Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?

Bruce

expressed precisely :
The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

This was propably deliberate, to prevent someone using the boiler
supply socket for a normal appliance.

--


--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.org

wrote in message
roups.com...
Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

You sure this isn't an 1950s (or earlier) house ?

If there are round pin sockets I would be worrying about the wiring - unless
maybe the previous owner was a die-hard individualist and preferred round
pin sockets - I've heard tell they may well be technically superior to
square pins. Is it just the one socket ?



On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?

Bruce

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 10:24:04 -0800, bruce_phipps wrote:

Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?

This is quite a common feature of boiler installations of that period.
The idea is that that boiler can be isolated but the plug can't/won't be
used for anything else. It will/should be fused at 3A (the other switch)
and controlled by the timers/programmers and 'stats.

Semi enclosed rewireable fuse holders can often be directly replaced with
MCBs, (but you must get the right type and maker to fit your fuse box).



--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

On 3 Jan 2005 10:24:04 -0800, strung together
this:

Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

Nothing wrong with that as long as it's all safe.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

A what type? There's nothing wrong with a round pin plug and socket,
as long as they're safe.

On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?

No, you should leave it alone and call an electrician. Fuses don't pop
out, they blow.
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

Lurch wrote:
On 3 Jan 2005 10:24:04 -0800, strung together
this:

On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?


No, you should leave it alone and call an electrician. Fuses don't pop
out, they blow.

Diazed (sp?) fuses do, sort of, maybe the OP was thinking about these
these

Lee
--
Email address is valid, but is unlikely to be read.

In article .com,
wrote:
Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Round pin sockets weren't original in the '70s. Except those nasty D&S 13
amp types which used a fuse as one of the pins. The present 13 amp plugs
came in just after WW2 on new builds.

Could be the round pin plug for the CH is to prevent anyone plugging in
anything else - it's still common practice for table lamps on a lighting
circuit that would blow with a 13 amp load.

--
*Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 19:55:13 +0000, Lee
strung together this:

Diazed (sp?) fuses do, sort of, maybe the OP was thinking about these
these

Hmm, bit far fetched that thought!
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

Lurch wrote:
On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 19:55:13 +0000, Lee
strung together this:


Diazed (sp?) fuses do, sort of, maybe the OP was thinking about these
these


Hmm, bit far fetched that thought!

Come on guys, give the OP a break!! He means 'replace the fuses with
modern _circuit breakers_ that pop out, I'm sure.
I wouldn't have thought that you would _need_ to replace them, but there
may well be a case for doing so.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...

*Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one? *

...the same reason as 22 isn't pronounced tooty too and 33 isn't pronounced
threety three?

Dave

"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...
Lurch wrote:
On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 19:55:13 +0000, Lee
strung together this:


Diazed (sp?) fuses do, sort of, maybe the OP was thinking about these
these


Hmm, bit far fetched that thought!

Come on guys, give the OP a break!! He means 'replace the fuses with
modern _circuit breakers_ that pop out, I'm sure.
I wouldn't have thought that you would _need_ to replace them, but there
may well be a case for doing so.

Shame he can't do that now, Part P has arrived !!

Stephen Dawson wrote:
"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...

Lurch wrote:

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 19:55:13 +0000, Lee
strung together this:



Diazed (sp?) fuses do, sort of, maybe the OP was thinking about these
these


Hmm, bit far fetched that thought!

Come on guys, give the OP a break!! He means 'replace the fuses with
modern _circuit breakers_ that pop out, I'm sure.
I wouldn't have thought that you would _need_ to replace them, but there
may well be a case for doing so.


Shame he can't do that now, Part P has arrived !!


Replacing fuses with the plug-in type breakers _must_ be minor works,
surely?

"Lurch" wrote
| Diazed (sp?) fuses do, sort of, maybe the OP was thinking about these
| these
| Hmm, bit far fetched that thought!

AIUI they were very common in Ireland. I know this is UK diy but we're all
in the common market now.

Owain

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 21:18:44 GMT, Andrew Chesters
strung together this:

Replacing fuses with the plug-in type breakers _must_ be minor works,
surely?

Problem is, the OP sounds very much like someone who shouldn't be
doing electrical works so what's the point?
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

wrote in message
oups.com...
Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?

Bruce


These round pin plugs are still obtainable, and are more commonly used on things
that you don't want anything else to be simply plugged in to that outlet.

The boiler in your case could have this set up to make sure it's completely
isolated from the power supply when being serviced. This would now be more
commonly done using a double pole switch with the cable connected directly into
it.

