Hi folks, another query you'll likely be able to help me with..
our 2 bed semi has a 20yr old(ish) consumer unit with fuses as opposed to MCBs. The label for each fuse has one of the 30A fuses marked dwnstrs sockets, as expected and another 15A fuse marked immersion heater (again as expected). Turns out though, that the sockets are running off the 15A fuse and the 30A is actually running the cooker.
It's my guess that the cooker was added later (or the electric shower, using the cooker's space) and so the sockets were wired into a now disused immersion heater fuse.
I reckon it's safe to simply put 30A fuse wire into the 16A fuse running the sockets. The wiring will obviously all be up to it and each space in the consumer unit is the same isn't it? simply different fuses? Better still, can you get MCB's designed to fit single blade fuse carriers in old units, or do they only fit new consumer units? or what about a new 30A fuse carrier so that it's marked the correct rating (which I guess keeps things right for anyone else in the future...)
Can anyone second my suspicions - is it common to put sockets onto another circuit on the unit to make space? or have i missed something..
and my solution - simply change the fuse wire?
Thanks, Andy.
our 2 bed semi has a 20yr old(ish) consumer unit with fuses as opposed to MCBs. The label for each fuse has one of the 30A fuses marked dwnstrs sockets, as expected and another 15A fuse marked immersion heater (again as expected). Turns out though, that the sockets are running off the 15A fuse and the 30A is actually running the cooker.
It's my guess that the cooker was added later (or the electric shower, using the cooker's space) and so the sockets were wired into a now disused immersion heater fuse.
I reckon it's safe to simply put 30A fuse wire into the 16A fuse running the sockets. The wiring will obviously all be up to it and each space in the consumer unit is the same isn't it? simply different fuses? Better still, can you get MCB's designed to fit single blade fuse carriers in old units, or do they only fit new consumer units? or what about a new 30A fuse carrier so that it's marked the correct rating (which I guess keeps things right for anyone else in the future...)
Can anyone second my suspicions - is it common to put sockets onto another circuit on the unit to make space? or have i missed something..
and my solution - simply change the fuse wire?
Thanks, Andy.