzoo2002]

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

nope i have not but i will once i get a shot or buy of some testers

i have one of these but i would not risk using it on 240v i just use it for car stuff

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

i can buy or get a hold of one like this

http://www.screwfix.com/p/kewtech-kew1700-voltage-tester/61568


dont know if this would do as well although not as safe as a voltage tester
http://www.screwfix.com/p/philex-electronic-83006r-s-ac-voltage-detector-pen-probe/48822

 

[rjm2k]

You really, really need to get someone in to sort out those wires. It maybe that those fuses and that box actually belong to the DNO so you can't legally do anything to it. In fact, if that really is DNO property then someone has probably tapped into it illegally and before the meter so the small amount of power used by the intercom may have never been paid for.

There is no safe way for you to do any work on it, call your supplier or get someone in.

 

[curlyzoo2002]

ok thanks for all your help i wont touch it and i will give her all the info, and i will see what she says.

 

[JohnW2]

In fact, if that really is DNO property then someone has probably tapped into it illegally and before the meter so the small amount of power used by the intercom may have never been paid for.

Good point - which should have (but didn't!) occurred to me, amidst everything else!

There is no safe way for you to do any work on it, call your supplier or get someone in.

Agreed. I suppose the OP's main difficulty would be in ascertaining whose property it is. If, as seems likely, it's the DNO's incomer and 'cutout' then (without wishing to encourage any dishonesty!), reporting 'a possible smell of burning' always seems to be a good way to get them to attend fairly promptly! If it is theirs, and they did attend, I imagine that they would probably replace that equipment FOC (westie?) - but I suppose there could be some knock-on effects in terms of what they had to say about what is currently connected to it (again, westie?).

Kind Regards, John

 

[rjm2k]

One other point, it seems unlikely the intercom is earthed never mind rcd protected. If the unit has a fault it could send mains voltage down the finger of whoever pushes the button when visiting. Does the building have a freeholder?

 

[curlyzoo2002]

One other point, it seems unlikely the intercom is earthed never mind rcd protected. If the unit has a fault it could send mains voltage down the finger of whoever pushes the button when visiting. Does the building have a freeholder?

its only thin telephone wire to the intercom, would the wire not burn out first ?
and there is space for an earth wire its not there

nope its not got a freeholder


what is a FOC and a westie lol sounds like sparky banter.

 

[SaladFingers]

ok iv got more pics. this is the top of the fuse box

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

this next pic is the boxes and how it looks, the order is fuse box, intercom, shiftier for the lights control box i think with a key lock, i think if i could get into that i might be able to get power from there because i could switch it off with the shiftier

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

this is the same only showing the light

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

there is some cables going this way, dont know why or what for, and i think they may be dead but im not trying lol

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

Cooor blimey.

All looks like the sort of old stuff with stuff added that you'd find in typical building in a military base.

 

[Chri5]

ok thanks for all your help i wont touch it and i will give her all the info, and i will see what she says.

Promise

 

[curlyzoo2002]

ok thanks for all your help i wont touch it and i will give her all the info, and i will see what she says.

Promise

No

lol yes

 

[JohnW2]

what is a FOC and a westie lol sounds like sparky banter.

'FOC' (not 'a FOC') is 'free of charge'. westie (westie101) is our resident authority on all matters relating to the electricity supplier's (DNO's) equipment and practices - he's already contributed to this thread and will hopefully be back later!

Kind Regards, John

 

[bernardgreen]

That cut out is dangerous.

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• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

Is that a piece of loose metal resting on the top of the middle fuse. ? Image what would happen if that fell onto the exposed live metal terminal of the left hand fuse and shorted the 100 amp (?) supply to the casing. That would be a serious fire hazard.

You say some of the flats are rented, then find from them who is the landlord they pay rent to. He or someone he is involved with will be the person responsible for the upkeep of the communal area and the safety of that area. The landlord and/or freeholder needs to get that sorted.

 

[JohnW2]

Is that a piece of loose metal resting on the top of the middle fuse. ?

Looks for like sandpaper or cardboard to me - but I agree with everything else you say.

Kind Regards, John

 

[curlyzoo2002]

its a bit of wood just very dusty as everyone's power go's threw hear i assume the bill will have to be split 6 ways

 

[westie101]

Clearly true - but do you think that any of those cables look OK to be protected by a 100A fuse? This is surely a generally very dodgy-looking electrical installation (at least, at the supply end) which needs urgent attention (at the very least, inspection and assessment), isn't it?

Basically it's appalling, the means of connection to that age of Henley is generally by a sweated ferrule, which can be seen in some of the photos. How the very small cable and the newer (??) grey PVC are actually connected is another question. There is a single bolt to secure the ferrule but it would certainly not be up to being used for a connection. (we now have some screw ferrules that fit these)