AM I supposed to just pull these off?!
- Thread starter Dace
- Start date
Sponsored Links
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 42,765
- Reaction score
- 2,641
- Country
My step Mum has an old Wylex with a wooden back. Dates from 1970 as the wiring is metric.
Hers is brown. AFAIR, the ivory ones with wooden back date from around mid to late 70s to 1985 ish. They then moved onto a plastic back.
Hers is brown. AFAIR, the ivory ones with wooden back date from around mid to late 70s to 1985 ish. They then moved onto a plastic back.
The plastic back started a touch before that, in 1983 I purchased & fitted two (8W & 4W) from same wholesaler at same time, I had one of each. Earlier than that (~1974 or 5) I remember being offered brown or cream from stock. I imagine stock levels crept into the changeover sales.
This is like mine that i want to upgrade
The electrician that rewired a light for me recently pulled the cartridges labelled for the lights but didnt turn the main power off?
I havent had issues since so got away with it, but worried to see it shouldnt have been done that way
The electrician that rewired a light for me recently pulled the cartridges labelled for the lights but didnt turn the main power off?
I havent had issues since so got away with it, but worried to see it shouldnt have been done that way
Sponsored Links
There was nothing to "get away with" he will have known that nothing on the circuit was switched on so no danger of an arc being drawn or sticking his fingers where he should not.
Ahh thanks, so if it had been say a 30A cartridge (labelled sockets), main power would have gone off due to the risk of something drawing power on the fuse?
I wouldn't say 'mainly aimed at DIY'ers', I would say - it's the safest way we can advise anyone to remove a cartridge fuse, without being able to judge their ability and the safety of their electrical system, on a public forum!
Same difference but the OP's are not cartridge fuses.
You could buy compatible plug in Wylex MCB's replacements for the fuse bridges long ago, with a large button for 'reset', small button for 'trip'. The later version of which replaced buttons with a toggle lever arm.
For a 20amp fuse wire, you can botch it by using one 5amp and one 15amp side by side.
Because MCBs have not always been available. Rewireable fuses have always been and still are acceptable today.
In my memory, the plastic backed ones were available at the same time and cost a little more. I was advised to get the one with the wooden frame because I was installing it on a piece of laminated worktop, which was (is) a surface that does not support the spread of flame. I liked it because very easy to keep clean. Still do. At about the same time, my old mum had a metalclad one fitted, a more expensive job. The MCBs were considered very expensive compared to the rewirable fuses.
In those days a man from the Board, wearing a peaked cap, came round on a red bicycle for a cursory inspect and test, and connected the tails.
As has recently been pointed out in another thread, arcs are my no means the only risk. For example, the fuse holder can disintegrate (to lesser or greater extent) when pulled, possibly leaving pins sticking out of the terminals and ends of over-long bits of fuse wire can be poking out waiting for some unsuspecting person to touch them.
I suspect that most/all of us have 'done it' in our times (and "got away with it"), but that doesn't alter the fact that pulling one of those fuses without first switching off its supply is potentially dangerous, for anyone.
Kind Regards, John
As I said in a later response I think is down to the individuals risk aversion. The examples of possibilities you suggest are not things I have ever come across in 50 years but I am not saying they don't exist, what does concern me is that some of the replies are possibly reinforceing the doubt the poster seems to have in the competence of his electrician. That is the way it reads to me anyway.
As above change Fuse holders for MCB s not expensive and a simple job .
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
Sponsored Links
