Very old henley fuse box

[curlyzoo2002]

ok first off im not a spark but some advise would be good,

my problem is my flat intercom system has no power going to it look at pic 1

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

the red and black have no power going to them and they go to this old henley fuse box

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

its the thin wires on the right hand side
the problem is what is behind the fuse and is it safe to unscrew it ?

all i says is 400v henley and there is no other way of isolating the power before removing the fuse.

all help will be appreciated thanks.

 

[Bensparks]

Judging by the size difference in the cables in the r/h fuse I'd say the small one shouldn't be in there full stop, and there appears to be no earth to the metal casing of your intercom, or others for that matter, get a professional in

 

[dannyboi2003]

That looks like a DNO service head to me with the thicker cables going to meters etc. Can you post a larger pic so we can see where the cables go from the fuse box? As already suggested i think you need to get an electrician in to sort this, please do not go messing with that fuse box yourself.

 

[curlyzoo2002]

ok a try and get a pic up soon the middle block wires go to a different metal box with a on off shiftier that then go's to a locked box that powers the lights

 

[OwainDIYer]

something of that age, in a common close, is well overdue for replacement.

 

[curlyzoo2002]

I know but who pays for that dose it go threw the factor or is it the provider ?

 

[securespark]

Is this your supply or the landlord's?

I would get a professional in.

Contact your management company.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Judging by the size difference in the cables in the r/h fuse I'd say the small one shouldn't be in there full stop,

And I'd swear I can see 7 lives leaving the fuses but only 3 neutrals connected....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

That looks like a DNO service head to me with the thicker cables going to meters etc.

Can certainly envisage the part below the picture tapering down to a service cable.

But according to the OP there are no meters.

 

[westie101]

And I'd swear I can see 7 lives leaving the fuses but only 3 neutrals connected....

Two Tp & N
One Sp & N
???

If you don't know what you are doing with that design of fuse carrier, do NOT start to unscrew things. If you get it wrong you can end up with the fuse still in place and the carrier in your hand!!
Rermoving the fuse & carrier also WILL expose a live terminal.

It is a typical Henley 3ph cut-out that DNO's would use but could be in use as a private sub-main. The small wire to the intercom should probably never have been connected as the fuses will be at leat 100A in it I would guess!

 

[curlyzoo2002]

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

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

Untitled

• 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

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

this is the same only showing the light

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

Untitled

• 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

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

Untitled

• curlyzoo2002
• 23 Jan 2013
• 1

 

[JohnW2]

The small wire to the intercom should probably never have been connected as the fuses will be at leat 100A in it I would guess!

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?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Robin0577]

Regardless of whether it's DNO owned or private that Henley has parts of it's insulation missing and is in a dangerous condition as a result. You need to find out who is responsible for it and have it replaced as soon as possible!

Once that has been done, a small 1or2 way CU can be fitted, supplied from there to feed the intercom system.

Edit: John beat me to it!

 

[curlyzoo2002]

im going to be honest if i cant do it then i will just leave it as not working i think its were the mains come in the close then they got to the flats, also i think the only safe way would be to get power is from the locked box, is there a universal key you can get for those or are they all different ?

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 ?

 

[Chri5]

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.