If you do have any doubts about the safety of the wiring, then contact your
local electricity supplier and ask for it to be tested. They'll make a small
charge but it's worth having the peace of mind knowing the whole house isn't
going to heat up through the cables in the walls. They may also find that the
mains supply cable needs upgraded from the street if the house hasn't been
touched in all that time.

If it ain't broked, don't repair it.

BigWallop wrote:

If you do have any doubts about the safety of the wiring, then contact your
local electricity supplier and ask for it to be tested.


I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!

"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:

If you do have any doubts about the safety of the wiring, then contact your
local electricity supplier and ask for it to be tested.


I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!


I have to deal with Leccy Suppliers an awful lot all over the country, and they
all still seem have a test request system in operation. You have work done, you
send off a postcard or letter to them with the details on it, they send someone
"qualified" around to test it and re-seal where needed.

You might be thinking of the Gas Companies on this one.

BigWallop wrote:
"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...

BigWallop wrote:


If you do have any doubts about the safety of the wiring, then contact your
local electricity supplier and ask for it to be tested.


I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!



I have to deal with Leccy Suppliers an awful lot all over the country, and they
all still seem have a test request system in operation. You have work done, you
send off a postcard or letter to them with the details on it, they send someone
"qualified" around to test it and re-seal where needed.

You might be thinking of the Gas Companies on this one.


I was thinking more of a general "wiring inspection" type, than an
"after works" check.

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 21:20:30 -0000, "Owain"
strung together this:

AIUI they were very common in Ireland.

I've never wired anything up across there! I've seen them in control
panels from Europe and that's about it.
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 22:14:36 GMT, "BigWallop"
strung together this:

I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!

I have to deal with Leccy Suppliers an awful lot all over the country, and they
all still seem have a test request system in operation. You have work done, you
send off a postcard or letter to them with the details on it, they send someone
"qualified" around to test it and re-seal where needed.

You might be thinking of the Gas Companies on this one.

The leccy companies do both. If you ask them for a proper wiring test
they'll send out an electrician to test the place and charge for it.

What Andrew is on about is the cards they drop through the door
inviting you to have your wiring checked for free, with a footnote to
say that someone will just glance at it.
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:
"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...

BigWallop wrote:


If you do have any doubts about the safety of the wiring, then contact your
local electricity supplier and ask for it to be tested.


I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!

I have to deal with Leccy Suppliers an awful lot all over the country, and
they
all still seem have a test request system in operation. You have work done,
you
send off a postcard or letter to them with the details on it, they send
someone
"qualified" around to test it and re-seal where needed.

You might be thinking of the Gas Companies on this one.


I was thinking more of a general "wiring inspection" type, than an
"after works" check.

Yes, they also do tests for you if you ask them nicely. In fact, because the
new Part P amendments of the building regulations are now in force, they will
soon be asked to do a lot more testing of domestic installations, especially
before, during or after the sale of the houses. It may also, sooner rather than
later, become a necessity to have a complete survey done on the house before you
sell it on. This will include safety tests on all Gas, Water and Electricity
installations, as well as structural and heating efficiency tests.

All the mains services suppliers have testing request schemes in operation for
the common man to command. :-)

"Lurch" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 22:14:36 GMT, "BigWallop"
strung together this:

I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!

I have to deal with Leccy Suppliers an awful lot all over the country, and
they
all still seem have a test request system in operation. You have work done,
you
send off a postcard or letter to them with the details on it, they send
someone
"qualified" around to test it and re-seal where needed.

You might be thinking of the Gas Companies on this one.

The leccy companies do both. If you ask them for a proper wiring test
they'll send out an electrician to test the place and charge for it.

What Andrew is on about is the cards they drop through the door
inviting you to have your wiring checked for free, with a footnote to
say that someone will just glance at it.


Ah ha ! The penny drops. I see what Andrew means now, Lurch. Thanks for
clearing that up.

Yes Andrew, all the Leccy Suppliers will send someone "qualified" out to do a
system test for you, and usually at a small fee now'a'days as Lurch says. A
call to their Customer Services usually is enough to get the ball rolling.

"BigWallop" wrote in message
...

"Andrew Chesters" wrote in message
...
BigWallop wrote:

If you do have any doubts about the safety of the wiring, then contact
your
local electricity supplier and ask for it to be tested.


