Is this acceptable? (photo inside)

[deadshort]

Just read next posts. Your description does not sound like a double pole switch.

I really would have expected an earth terminal on that switch faceplate.

PICTURES.

I agree, for piece of mind can we see the supply to the shed at the house consumer unit?

Kind Regards,

DS

 

[333rocky333]

I think that CU is upside down

whys that

 

[truckroy]

I was surprised as well that there wasn't one on there but I figure it earths through the screws onto the box?

What you say is true, and was quite normal many years ago - but considered bad practice now. If the faceplate was loosened off, for whatever reason, that faceplate wouldn't be earthed.

I must have bought old stock then? unless it's counterfeit? I'll look into that.

Would be interested to know what size fuse or breaker supplies that consumer unit you have in your shed.

It's on a 13A fuse and 30mA breaker. I's only a small shed with one light and one socket so I hope that's ok?


Thanks again for your help.

 

[sparkwright]

13 amp and 30 mA sounds reasonable.

As for the switch, I don't think it's old - the really old ones always had earth terminals. Think it might just be a load of cheap nasty rubbish made in Hong Kong.

 

[Monkeh]

The switch says it's WK and made in the UK

WK? Who on earth are WK..

Where did you buy this stuff?

 

[truckroy]

Just read next posts. Your description does not sound like a double pole switch.

I really would have expected an earth terminal on that switch faceplate.

PICTURES.

I agree, for piece of mind can we see the supply to the shed at the house consumer unit?

Kind Regards,

DS

Sorry, I don't have a photo of that. I know it's on a 13A 30mA breaker. The house is only 4 years old so I assume that part is all good.

The switch says it's WK and made in the UK

WK? Who on earth are WK..

Where did you buy this stuff?

It came from http://www.candselectricalltd.com/


Should I ask them what the deal is?

 

[truckroy]

They've come back to me and said that it should have an earth on it but they've just opened up another one and found the same thing.

They're sending me a suitable replacement.


Thanks again guys, I will sort the problems you've mentioned.

Cheers.

 

[Spark123]

I'd use two stuffing glands in two knockouts for the cables to enter the switch, you will hopefully find there are two on the same surface.
It should be at least IP4X to the top and IP2X to all the other sides. http://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:IP

 

[truckroy]

I'd use two stuffing glands in two knockouts for the cables to enter the switch, you will hopefully find there are two on the same surface.
It should be at least IP4X to the top and IP2X to all the other sides. http://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:IP[/QUOTE]

Thank you, I was wondering what the name of those things was.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's on a 13A fuse

You have a consumer unit on a 13A fuse?

Utterly bonkers.

Did you apply for Building Regulations approval before installing the CU?

Do you have the skills and equipment needed to carry out the testing?

 

[JohnW2]

You have a consumer unit on a 13A fuse? Utterly bonkers.

We use different language. I would say 'unnecessary', but probably electrically safe and possibly adequate for the OPs requirement.

Did you apply for Building Regulations approval before installing the CU?

As you know, installing a CU is not notifiable (in England), and the fact that it's supplied via a 13A fuse strongly suggests that it's not a 'new circuit'. Per the clear word of the law, only replacing a CU is notifiable in England, and this one presumably was not replacing anything. You may well feel that the law should have said something different but, as you are always remind us, what matters is what the law actually says.

In any event, as you've said, in the OP's situation the CU is totally unnecessary (and essentially redundant), so it would not make it particularly sensible for its installation to be notifiable, anyway. It is effectively merely taking the place of an FCU, which would not be notifiable.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

As you know, installing a CU is not notifiable (in England), and the fact that it's supplied via a 13A fuse strongly suggests that it's not a 'new circuit'.

What about those coming from the CU?

Per the clear word of the law, only replacing a CU is notifiable in England, and this one presumably was not replacing anything. You may well feel that the law should have said something different but, as you are always remind us, what matters is what the law actually says.

Indeed.

But the belief of the people who wrote the law is that installing a CU is notifiable. Yes, the wording they used is poor and it would need a failed court case to knock them back and force them to re-draft it, but given a written assurance from the legislators that they fully intended it to be notifiable I'm not sure I'd want to rely on a loophole created by poor wording until a precedent had been set.

The recent discussion about who is responsible for notifying is of a different nature - the Building Regulations are littered with instances where the term "person carrying out the work" (or equivalent) cannot possibly mean "person ordering the work".

In any event, as you've said, in the OP's situation the CU is totally unnecessary (and essentially redundant), so it would not make it particularly sensible for its installation to be notifiable, anyway. It is effectively merely taking the place of an FCU, which would not be notifiable.

Be that as it may, there is no concept in the Building Regulations of being unnecessary making otherwise notifiable work non-notifiable. Like the final circuits from that CU.

 

[JohnW2]

As you know, installing a CU is not notifiable (in England), and the fact that it's supplied via a 13A fuse strongly suggests that it's not a 'new circuit'.

What about those coming from the CU?

We've discussed this extensively before. If the circuits originating from a CU fed via a 13A fuse from an existing circuit count as 'new circuits' (hence notifiable), then so would anything downstream of an FCU wired from/into an existing circuit - and I do not think that any sane person believes that the intention is that such should be notifiable.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Indeed. ... But the belief of the people who wrote the law is that installing a CU is notifiable. Yes, the wording they used is poor and it would need a failed court case to knock them back and force them to re-draft it, but given a written assurance from the legislators that they fully intended it to be notifiable I'm not sure I'd want to rely on a loophole created by poor wording until a precedent had been set.

You seem to want it both ways. One day you argue that all the matters is the precise meaning of the words which were used when writing the legislation, regardless of what the legislators 'meant' or 'intended' when they chose their words badly. The next day you write things like the above. What actually is your position?

Kind Regards, John

 

[truckroy]

It's on a 13A fuse

You have a consumer unit on a 13A fuse?

Utterly bonkers.

Did you apply for Building Regulations approval before installing the CU?

Do you have the skills and equipment needed to carry out the testing?

Yes, yes, yes & yes to all the points above.

But John hit the nail on the head really. Although the CU might be unnecessary, I was looking for safe & adequate.

Thanks,

Roy.