Storage heater left over wiring - what to do with.

[enigmatic]

I've just removed an old storage heater which was protected by a fused box (junction box is this?)

i tried to isolate by turning off sockets but it remained on, why would this happen, (i turned the cu off alltogether and took it out that way, but just interested what it was running from forgive my lack of knowledge)

on to the real question anyway, the left over wiring (2 live, 1n, 2earth and a blue?)

what can i do with this, is it possible to turn it into a socket for example?

again forgive my basic knowledge but im just trying to gleam all i can.

thanks for your time.

 

[plugwash]

well in domestic wiring blue is a neutral color so you seem to have two of each which would make some sense. Is one of the lives brown?

You need to find out what circuit it is on and what else is on that circuit before deciding what to do with it.

be carefull with storage heater outlets. They are often on a seperate CU that is connected to a timed feed..

 

[enigmatic]

to be honest i just isolated all power and removed the entire unit thinking that would be the end of that once i insulated the wires but now you have given me doubt in my mind that what i did was safe.

how can i test the feeds to see if the brown is also a live, recommend a good tester?

also how do i determine which circuit its coming off? i switched off all lighting and socket circuits yet it still did not turn off only with the whole CU shut off.

i know i sound utterly useless but bear with me

 

[plugwash]

turn off all circuits until you find the one that shuts it off regardless of what you think those circuits are supplying.

If it doesn't go off with all circuits turned off but the main switch on then there is something seriously dodgy going on in your CU.

If you have just disconnected and insulated the wires I suspect you will find something else is not working. Possiblly an immersion heater or something.

 

[enigmatic]

it had a fused switch box, took the fuse out then turned main power off, took it out.

i cant get my head around what circuit it comes from as i'm sure i tried them one by one and it remained on.

nope nothing else has gone astray in the house as yet

 

[333rocky333]

Storage heaters normally have there own seperate board this should only have power during the night for a limited time.

They are not designed to be left on constantly

If an old house you may have an old timeclock working that board and the times are out of gear causing it to be on at an earlier time .

 

[enigmatic]

i see, where do i look to find the timer for it? will it be on or near the CU?

if so can i just take it out and be done with it then do something with the wires?

if not i'll have to get me sparky mate on the case because im a bit mortified incase i've done something wrong

cheers

 

[333rocky333]

Not sure if you have a timeclock
If you did have one its usually about 8 x 6 inches and usually black, you cannot miss it, it will have a seal on it and be located next to the meter, you would also see an extra fusebox though for the storage heaters.

If you do have one, It is an offence to touch it as it is the electric boards

If you did have one still I think the actual meter, was also different it had two displays , One for peak and
One for offpeak

Are you sure it was a storage heater point, as you would normally only have one cable and a double pole switch fitted.

How did you know it was actually off when you removed it,if you just turned off the normal board, and it went off, it would not of been a proper storage heater point.

These heaters are only desighned to be on a limited time
If on a normal supply they could get left on for too long and overheat.

 

[enigmatic]

when i say storage heater i think perhaps i've mislead you, it was a basic electric heater me being a dimwit just called it a storage heater.

i found it out that i'd isolated what i could before turning the power off completly but nothing seemed to turn it off until that point.

possibilites of what i could do with the left over wiring?

thanks again

 

[ban-all-sheds]

recommend a good tester?

Take a look at this: http://www.beha.com/files_d/sets/1333.pdf

Looks ideal for a household starter set - multimeter, voltage indicator and dedicated continuity tester, all in a handy case.

Couldn't find details of the set in English, but all 3 individual instruments are listed.

http://www.beha.com/files_uk/multimeter/93549.pdf

http://www.beha.com/files_uk/voltagetesters/6741.pdf

http://www.beha.com/files_uk/continuitytesters/9023.pdf


Also see the full discussion here: http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26282

 

[enigmatic]

i have one of those already, i've never had a use for it till now, so basically your telling me to use it on the CU and see if anything is still kicking?

thanks for the replies guys your helping me along nicely

 

[333rocky333]

Doh

If it is on a normal supply get your "sparky mate" on the case , to look at it he can proberly fit a socket there instead of the "junction box thingy"

 

[enigmatic]

well done on that.

 

[stevesparks]

re: post no. 1.

So what happened to the "blue?" wire.