Just wondered what is the normal procedure, when updating mains protective bonding and the 16mm earth cable, is too big to fit in to the earth terminal busbar in the fuse box?
Bonding
- Thread starter PrenticeBoyofDerry
- Start date
Use an external earth block.
Always buy decent consumer units (Crabtree has one hole for the 16mm and all the rest will happily take 10mm)
Some form of ferrule (the panel builders amongst us may be able to adsvise on this better).
Always buy decent consumer units (Crabtree has one hole for the 16mm and all the rest will happily take 10mm)
Some form of ferrule (the panel builders amongst us may be able to adsvise on this better).
T
tonyelectric
Yep tricky one that, I have in the past removed the terminal bar and drilled it out (if there is sufficient brass to do so and still have a grub screw thread), totally replaced the bar with a bigger one (easy on metalclads), crimped a 6mm eye to the end and bolted it on by running an M6 tap into the existing bar and using a brass bolt and even crimped the 16 to a very short length of 10 (1" or so).
I'm guessing this is a wylex board thats giving you terminal troubles?
I'm guessing this is a wylex board thats giving you terminal troubles?
T
tonyelectric
ELZ's idea of splitting across two terminals also works (done that too) but on a lot of old smaller boards where you are upgrading the earth bar is fully populated.
P
PrinceofDarkness
If you're on about domestic installations, Prentice Boy, then there's seldom a need for a main bond to exceed 10mm.
If you have an old fuse box with limited capacity on the earth bar, then the best thing is to use a separate marshalling block for the main earth and bonding conductors, rather than fiddling around with the fuse box earth bar.
Lucia.
If you have an old fuse box with limited capacity on the earth bar, then the best thing is to use a separate marshalling block for the main earth and bonding conductors, rather than fiddling around with the fuse box earth bar.
Lucia.
A ferrule would only be needed on a multi stranded conductor, not a stranded conductor (6491X for example).
It was an old Brown Wylex fuse board with rewirables in. The earth busbar
terminal could just squeeze a 10mm in, there was a couple of spares so put in another 10mm, so doubled it up.
It was a sod of a board, all the front fixing screw were rusted and would move and the grubs on the terminals needed a touch of elbow grease and a gently squirt of WD40.
Don't know when the last time anyone had been in it, if ever.
The one surprising thing I did find, is that all the CPCs were insulated in black and red PVC.
terminal could just squeeze a 10mm in, there was a couple of spares so put in another 10mm, so doubled it up.
It was a sod of a board, all the front fixing screw were rusted and would move and the grubs on the terminals needed a touch of elbow grease and a gently squirt of WD40.
Don't know when the last time anyone had been in it, if ever.
The one surprising thing I did find, is that all the CPCs were insulated in black and red PVC.
T
tonyelectric
They had a rather long production run from the mid 1950s to approx 1982, there is an interesting story behind the design in that the designer responsible, Morgan McLeod (best known for the Strand Pattern 23 spotlight in association with Fred Bentham) was briefed to utilise a wooden frame to prevent union action which was threatened by the union representing the Wylex cabinet shop workers if they went for an all plastic design. It was however the first CU to depart from utilising ceramics as an insulator and won numerous design awards and marketed as far afield as india and australia. In about 1982 the cabinet was re designed to have a plastic back and remained in production until very recently (TLC were still selling them last year) at that time the brown version (which was cheaper) was discontinued.
The metalclad version appeard in several scenes in both The Shining and Death wish 3 as a set prop, both were filmed here although supposed to be in the USA where the product was never marketed. In The Shining you will also see MEM excel switchgear which never got sold stateside.
Yep it's a sad hobby folks but I collect old fittings and regularly supply and advise TV & Film on electrical fittings so I can't watch a film without scrutinising the fittings.
The metalclad version appeard in several scenes in both The Shining and Death wish 3 as a set prop, both were filmed here although supposed to be in the USA where the product was never marketed. In The Shining you will also see MEM excel switchgear which never got sold stateside.
Yep it's a sad hobby folks but I collect old fittings and regularly supply and advise TV & Film on electrical fittings so I can't watch a film without scrutinising the fittings.
Have you ever seen a federal stablok type 1 MCB (white toggle)... I'm lead to beleive they existed, but I've never seen them... though I have seen stablok rcbos
T
tonyelectric
i've seen them in black, black painted red and orange but never white, never had much to do with FE kit but over in the US the underwriters labs declared stab-lok a "fire waiting to happen"
If I remember I will post a picture of a Stablock RCBO tomorrow 
Kubrick was renowned for his fear of flying, and his dislike of the US/Hollywood film scene.
Next time you watch Full Metal Jacket look out for UK road markings on a supposedly US Marine base. They're all driving on the right, but the painting on the roads is for driving on the left
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
