Yes very much so, still freely available at wholesalers but I did add some flip switch MCBs in mine which had superceded the horrible pushbutton version.
a bit later I fitted a S/H 3gang in my new shed.
-
Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.
Age of installation
- Thread starter seasickstevie
- Start date
a bit later I fitted a S/H 3gang in my new shed.
- Joined
- 25 Apr 2023
- Messages
- 9,200
- Reaction score
- 6,338
- Country
Really? I must have a bad memory, I started in 1995 ish and I'm sure ish split load bords were about or a the very least all mcb boards?
Yes you are correct but Wylex were still being installed.
- Joined
- 25 Apr 2023
- Messages
- 9,200
- Reaction score
- 6,338
- Country
Oh ok I thought they were well gone by then
The cartridge fuse equivalents were still being installed in the 90s.
Rewireable (Wylex) fuses were fitted a long time after the MCBs were introduced and yes for a long time they were pop outs , eventually the push button pop outs began to stick in operation but the were about for a long time before those ne fangled trip swithes were vailable , later the switch orientation changed and with Wylex it was the "Red Rocker" on the Mainswitch .
Fuse optons were rewireable or cartridge fuses a.k.a "Coarse Protectionn" or "Close Protection" even before High Breaking Capacity then later High Rupturing Capacity.
Dual Boards - The first consumer unit with RCDs as a Main Switch were all or nothing as a front ender or you could buy a plain RCD in its own encloser for just one circuit or to put in the tails to feed a consumer unit.
The first Dual Boards Were a non 100mA RCD side as the Main Switch feeding a 30mA additional Main Switch for use in TT systems or One side 100mA and the other side 30mA later on I think these came later.
When RCBOs first came in they were phenominally expensive by comparison but the price did eventually come down.
The problems with Front Enders (or the thought of it) did lead to many have the dual board with no RCD protection on one side and only RCD protection for a few circuits.
It was a while before twin RCDs (one for each side) became more popular.
For the majority of this time the rewireable fuses were still being fitted quite commonly.
It was perhaps mainly if an electric shower was being fitted that an RCD became sort of normal cos "Electrics and water don`t mix" .
All this time as RCDs were becomming popular they were not fitted routinely because of price difference but folk were starting to hear about the "power breaker for lawn mowers" benefits so that helped a bit to get the message across.
I remember one more experienced electrician almost same age as me asking "Why do you fit RCDs, they are son expensive" and I replied that I gave them a mention as an optional extra and if they had a pet dog and if it saved their dog`s life would it be worthwhile. "Oh yes" they would reply, so if I pointed out that it might also save the life of a family member they would often agree and pay that extra.
Fuse optons were rewireable or cartridge fuses a.k.a "Coarse Protectionn" or "Close Protection" even before High Breaking Capacity then later High Rupturing Capacity.
Dual Boards - The first consumer unit with RCDs as a Main Switch were all or nothing as a front ender or you could buy a plain RCD in its own encloser for just one circuit or to put in the tails to feed a consumer unit.
The first Dual Boards Were a non 100mA RCD side as the Main Switch feeding a 30mA additional Main Switch for use in TT systems or One side 100mA and the other side 30mA later on I think these came later.
When RCBOs first came in they were phenominally expensive by comparison but the price did eventually come down.
The problems with Front Enders (or the thought of it) did lead to many have the dual board with no RCD protection on one side and only RCD protection for a few circuits.
It was a while before twin RCDs (one for each side) became more popular.
For the majority of this time the rewireable fuses were still being fitted quite commonly.
It was perhaps mainly if an electric shower was being fitted that an RCD became sort of normal cos "Electrics and water don`t mix" .
All this time as RCDs were becomming popular they were not fitted routinely because of price difference but folk were starting to hear about the "power breaker for lawn mowers" benefits so that helped a bit to get the message across.
I remember one more experienced electrician almost same age as me asking "Why do you fit RCDs, they are son expensive" and I replied that I gave them a mention as an optional extra and if they had a pet dog and if it saved their dog`s life would it be worthwhile. "Oh yes" they would reply, so if I pointed out that it might also save the life of a family member they would often agree and pay that extra.
I agree with all of that and I assume Wylex are the only CU to be fitted with a RCD main switch without the DIN rail format as I don't recall seeing any other brand - I'll very happy be shown to be wrong on this!
I always felt the cartridge fuse option was a later addition as a cheaper alternative to the expensive plug-in MCB but with a more accurate tripping curve than a wire but again this is only from experience of seeing them quite late in the timeline, they were of course more expensive than the rewirable version and many didn't understand their advantages.
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
