Can I wire a plug socket from this?

ukal · 19 Feb 2013

[quote="ban-all-sheds";

Ukal - where does that bare wire coming from the supply cable sheath go? That's what's supposed to provide your earth.....[/quote]

Ban all sheds, are you talking about the main wire coming from the floor boards inform the YE box with 97307 written on it? The smaller wire coming off this mains supply goes into the fuse box in my first pic. This fuse box in turn connects to the main fuse box. I'll do another pic but could this be an earth wire?

ukal · 19 Feb 2013

not sure if this pic is much more of an in sight?

I'm gonna look into an EICR i think but would be nice if we had an earth?!

Untitled

ukal
19 Feb 2013
1

ban-all-sheds · 19 Feb 2013

ukal said:
The smaller wire coming off this mains supply goes into the fuse box in my first pic. This fuse box in turn connects to the main fuse box. I'll do another pic but could this be an earth wire?

It is the supply earth.

I can't see anything that looks like an earth running into the fuse box, but as the tails to it disappear behind that partition, and enter it from the rear, maybe the earth does too.

ukal said:
I'm gonna look into an EICR i think but would be nice if we had an earth?!

More than nice - incredibly important. Life and death type importance.

Do you have any metal light switches?

ukal · 19 Feb 2013

Looking at a couple of light switches we don't have earth wire there (we defo do on the plug circuit though). We have metal light switch boxes behind the switch itself yes.

I have read that a lot of older properties didn't have earth in the light sockets, but is this dangerous with the metal casings?

And Arsenal have just conceeded...

This is going from bad to worse...

ban-all-sheds · 19 Feb 2013

ukal said:
Looking at a couple of light switches we don't have earth wire there

So there's that, there's a Wylex standard fusebox, and that ancient metal one.

Looking more and more as if you'll need a rewire...

When you looked behind the accessories, what sort of cable was it?

(we defo do on the plug circuit though).

But what's it connected to?

We have metal light switch boxes behind the switch itself yes.

I have read that a lot of older properties didn't have earth in the light sockets, but is this dangerous with the metal casings?

If the switches are plastic it's not too bad - avoid touching the screwheads...

Going from bad to worse...

The possibility of you having no earth at all is alarming. Were it not a Wylex Standard I'd say pop the cover off and see if you can see an incoming earth cable, but those fuseboards are not too clever inside, and live parts are easy to touch.

What's the other side, where the tails disappear to? Do you have access to it? What cables can you see?

Do you know an electrician, or anybody who can recommend one? If the earth is not connected to the fusebox it would take little time and only a few £ worth of materials to fix...

ukal · 19 Feb 2013

ban-all-sheds said:
When you looked behind the accessories, what sort of cable was it?

Just 2 red cables going into each light switch (all plastic switch fronts).

Quote:
(we defo do on the plug circuit though).

But what's it connected to?

I cant see where those tails go as it would mean taking all of those electric boxes off the wooden panels in the cupboard. No access behind it. What would the earth be connected to? The fuse box itself? The meter? (those 2 tails that disappear come from the meter). Or something else?

If the earth is not connected to the fusebox it would take little time and only a few £ worth of materials to fix...

Are you talking about the light switch earth to be connected here or the mains earth that will take little time and £?

Appreciate all your help.

Oh and I forgot to mention there is a Meter Installation card in the cupboard dated 2004. So I assume it was either installed then or inspected then. Would they have left it in dangerous state i.e. no earthing?!

Cheers

ban-all-sheds · 20 Feb 2013

ukal said:
Just 2 red cables going into each light switch (all plastic switch fronts).

But what type of cable? What's the insulation made of?

What would the earth be connected to? The fuse box itself? The meter?

The fuse box.

Are you talking about the light switch earth to be connected here or the mains earth that will take little time and £?

The main earth.

Rewiring the lighting circuit will take more time and more £.

Oh and I forgot to mention there is a Meter Installation card in the cupboard dated 2004. So I assume it was either installed then or inspected then. Would they have left it in dangerous state i.e. no earthing?!

They wouldn't check.

ukal · 20 Feb 2013

The cables are insulated with plastic. Not sure there is much else to describe about them.

I have been reliably informed the houses on the estate were built with and earth for the main ring circuit, just not the lights.

So thats one less worry. I'll look into an EICR and costs involved in updating. Sounds like it won't be cheap though. Thanks again.

Steve · 20 Feb 2013

Put it this way, if I had electrics like that I'd be getting a rewire asap. There's little point in a partial rewire - all the wiring will be a similar age and should be changed as it deteriorates with age. Also the level of disruption to the house will be similar whether a partial or full rewire.

For this reason, although my house had electrics only from around the late 70's, I had it rewired and plastered before I moved in.

SaladFingers · 20 Feb 2013

ukal said:
**please note I am not going to undertake this work myself - just need to know if its possible before getting someone in**

Who cares?

This is a DIY forum after all. Don't be scared.

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Can I wire a plug socket from this?

SaladFingers

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