Earth block

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poisonrain

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Hi all,

I can't afford an NICEIC electrician, so please consider the following hypothetical situation.

I have a really old junction box in the loft, with 8 different sets of old wiring (red, brown, black) going into it. I want to tidy this up a bit, and having carefully made a note of what connects to what and tagged all of the connections, I'm thinking of using earthing blocks inside of choc boxes to make better and safer connections between the various different sets of wiring.

Hypothetically would this be safe?

Thanks,
PR
 
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...so it's not hypothetical, then?

If you want advice, just ask. Sticking "hypothetical" in it won't stop BAS abusing you :evil:
 
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poisonrain said:
I have a really old junction box in the loft, with 8 different sets of old wiring (red, brown, black) going into it.
Click to expand...
That could describe anything from the last 100 years.

Please post a picture of it - with cover removed.
Why do you think it needs to be replaced?

Either way, earth blocks are NOT suitable.
 
poisonrain said:
I can't afford an NICEIC electrician, so please consider the following hypothetical situation.
Click to expand...
How are the two related?

I have a really old junction box in the loft, with 8 different sets of old wiring (red, brown, black) going into it. I want to tidy this up a bit,
Click to expand...
Why?


Hypothetically would this be safe?
Click to expand...
No.

Nor empirically either.
 
Earth blocks are totally uninsulated, so how would you mount them in the junction box?

If the box got damaged there would be some very large and live lumps of metal exposed.

Saw recently a box like you are proposing with a homemade piece of wood in it with earth blocks screwed to it. All very neat but dangerous.

Think of another method, consider insulated connector blocks or something.

Send a picture.
 
"earth blocks" are totally unsuitable for live connections even inside an enclosure as they are completely uninsulated (even the mounting screwholes are uninsulated).

If you want something neater than terminal block you could use din rail terminals but frankly unless there is a problem I would just leave it alone.
 
Right, here's some images of the existing set-up... as you can see (possibly not very clear) the existing earthing set-up is just 8 earth wires twisted together in mid-air.

I was hoping to actually make it safer (not less safe) by putting them all to one of these: http://www.screwfix.com/p/8-way-earth-block/11385

and enclosing the whole thing in one of these so there'd be no bare wiring:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/chocbox/46538

I'd like to do something similar with the various live and neutrals and hopefully nail the whole thing to a wooden board, so it's not flapping about (as today) and steers clear of all the loft insulation.

Hope this helps clarify the question?
PR
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http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ASJ701.html along with suitably sized terminal strip would be a more standard solution. You'd prefer not to see it on a new installation, but as you have to work with what you've got...

Oh, and you'd want to clip the cables where the exit the box to provide some support. Alternatively, a plastic adaptable box and glands suitable for flat PVC cables (I believe TLC did/do sell them) would be equally adequate, if not better.
 
Jesus, I would get a PIR done, if somone had bodged that up that bad, what else have they done?! :rolleyes:

You may not be able to afford it but really I would consider getting an approved spark in for a PIR, if something bad happened (god forbid) you'd never forgive yourself.
 
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