What is this?

[pieman2008i]

Hi there,

My first post here, YEY!

basicly I was wondering what the h*ll this great lump of pig iron is???

I am concidering having the the old fuse board replaced with a shinney new consumer unit, but this great big lump of metal is in the way!

I'm guessing it is some kind of distributor for the supply to next door (I live on the 1st floor of a purpose built flat).

Can I get my supplier/EB to get rid of this & replace it with something a little smaller & dangerous looking? how much will it cost? what's the going rate for scrap iron these days?

any help greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

PM

 

[333rocky333]

Edit
I thought you meant the orange arrow
The red arrow is your main fuse enclosure, often called the "Head"
The thing you say is a 100 amp fuse looks more like a henley block to me.

 

[londonboy]

Doubt they will be able to do anything with that lot, unless you move the whole lot to a new location at great expense £000's.

Can't you box it all in? Don't tell me, its in the hallway above the front door

 

[londonboy]

You should be able to get a small 5 way cu in there, you could always space it off the wall with 2x2 with the mains cable running behind the cu.

 

[Chri5]

Always mount a CU sideways on. From previous debates there's nothing that prevents it from being done, although any CU done that way may need a latching cover otherwise the cover may sit ajar.

NB I'd also add that I wouldn't do a side on installation, but it is possible and has been done by others.

 

[Steve]

Why is that great big lump of metal in the way?

Put the new CU where the old fusebox was! (Unless there is issue with space to the left?)

The great lump of metal, by the way, is the cutout. There will be a fuse in there for your installation, but it is sealed and the only people that have the authority to open it is the DNO (distribution network operator), the people who DISTRIBUTE the electric in your area (NOT the people who SELL your electricity). Many electricians do mess with these and pull fuses to isolate for changing fuse boxes. BUT YOU MUST NOT TOUCH THIS ONE as it is old and probably has ceramic fuse holders (perfectly safe if untouched, I add)

The 100 amp fuse is probably for next door. But their supply should be updated, they have VIR tails, VIR was used in the 50's but stopped being used because its insulation degrades over time. Therefore, you must not touch their tails. If you trace the cables, all should become clear WRT your and their supplies. I suspect thei also have undersized earth. This is all the DNO's responsibilty, so if you have them out to change the cutout or anything, tell them about that. But they will need access to the neighbours too.

 

[pieman2008i]

Hi,

Many thank-you's for Quick & useful replys!

Doubt they will be able to do anything with that lot, unless you move the whole lot to a new location at great expense £000's.

Any Idea how many hundreds? Not a fan of 1940's technology!

Can't you box it all in? Don't tell me, its in the hallway above the front door

You guessed it I can box it in but It just looks like a dangerous mess & I wanted to see If I can get it ttidyedup.

You should be able to get a small 5 way cu in there, you could always space it off the wall with 2x2 with the mains cable running behind the cu.

I was hoping for a larger consumer unit as flat is quite large & with 6 rooms (7 inc loft) & was also wondering about running some armoured cable down the garden.

Always mount a CU sideways on.

??? Is this ok with regulations???

The great lump of metal, by the way, is the cutout. There will be a fuse in there for your installation, but it is sealed and the only people that have the authority to open it is the DNO (distribution network operator), the people who DISTRIBUTE the electric in your area (NOT the people who SELL your electricity). Many electricians do mess with these and pull fuses to isolate for changing fuse boxes. BUT YOU MUST NOT TOUCH THIS ONE as it is old and probably has ceramic fuse holders (perfectly safe if untouched, I add)

If by sealed you mean a couple of southern electric stickers. haha! I know to let sleeping dogs lie...

I will ask my "DNO" If they can replace & at what cost ?? a ball park figure would be nice though As for the Indian cable I will let them know next door but the reply will probably be "that's an Insurance Job Iis'ntit?"...

Thanks again for the helpful replys

 

[Steve]

By sealed I mean by a metal security tag, crimped with a lead blob. Look carefully on the opposite side to the hinges. Though a cutout that old may have "lost" its seal at some point.

DNOs will often change very old stuff FOC, but may charge if they dont consider the work nessecary. There are thousands of these units still in operation, and they rarely go wrong. The most common fault is tar leaking from the cable termination due to overheating, but thats doesnt appear to be a problem here.

Just leave it be - you have an earth, and you have power.

Why would the tails be a insurance job? DNO will do it FOC usually, like I said above.

 

[pieman2008i]

I will see what the DNO say about it, hopefull it will b free? If not I wouldn't mind paying to get rid.

"That's an Insurance Job Isn't it?" Is my neighbours (landlords) answer to most things...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

their supply should be updated, they have VIR tails

And they look woefully undersized to boot...

 

[Steve]

their supply should be updated, they have VIR tails

And they look woefully undersized to boot...

If it is a 100 amp fuse. The fuse carrier may be 100 amps, but the fuse within may only be 60 or less.

 

[Steve]

I will see what the DNO say about it, hopefull it will b free? If not I wouldn't mind paying to get rid..

Its a working live job (the incoming cable remains live throughout) so wont be cheap if they charge im afraid.

 

[pieman2008i]

their supply should be updated, they have VIR tails

And they look woefully undersized to boot...

There earth doesnt look all that good either?

Also forgot to say that My local DNO is EDF, dunno if thats relevant? bonjour pouvez vous changer ma tête de service! LOL

I will find out if there is a cost & post back So that others can get a rough idea how much...


thanks again

 

[Steve]

Also forgot to say that My local DNO is EDF, dunno if thats relevant? bonjour pouvez vous changer ma tête de service! LOL

Bonjour monsieur, J'ai mal a la tête. Ca coute combien?

As far as my french goes

 

[pieman2008i]

Did a bit of research into changing a service cutout http://www.eon-uk.com/Installation_of_domestic_meters.pdf

found this

Outdoor boxes must not be installed:
• inside a property

hehe

or: Des boîtes extérieures ne doivent pas être installées
• à l'intérieur d'une propriété