I'm surprised that you wrote that! Do they send out electricians in
your area? I have heard from semi-reliable sources that they are more
likely to send a salesman who has been trained to suck his teeth and say
"Who fitted that for you?" or "I haven't seen one like that before?" or
some such ****e. Then tell you the whole lot needs rewiring at ££CHING!


I have to deal with Leccy Suppliers an awful lot all over the country, and
they
all still seem have a test request system in operation. You have work
done, you
send off a postcard or letter to them with the details on it, they send
someone
"qualified" around to test it and re-seal where needed.

You might be thinking of the Gas Companies on this one.

Same company round here. United Utilities - how to get it all wrong !

"Lurch" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 21:20:30 -0000, "Owain"
strung together this:

AIUI they were very common in Ireland.

I've never wired anything up across there! I've seen them in control
panels from Europe and that's about it.


They were also very common in the rest of Europe and the UK. In fact, diazed
fuses (bottle fuses) were very common all over the world at one time or another,
but they all soon got replaced as technology advanced.

wrote:

Just moved into a 1970s house. It seems to have a lot of the original
electrics still installed.

The gas CH boiler is connected to the mains by means of a 3-pin plug
with *round* pins going into a 3-round pin socket. There is a separate
fused on/off switch for the boiler adjacent to this socket.

Should I swap the round-pin plug and socket for a modern "bayonet" type
or doesn't it matter?

On a related point, the mains fuse unit is old but seems OK. Should I
replace it with the modern type that "pop out" when a fuse blows?


Its a tough call.

IF you have just moved in, frankly I'd get the place rewired NOW to
modern standards.

It will be less hassle.

That would include replacing wirimng where appropiate and also chaning
consumer unit to modern RCD/MCB protection.

IIRC 15A round pins were a sign of radially wired circuits, not ring mains.

Today 5A rounds are a de facto standard for lighting circuits with
removeable lamps .


Bruce

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
IF you have just moved in, frankly I'd get the place rewired NOW to
modern standards.

A '70s build house *should* be nearly to modern standards - and shouldn't
need a total re-wire to bring it up to scratch. Of course, if it's sadly
lacking in sockets etc or has had extras badly installed it might be the
easiest option

It will be less hassle.

That would include replacing wirimng where appropiate and also chaning
consumer unit to modern RCD/MCB protection.

IIRC 15A round pins were a sign of radially wired circuits, not ring
mains.

Not in a '70s build.

Today 5A rounds are a de facto standard for lighting circuits with
removeable lamps .

I use 2 amp.

--
*If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher writes:

Its a tough call.

IF you have just moved in, frankly I'd get the place rewired NOW to
modern standards.

It will be less hassle.

That's not warranted based on the information supplied.

That would include replacing wirimng where appropiate and also chaning
consumer unit to modern RCD/MCB protection.

IIRC 15A round pins were a sign of radially wired circuits, not ring mains.

Today 5A rounds are a de facto standard for lighting circuits with
removeable lamps .

Actually, the 2A one was more common for this purpose.
Commercially it has been mostly replaced by the Klik plugs
and sockets nowadays. I use Klik for supplying fixed lighting
like under/over cupboards, and the 2A round pin for remotely
switched table lights on the lighting circuit.

--
Andrew Gabriel

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Owain"
saying something like:

bottle fuses
AIUI they were very common in Ireland.

Still are. There are plenty of older installations (up to the 80s) with
them in place.
--

Dave

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 18:46:02 GMT, "brugnospamsia"
wrote:

I've heard tell they may well be technically superior to
square pins.

Yes, they are better...they exhibit far less resistance than square
pinned sockets and (Gold plated ones) are much loved by audiophiles.

On Mon, 3 Jan 2005 21:20:30 -0000, "Owain"
wrote:

AIUI they were very common in Ireland. I know this is UK diy but we're all
in the common market now.

If you mean those fuses that look a bit like ceramic "bottles" that
are held in the fuse box by a threaded cap then, yes, they are very
common in Eire.

sPoNiX

sPONiX wrote:

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 18:46:02 GMT, "brugnospamsia"
wrote:


I've heard tell they may well be technically superior to

square pins.


Yes, they are better...they exhibit far less resistance than square
pinned sockets and (Gold plated ones) are much loved by audiophiles.

They are often much worse. The square pinnded ones allow the use of
contacts that are flat and springy. Anyone who used the old round ones
knows that after a while they worked loose, started arcing and were a
definite hazard.

The fact that they are oved by audiophiles is enough to show you that
they are fundamentally inferior in every way.