I have and I’ve done a couple too
Circuit Breaker Query
- Thread starter Doug99
- Start date
I have and I’ve done a couple too
Looking at the outside of the CU there is nothing that makes me go
or 
or
or
eitherSure, it's not young and parts are long since available new (ironically I gave a RCD and 32A MCB to someone earlier this year to update an installation) but IF there is a perceived risk a fair few second hand bits are around such as these RCBO's: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224482036585? to add RCD to the lights.
I would check there is sufficient height in the CU before buying (only because there doesn't appear to be much space below (to the right in pic) the MCBs
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OK - so that's another 'advantage/improvement' that some people might suggest/advise, then.
However, I am personally far more doubtful about this one. As I always say, if it hasn't happened already I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before people die as a result of this (in my opinion totally unnecessary) change to metal-cased domestic CUs!
Well, they might have to be replaced 'as an emergency' if, say, they were mechanically damaged, suffered from severe flooding (devices full of water) or 'burnt to a cinder' etc. - but it's plain silly to suggest that one can "plan ahead" for such eventualities
I don't think any of those would be done on an emergency basis on a Sunday affternoon. There would be lots of other things to sort out first.Well, they might have to be replaced 'as an emergency' if, say, they were mechanically damaged, suffered from severe flooding (devices full of water) or 'burnt to a cinder' etc. - but it's plain silly to suggest that one can "plan ahead" for such eventualities
Oh you mean like when we moved away from metal CU's 50+ years ago.
Do you mean in an emergency that you had to do on a Sunday afternoon or urgently that you did ASAP. A big difference in my opinion.
Indeed so - but they are 'emergencies' in that they 'have to be done' (before the electrical installation can be used).
However, that's not the point - I was merely observing that, despite what has been suggested, one can do nothing to "plan for" such events.
I'mnot sure of your point but, yes, I'm suggesting that the historical move away from metal domestic CUs probably did result in some reduction in deaths and injuries. Do you disagree?
No. I fully agree.
I know someone who was seriously ill after such an incident where the enclosure had become live. and another I found on a TT supply before the days of RCD could have been very nasty
Glad you agree.
Metal enclosures (of CUs or whatever) obviously should be safe. However, if one gets people 'fiddling about' in CUs/whatever, with less knowledge/competence and/or caution than there should be, then they are atmore risk when their 'fiddling hands/fingers' are surrounded by earthed metal than if everything around them is plastic.
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