Electrical / Consumer panel comments please

[Nick67GT]

Evening all - my oldest lad has just bought his first house and had a fairly detailed survey. Although it didn't mention any particular concerns about the electrical installation, it did talk about some 'updating' being advisable in the future.

So I stuck my head into the cupboard containing the main fuse / meter / consumer unit and snapped the pics below:



Not being particularly knowledgeable about electrical matters, could someone out there give me a few observations / advice please?

Cheers.

 

[brightspark]

change it for a 17th edition 3d amendment 8 way metal twin rcd consumer unit up rate earth bonding to 10mm earth wire gas and water. 16mm earth from main earth conection at supply to consumer unit and test wiring

 

[Robotstar5]

^^^ wot he said

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I'll have 2lb as well please

 

[brightspark]

its only 4 circuits. obviously no emersion heater shower or cooker point just basic

 

[grim_d]

That's pretty modern by my standards, house I just moved out of still has fuse wire.

 

[brightspark]

its the 1st mcb consumer unit that mem brought out after rewirable fuses. old wylex breakers are identical

 

[brightspark]

if u didn't want to shell out on a new db but want safety u could fit a 80 amp double pole 30milliamp rcd between the consumer unit and the electricity boards meter

 

[Maker]

change it for a 17th edition 3d amendment 8 way metal twin rcd consumer unit up rate earth bonding to 10mm earth wire gas and water. 16mm earth from main earth conection at supply to consumer unit and test wiring

Do they need to be metal now? Ours is plastic, I don't think it's particularly old.

 

[brightspark]

Do they need to be metal now? Ours is plastic, I don't think it's particularly old.

only if u fit a new one nothing wrong with the plastic ones so don't wurry just make sure all the conections are tight as that's why they have changed to metal. people fitting them and loose conections and they set on fire burning the plastic casing . metal contains it

 

[brightspark]

here http://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/55/consumer-units/

 

[Nick67GT]

Thanks for the quick feedback.

Sounds expensive? and I guess it will need doing by a qualified sparks for sure.

 

[Maker]

here http://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/55/consumer-units/

failure to tighten neutral conductor connections to the same torque as line conductor connections due to a misconception that neutral conductors carry less current;

Scary to think a qualified spark could be that thick.

 

[brightspark]

Scary to think a qualified spark could be that thick.

there's plenty of them. I went to one 4 weeks ago job was 4 years old burnt out rcd and one breaker on busbar rail

 

[Robotstar5]

BG consumer units are reasonable quality with decent room inside - link to 6 way unit

 

[Dee J]

What's there is probably perfectly ok, and virtually as good as the day it was fitted. There two issues are 1. Lack of RCD protection. And 2. No capacity for expansion. If I was just going to live in the house I would probably leave it. But if you're adding new sockets, re-doing the kitchen then a new unit along with a substantial reworking of the existing wiring will be needed.

 

[500e]

Here is one someone made earlier there was a meter & old Wylex wired fuse box in here, feeding a remote radio site we took over.
Cant find the other beauty on another site water proof box with no lid on box or distribution unit & on outside wall 3 rcd burnt on rail, farmer who owned site could not see problem.

 

[Muppet]

lighting on a 10 amp ? , thought 6 was the standard ,

 

[zx9]

lighting on a 10 amp ? , thought 6 was the standard ,

Remember it is an old instillation from the time when lights were often on 5A or 10A.

 

[brightspark]

lighting on a 10 amp ? , thought 6 was the standard ,

no problems running lights of a 10 amp fuse where the load requires one. in general 6 amp though