DIYbanter - View Single Post - Non-fused and non-earthed

wrote:
wrote:

More detail would really help, but it sounds like this might be an
ancient rubber installation in need of replacement. If its 1960s pvc
with unearthed lighting, there is a lot less to worry about, though it
would still be short of modern standards.

Either way I doubt theres much mileage in an inspection/test, since it
will fail on a number of points, and if you dont understand the issues
with it now you ilkely wouldnt be able to put the test result issues
into a meaningful perspective. And to rectify things would need a full
rewire anyway.

That leaves motivation from finding out how much is wrong as the only
use of an inspection, but you could get that free by telling us more
about it.

It's my friends flat and he knows nothing about DIY stuff. It looks to
me like a 60's type building - a purpose built block of flats in
Brighton.

ok. That coudl cover a fair range though, from knackered 50s rubber
with local earth rod and no ELCB to a 1960s ashathene instalaltion with
proper earthing arrangements. The first is pretty dodgy, the 2nd would
be very much better.

He says that's all the fuses were removed when they tried to isolate
the kitchen.

If this is true, there is a fairly serious problem safetywise.

Apparently there was somehting about a master fuse that meant that a
new consumer unit wouldn't be feasible to be installed. Sounds
unlikely to me.

yes, its not correct.

Even if the lighting had no earth one can wire up a
modern CU with different types of circuits.

one can. What legal position it puts a professional spark in is another
matter.

The guy bought the flat a couple of years ago and the electrics were
deemed as "old" but no mention was made to being unsafe etc but I
reckon it must have only been a basic survey.

With these surveys they dont assess the electrics to any useful extent.

There are extra sockets
in the rooms surface mounted on skirting with the cable tacked on the
skirting around the room so I guess the cowboys have been in before.

Sounds like a big improvement on the original wiring.

The kitchen fitter who did the kitchen moved some sockets but again
they're horrible surface mounted and the diagonal wire that goes to one
of them isn't shielded. Not really a big deal I guess but I wonder
what else is wrong.

Wire positioning that doesnt comply is a trivial matter, and pretty
much the norm in housing today. So I wouldnt worry myself over cable on
the skirting board.

Inability to switch off a circuit even after pulling all the fuses
indicates a serious problem. It would take hundreds of amps in that
circuit before the incomer fuse blew, and the wiring would melt or
catch fire in the process. And opf course the end user would have no
way to reset the fuse, and no power until the leccy board visited. And
they may well refuse to reconnect.

What would help next is if you posted some pics, eg of light switches,
the various cables and maybe the CU / fusebox area.

NT