Circuit switch bypassed

[mike42]

HI

Hopefully the pics speak for themselves.

I found this as I was troubleshooting why I couldn't disable on circuit (sorry if the terminology is wrong). As far as I know only one of the circuits has the fuse wire.

Why would anyone do that? Maybe the "switch" is broken?
Should I remove the fuse wire?

Also this looks like an old wylex consumer unit. Are the 12 "switches" actually RCDs and ok to use or should I get some newer ones? And how urgent is that?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I found this as I was troubleshooting why I couldn't disable on circuit (sorry if the terminology is wrong). As far as I know only one of the circuits has the fuse wire.

No circuits have fuse wire.

Why would anyone do that? Maybe the "switch" is broken?

They are plug-in circuit breakers.
On the ones without a switch, press the small button to turn off and then push back in the big button to turn on again.
OR pull them out.

Should I remove the fuse wire?

There is no fuse wire.

Also this looks like an old wylex consumer unit. Are the 12 "switches" actually RCDs and ok to use or should I get some newer ones? And how urgent is that?

None is an RCD.
They are fine.

 

[mike42]

Many thanks for the quick reply. However, please look again at the second pic showing one of the circuit-breakers overridden with a peice of fuse wire wrapped around the plugs on the under side. That is definitely fuse wire.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, Sorry. Just had a look at the second picture.

That is, indeed, a bodge presumably done because the breaker is faulty.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Plus - the wire looks too big for a 5 or 6 amp breaker, which the white ones are.

 

[mike42]

Thanks again for confirming that and for confirming they are indeed RCDs and not simple switches. I've now removed it and all seems good but worried if that is faulty. IT seems ok though (until it bursts into flames one night...)

It was also the one controlling the intruder alarm so maybe they overrode it for security reasons?

 

[mike42]

Plus - the wire looks too big for a 5 or 6 amp breaker, which the white ones are.

Ahh so maybe they were overloading the circuit and it was tripping.... I think it was 10amp but will check

 

[mike42]

yep it was a red one

 

[EFLImpudence]

They are MCBs - Miniature Circuit Breakers, not RCDs - Residual Current Devices.

Red ones are 30A

 

[mike42]

Ahh so not as safe but basically ok?

 

[EFLImpudence]

They may have put the wire there to stop the alarm circuit being switched off, but still not a good idea.

Which circuit is it? All the red ones look to have ring circuits connected and one has three wires.

 

[John D v2.0]

Rewirable fuses, even when they were allowed, had to be in a suitable carrier to absorb the energy when they blow.

This is a very poor example, and I'd recommend checking it all carefully for other issues. Presumably whoever decided to make that modifitcation, would have been happy to make other similar changes.

 

[mike42]

Well I've removed the wire and plugged it back in. So far so good.

 

[John D v2.0]

So far so good.

Hopefully it will stay that way!

 

[ericmark]

You can still buy the plug in MCB's you show. see here