Friday Picture

[flameport]

This mess will be removed and replaced shortly.
Nothing has been changed yet other than removing most of the fuses.
Despite the apparently large number of circuits, this is for a 2 bedroom flat.

 

[JohnW2]

Despite the apparently large number of circuits, this is for a 2 bedroom flat.

314 of the regs would undoubtedly be impressed

Kind Regards, John

 

[sparkwright]

Is it a mess then, or just old?

Were you able to have a good look at the heating circuit with 45amp fuse and the two cables emerging from it?

Often see this arrangement in 1970s purpose built flats, but usually most of it has been disconnected in favour of modern central heating.

Only yesterday noticed a similar arrangement, with two smallish cables on a 60amp fuse (could have had 45 amp or similar fuse wire I suppose)... but again seemed redundant.

Just wondered why and how they are done like that?

 

[flameport]

It's a mess. Apparently partly installed by someone, and then finished by others and subsequently altered by yet another.
Original construction was early 1970s, the white Wylex probably 1980s, the MEM unit 2003 (date on the inspection label as the writing on that and the top of the MEM unit are identical). Both bathrooms totally refitted about 5 years ago, everything else original.
Most of the wiring is PVC singles in concealed plastic conduits.
Obviously no documentation of any kind.

The metal board was designed to have regular circuits and night heating in the same unit - all of it is is now powered all of the time.
The white 4 way Wylex is switched for night heating, and the small MEM unit is switched for off peak hot water at different times to the heating - meter has 3 outputs.

Starting at the top 6 way 15A row, the circuits actually are:
1&2 have nothing connected
3 is the doorbell transformer.
4 is a single socket in the lounge with surface clipped T&E along the skirting boards.
5 is the daytime boost for the hot water.
6 is one of the bathroom towel rails and both bathroom wall lights. Rail has a 3A switched FCU, wall lights wired direct with their own built in switch, no additional fuse. Bathroom wiring is new blue/brown colours, yet no RCD anywhere.

3 way marked 'heating':
5A Lights, plus one of the bathroom towel rails.
20A socket outlets, wired in what was probably intended to be a ring but is actually a ring with radials off of it. The kitchen has the ring at one end, and a row of 3 double sockets taken from it as a radial, all like that from the original 1970s install.
40A cooker, this is a cartridge fuse unlike all of the others which are rewireables. (Only one wire connected, the other apparent wire is the brass neutral block behind)

The 4 way white box is for 4 separate storage heaters of various sizes, the 30A circuit is in 2.5mm and supplies 2 separate outlet plates in different rooms, but only one was in use.

The MEM unit has a 16A MCB which is for the off peak hot water.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's a mess.

Glad you pointed that out.

Apparently partly installed by someone, and then finished by others and subsequently altered by yet another.

Good to know that mustn't happen - any changes needed after the initial installation must be done by the original installer, anything else means it's a mess.

Original construction was early 1970s, the white Wylex probably 1980s, the MEM unit 2003

More than one CU? Oh, the horror of it.

The correct way would be to install a small additional CU for the shower.

As for the CU - options are either install another, or replace the existing for a larger one.

Most of the wiring is PVC singles in concealed plastic conduits.

As we can clearly tell from the photo. That kind of wiring is an inevitable consequence of a CU mess like that, isn't it.

Obviously no documentation of any kind.

Obviously not. Must be a lot of messes around.

The metal board was designed to have regular circuits and night heating in the same unit - all of it is is now powered all of the time.

What!?? Good God - we can't have that. Even if it is documented.

The white 4 way Wylex is switched for night heating, and the small MEM unit is switched for off peak hot water at different times to the heating - meter has 3 outputs.

3 outputs? You mean it's actually designed to have either 3 CUs, or a CU with 3 separate sections in it, with them being live at different times? Whoever dreamed up that mess deserves to be shot, wouldn't you say?

Starting at the top 6 way 15A row, the circuits actually are:
1&2 have nothing connected

Good job you removed the cover to show us that, or we might not have been aware of that particular mess. And that wouldn't do - as we all know, unused ways in CUs are the work of the devil.

3 is the doorbell transformer.
4 is a single socket in the lounge with surface clipped T&E along the skirting boards.
5 is the daytime boost for the hot water.
6 is one of the bathroom towel rails and both bathroom wall lights. Rail has a 3A switched FCU, wall lights wired direct with their own built in switch, no additional fuse. Bathroom wiring is new blue/brown colours, yet no RCD anywhere.

3 way marked 'heating':
5A Lights, plus one of the bathroom towel rails.
20A socket outlets, wired in what was probably intended to be a ring but is actually a ring with radials off of it. The kitchen has the ring at one end, and a row of 3 double sockets taken from it as a radial, all like that from the original 1970s install.
40A cooker, this is a cartridge fuse unlike all of the others which are rewireables. (Only one wire connected, the other apparent wire is the brass neutral block behind)

The 4 way white box is for 4 separate storage heaters of various sizes, the 30A circuit is in 2.5mm and supplies 2 separate outlet plates in different rooms, but only one was in use.

The MEM unit has a 16A MCB which is for the off peak hot water.

Sparkwright really wasn't concentrating was he? Imagine questioning if it was a mess with all that going on.

 

[sparkwright]

Would I right in thinking some circuits have been jointed in the large metal clad cu, and extended to the white Wylex?

Purpose built flat, right?

That makes sense about the 45/40amp fuse - looked like two wires but you can see the edge of the neutral block.

Certainly some unexpected bodges further down the wiring, most of which hopefully can be overcome by the consumer unit change and lower sized MCBs.

Try and send some pictures with the covers off before you strip it out.

And try and send some pictures of the new consumer units when you have fitted them.

We like pictures.

 

[securespark]

We like pictures.

Hey! That's my line....

 

[deadshort]

So the original job would have been very neat and tidy ! With it's regimented Wylex board, and then along came the 80's …….more , more, and two bathrooms !

DS

 

[Jackrae]

Cumon guys --- have you all missed the unmetered input to the meter where the insulation has been cut back to permit "bypassing" of the meter

 

[EFLImpudence]

... the unmetered input to the meter ... to permit "bypassing" of the meter

Would you care to rephrase that?

 

[Jackrae]

to possibly facilitate unmetered power consumption

 

[EFLImpudence]

Isn't there only one line conductor from the cut-out and it goes to the meter?

 

[sparkwright]

Where has the insulation been cut back to then?

 

[AndyPRK]

Yeah I thought I saw copper down there but then assumed it was a reflection.

 

[flameport]

Meter connections: