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EICR - Old Rewireable Fuse boards are these acceptable?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi, 


I need verification that it is ok to keep old style Wylex rewireable fuse boards to pass the EICR. Initially the electrician said this was ok providing they have a cover for the fuses. However he has now changed his mind and saying they need to be replaced with a new consumer unit. Some of the homes do not have a cover on the fuse board and others have had the cover taken off so plug in mcb's can be accomodated. Is this still ok?
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  • 0
    Chris


    When a fuse element blow you get heat, light, arcs, sparks and particles which are known as the products of the arc. In a cartridge fuse they are contained by a ceramic tube filled with silica sand.


    The old Wylex fuse boards had a protective cover over the fuse carriers held in place by by a slotted screw or a screw with a plastic knurled thumb screw. The open backed boards should have also been fitted with a paxolin back but often this was left out as cost a few shillings more. The idea of the rear cover and the removable cover over the fuse links was to contain the products of the arc to prevent them spraying out and starting a fire.


    This goes back to the days of the 1st Edition were the early lighting was carbon arc lamps which sprayed out starting fires. This regulation lives on in 421.1.1 Note 1.


    Circuit breakers have arc chutes inside to to break the arc and suppress the products. If you look at the rear of any 60898 circuit breaker you will see a little vent hole to release any pressure generated by the arc.




    JP
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  • 0
    Chris


    When a fuse element blow you get heat, light, arcs, sparks and particles which are known as the products of the arc. In a cartridge fuse they are contained by a ceramic tube filled with silica sand.


    The old Wylex fuse boards had a protective cover over the fuse carriers held in place by by a slotted screw or a screw with a plastic knurled thumb screw. The open backed boards should have also been fitted with a paxolin back but often this was left out as cost a few shillings more. The idea of the rear cover and the removable cover over the fuse links was to contain the products of the arc to prevent them spraying out and starting a fire.


    This goes back to the days of the 1st Edition were the early lighting was carbon arc lamps which sprayed out starting fires. This regulation lives on in 421.1.1 Note 1.


    Circuit breakers have arc chutes inside to to break the arc and suppress the products. If you look at the rear of any 60898 circuit breaker you will see a little vent hole to release any pressure generated by the arc.




    JP
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