I know you all like pics so thought I would share this.
Can I claim the prize for least accessible switch of the year?
Currently trying to sort out a 50s bungalow thats been messed around with over the years and is in a right old state.
I initially was puzzled by a circuit still connected (and switched live when I first started) which was marked shower - Their old electric shower had been replaced with a standard model some years before and the immersion heater replaced with a combi boiler.
I turned the breaker off and told them to see if anything doesn't work, but after 2 weeks nothing was noted.
Then today crawling round in the loft I found this.....pic is the best my phone could do but that is a pull cord switch, complete with cord and ceramic knob on the end.
seems the muppets who redid the bathroom and fitted a suspended ceiling simply stuck the board up, leaving the switch in place, connected to the CU and still live....
I can already see this job keeping me in work until retirement - 5 radial socket circuits for 3 rooms (though they have actually tested ok so far), but one lighting circuit which is literally falling apart (nasty 70s cable) with largely no earth.
Oh, and a TT installation with a very old large RCD which tests ok if you press the yellow button but completely fails to do anything when tested with the megger!
Kitchen and bathroom are on a new split load CU which is something, but the old CU with all the other socket circuits and the lighting has a standard 100A main switch.
I'm torn between two options at the moment, so any thoughts welcome..
a) replace the non functioning RCD (which is before both CUs) with a new 2 way box and 100ma time delay RCD
b) leave the existing rcd in to function as an isolating switch only, and replace the main switch on the older MEM board with either 100ma or 30ma rcd switch (that would also mean changing the main switch on the newer CU to a 100ma time delay since its a TT installation)
I won't get onto the PIR issue, that can be a separate post.
Oh, and before anyone asks you are welcome to use the pic
Gavin
Can I claim the prize for least accessible switch of the year?
Currently trying to sort out a 50s bungalow thats been messed around with over the years and is in a right old state.
I initially was puzzled by a circuit still connected (and switched live when I first started) which was marked shower - Their old electric shower had been replaced with a standard model some years before and the immersion heater replaced with a combi boiler.
I turned the breaker off and told them to see if anything doesn't work, but after 2 weeks nothing was noted.
Then today crawling round in the loft I found this.....pic is the best my phone could do but that is a pull cord switch, complete with cord and ceramic knob on the end.
seems the muppets who redid the bathroom and fitted a suspended ceiling simply stuck the board up, leaving the switch in place, connected to the CU and still live....
I can already see this job keeping me in work until retirement - 5 radial socket circuits for 3 rooms (though they have actually tested ok so far), but one lighting circuit which is literally falling apart (nasty 70s cable) with largely no earth.
Oh, and a TT installation with a very old large RCD which tests ok if you press the yellow button but completely fails to do anything when tested with the megger!
Kitchen and bathroom are on a new split load CU which is something, but the old CU with all the other socket circuits and the lighting has a standard 100A main switch.
I'm torn between two options at the moment, so any thoughts welcome..
a) replace the non functioning RCD (which is before both CUs) with a new 2 way box and 100ma time delay RCD
b) leave the existing rcd in to function as an isolating switch only, and replace the main switch on the older MEM board with either 100ma or 30ma rcd switch (that would also mean changing the main switch on the newer CU to a 100ma time delay since its a TT installation)
I won't get onto the PIR issue, that can be a separate post.
Oh, and before anyone asks you are welcome to use the pic
Gavin
