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Does this look like an old-style fuse box?
- Thread starter RogerS
- Start date
SamQ aka Ah! Q!
Old Oak
Yes. And no. The black rectangles to the left look like fuse holders. The projecting white box on the right looks like an R.C.D. from a more modern installation. Looks like "MEM" as a manufacturer, but it's a very blurred image.
StevieB
Nordic Pine
Lets just say it certainly doesn't look like a new one, so budget for replacing it if looking to work out whether to purchase the property or not, and at least a full wiring inspection if not rewire if it is as old as it looks......
Lons
Old Oak
Yes it's old, I'm pretty sure I have one removed from here 25 years ago. As Sam says possibly fuse holders but just as likely to use old fashioned fuse wire. The newer trip on the right is likely to be a replacement and used for maybe an electric shower a common upgrade.
As Steve says you should budget / negotiate for replacement and possibly a full rewire though if it's working properly I don't believe you could be forced to change it.
As Steve says you should budget / negotiate for replacement and possibly a full rewire though if it's working properly I don't believe you could be forced to change it.
Thanks, chaps. Full rewire is out of the question, that's for certain. Shoestring is my middle name.
Even if it's not working properly, no-one can force you to change it as far as I know. Unlike gas. Wonder if the place actually has a ring main
Mike G
Petrified Pine
Whilst that's true, insurance companies can place substantial financial pressure on you to update, particularly if the house is thatched.
Wasn’t paying attention this morning when BBC breakfast had an item about some lecky tariffs not being available on older style fuseboxes. Can’t find anything in website but might be worth a quick look in iPlayer
That's an excellent point, Mike. Think I'll fill in a few insurance forms to see how the land lies.
SamQ aka Ah! Q!
Old Oak
Indeed Malcolm. I had ones just such in my first house in 1985. As Lons says above, some versions used fuse wire. It was common in our street to have a 'card' in the fuse box with the differing fuse wires (different amperages) wound onto it, ready for a fast repair.Am I right in remembering that the round blobs that seem to be on the fuses are the colour code for the fuse wire? Which suggest to me it could be old. A bit like me.
Mike G
Petrified Pine
I got my card out yesterday, and used one of the finer wires to repair something I'd broken. It comes in very handy, but I'm running low, and I doubt replacements will be straightforward.
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AJB Temple
Sequoia
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Ancient Wylex so decent quality, but only a few circuits. Generally these old systems end up with lots of spurs and concomitant risks. Will be black and red throughout so insulation degradation is a risk too.
StevieB
Nordic Pine
But can you negotiate the price of the rewire off the purchase price? We had a wired fuse box in our first house - nothing like waking up to the smell of burning plastic to make you change your mind on the price of safety. We were lucky, caught it before any serious damage, but it could have been so much worse.
spb
Nordic Pine
Yes and no, for the reasons others have mentioned and also: a board of that age will not have any RCD protection on the final circuits, and it's now a requirement to have that on any non-steel-armoured cables buried in walls. While it's true that you won't be forced to change the existing installation, you won't be able to add any new cabling/sockets/etc without first adding RCD protection to the relevant circuits - unless you enjoy surface mounted trunking to avoid hidden cables.
More generally, a lot of electricians will look at that and say they're not touching anything else until it's updated. Just because it's legal doesn't mean they have to do work they're not comfortable certifying.
HappyHacker
Sapling
The red switch on the right looks like the main switch, the next white item to the left looks like a MCB plug in fuse replacement. The metal looking items on the left are probably fuse holders.
The consumer unit can be replaced with a modern. The main consideration for a rewire is the condition of the wiring and the accessories. PVC wiring is generally OK and a condition report by someone who knows what they are doing rather than the "drive by" type would be the only way of really knowing.
I have passed may old installations as safe and failed some on easy to fix issues. Modern regs make things safer but the old installations are usually as safe as they were when installed.
The consumer unit can be replaced with a modern. The main consideration for a rewire is the condition of the wiring and the accessories. PVC wiring is generally OK and a condition report by someone who knows what they are doing rather than the "drive by" type would be the only way of really knowing.
I have passed may old installations as safe and failed some on easy to fix issues. Modern regs make things safer but the old installations are usually as safe as they were when installed.
I'm done with upheaval like that, Steve.
spb
Nordic Pine
Right. It'll be fine as long as you don't want to change anything electrical, but if that's the age of the electrics then the chances of every room already having enough sockets is slim. On the plus side, a board change without rewiring is quick and not intrusive.
marineboy
New Shoots
I had my old Wylex fuse board replaced a couple of years ago. It’s actually more than a couple of hours work because the spark will need to test the existing wiring and produce an EICR (electrical installation condition report) and also notify the local authority. Mine took a day and a half and cost me a very reasonable £700 all in.
Am I right in remembering that the round blobs that seem to be on the fuses are the colour code for the fuse wire? Which suggest to me it could be old. A bit like me.
If I recall correctly, white is 5A, blue is 15A and red is 30A. And there was a yellow one which would have been either 10A or 20A. But my memory may be inaccurate. Fuse wire is still available. And there is a bit of a knack to getting the wire to sit correctly – as you may have guessed I have a lot of old properties. All of which now comply with the EICR recommendations. So historical interest only. Although no insurer has ever asked, unless of course you count the coverall clause: ‘compliant with all known, prospective or fictionary legislative provisions’. I paraphrase somewhat, of course.
There is actually nothing wrong with the old system, but any electrician doing an EICR will insist on a new trip switch unit being put in. One could make an argument that a system where it was a bit of a faff to replace a fuse wire might encourage an investigation into why it had tripped, rather than just resetting a switch and not bothering. But it’s easier just to follow the recommendations.