EICR - Old Rewireable Fuse boards are these acceptable?

Kelly Marie Angel:

Hi zoom im not sure i think loading was fairly light only a few lamps and the TV  so maybe a few amps at most

I have seen chunks of metal missing about the size of a mouse bite, above the rewireable fuse carriers in old Wylex metalclad consumer units where an arc has occurred. There was evidence of molten metal and heat damage, Perhaps fluorescent lights caused a high Voltage arc on the metalclad consumer unit when the 5 Amp. lighting fuse blew.


 I have just taken out an old Wylex consumer unit where the plastic covers are missing that went onto the main terminal screws. There is evidence of somebody having dropped a screwdriver or similar across the L and N terminals. The damage is obvious. I bet that that made  sparks and a bang.


Z.

Zoomup:

Kelly Marie Angel:

I heard a story that a 5 amp lighting fuse in a wylex metal board ejected enough hot metal thru the little vent at the top of the fuse carrier   to create a short circuit that blew the DNOs 60  amp main fuse not just once but several times over the years  apparently there was a collection of dead 60 amp fuses on the floor of the understairs cupboard

That may have happened with a metalclad Wylex consumer unit. Was the 60 Amp. fuse heavily loaded at the time, thus assisting the blowing?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+old++Wylex+metalclad+consumer+unit&docid=608044541727224394&mid=FD9A0F11EA66724B8365FD9A0F11EA66724B8365&view=detail&FORM=VIRE


Z.

Hahaha! I LOVE my Wylex BUT... when I move, (I sold my house and was some 10 days' from exchanging when the new buyers pulled out BUT, hahaha... they came back, this past Monday and, hahaha, wanted to buy it AGAIN, I said NO as the price has increased SO, you lot will have to wait for when I move to see how I've fitted the change-over for the generator... sorry for the wait BUT, haha, it'll be worth it with lotsa photos' too), I will have a new / modern CCU WITH... an RCD!! PROMISE!!


The thing is, if I'd let me son, before the new rules re; CCUs, came in... I would now have a new-ish PLASTIC fitted CCU in the under stairs cupboard ready to, perhaps, catch fire!


The thing about RCDs is...


1; You are supposed to reset them every six months', (who does that? Haha!)

2; There is supposed to be something like a 6% failure rate.

3; They can cause nuisance tripping... probably not a bad thing, really?


My sister bought a 25 year old bungalow, recently. In her kitchen she was getting lots of ShOcKs from her electric / low level oven! The RCD didn't trip out as it wasn't shorting out the RCD. I removed the oven and found the earth wasn't, (hahaha, as you lot already was thinking this...), attached to the oven. No one believed my sister, that she was getting bad shocks off of it but I did. Anyways, this could be life threatening, to her, lucky she's ok. 


I respect the need for an RCD BUT, I'm ok, at the mo!!


I did run, years' ago, a multi core PVC covered MICC cable, (spare core for a switch to operate the sheds outside light fitting, from inside of the house), but... I did fit an RCD for this so, I ain't that stupid, (BUT, others WILL disagree with this, haha)!


Hope everyone has a nice relaxing bank holiday weekend!!! 


regards... Tom ?


With regards to Chris P, too!


 

Kelly Marie Angel:

I heard a story that a 5 amp lighting fuse in a wylex metal board ejected enough hot metal thru the little vent at the top of the fuse carrier   to create a short circuit that blew the DNOs 60  amp main fuse not just once but several times over the years  apparently there was a collection of dead 60 amp fuses on the floor of the understairs cupboard

That may have happened with a metalclad Wylex consumer unit. Was the 60 Amp. fuse heavily loaded at the time, thus assisting the blowing?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+old++Wylex+metalclad+consumer+unit&docid=608044541727224394&mid=FD9A0F11EA66724B8365FD9A0F11EA66724B8365&view=detail&FORM=VIRE


Z.

Tomgunn:

wallywombat:

Why would you never fit an RCD?

Because I don't need them! 

I can sympathize with Tom's position. I am not rushing to modernize my electrics indoors, but when I do get round to it, there will be modern CUs with RCDs, and possibly SPDs.


I am sure that Tom's installation is in good order as are his appliances. I do not onanistically inspect the flex every time I plug something in, but I do repair any damage that I see. Whether Mrs P would be bothered by ropey flex on her curling tongs, etc. is a different matter. 


We are all grown-ups in here and not ordinary persons, so I think that Tom is entitled to do as he pleases; but what about customers' installations?

wallywombat:

Why would you never fit an RCD?

Because I don't need them! 


regards... Tom

Jaymack:

A CU in a nursing home in Scotland had a fire in a storeroom, about 10 years ago, many old people were killed in the fire, thought attributable to an open fuseboard which did not contain the molten metal which set fire to cardboard boxes. I have seen the results of molten metal sparking on the metal edges at fuses, probably caused simply by pushing in the fuses onto a faulty circuit. Be wary of fuses, especially where no cover is fitted and where the Public is concerned. When all else fails use bloody great nails.


Jaymack   

Yes, an electrical cause is always assumed when the real cause can not be identified. Nothing to do with somebody secretly smoking in the cupboard of course. 


Z.