Some fair points made there Ben , but please don’t say forty or fifty year old rewirble fuse boards are dangerous , if they are in good condition they with no signs of damage overheating or burning or access to exposed live parts that they are perfectly safe as long as all your test results are within the acceptable range set out in BS7671. Also RCD protection is only required for new circuits/ installations as of BS7671 17th edition amendment three going forward. We are not required to add RCD/RCBO to older installations designed before the 17th edition amendment three .not even if we add extra lights or sockets to existing circuits. BS7671 HSE NOTE requires installers do not recommend a replacement or upgrade of existing CUs simply because they are old . Page 99 in the onsite guide makes that absolutely clear. Packs of Fuse wire is still available they come as packs of four sizes 5amp 15 amp fifteen amp and thirty amp and some packs will have 45 amp as well. If the client ask for the CU to be replaced/upgraded then fine. But don’t use scare tactics like saying the CU is old and or dangerous and doesn’t comply with the regulations. To make the client go for a new CU it should be and is the client’s decision. Not ours. Do I think they should be replaced ? Yes I do , but I will not replace them simply because they are old and I think it should be replaced I will advise the client of the benefits of a new CU and let them decide if they want to go with it or not . I will always make sure that the installation is safe for continued use and hope that they will give me the go ahead or they call me back to replace the existing CU however if we are installing a new circuit or a rewire then yes we must comply with the current edition of BS7671 and that will mean RCD protection so yes a CU replacement/upgrade will be necessary.
Great points made and as an electrical designer i agree. There are so many buildings within Cambridge university that still have this in use. In my report i will make a note that this is installed and they have no intention of replacing them.
SPDs used with in the boards are type 1 and 2, the ones used with in extension leads are type 3, this gives you extra protection. Might want to have a review of your statement.
Interesting discussion topic Ben. Some of the old Wylex boards are OK, still OK if no changes required. However I have seen OLD boards replaced by Stevie Wonder or John Wayne with such a lack of compentency that the install is now unsafe and certainly in a worse condition. The materials used also make a difference. As a side note your Milwaukee Spirit level seems to be faulty. The CU and connection box behind you seem to be a bit Mil WONKY
Sergio. Ben always comes up with some good topics to discuss . He’s clearly passionate about the industry. He’s previous video the other day where he challenged and old CU for a nice new black lewden CU was brilliant and he gave a good indeath explanation to what he was doing and why. Well worth watching. Oh yah I received my prize from eFIXX this morning. A pack of five metal cutting disks and a marksman chalk pen , now I have to buy an angle grinder 😂
As an electrical designer im fine with my wylex fuse board(i have the mcb upgrade due to me being lazy). I have a new consumer unit sitting in my office waiting to be installed however due to the awkward position it forced me to make a CU relocation box(wasnt happy with the plastic wago one so made a full metal enclosure one). Im still sourcing some galv trunking to complete my plan but this is me wanting something done right in my house. I will then run full RCBOs and plenty of spare ways for futre additions such as EV(i wont own one) and Pv with large battery storage so i can run on island mode. You haven't brought up CUs for landlords of HMOs, they will require AFDDs and i believe something was stated that landlords need to make sure thay rented properties meets current standards. (i dont design domestic, i tend to work on £50m-200m properties)
my fuses have to be replaced when they burn out and there is 0 ground fault protection. i think it's pretty obvious i need a rehaul 😄 im guessing the board is from the 1960's
they did put in fuses with switches, at some point. only on circuits where the fuses blew at some point. anyway, im redoing the whole install and my dad is an electrical code inspector so itll be done good :) thanks for sharing your vid, xoxo
Some fair points made there Ben , but please don’t say forty or fifty year old rewirble fuse boards are dangerous , if they are in good condition they with no signs of damage overheating or burning or access to exposed live parts that they are perfectly safe as long as all your test results are within the acceptable range set out in BS7671. Also RCD protection is only required for new circuits/ installations as of BS7671 17th edition amendment three going forward. We are not required to add RCD/RCBO to older installations designed before the 17th edition amendment three .not even if we add extra lights or sockets to existing circuits. BS7671 HSE NOTE requires installers do not recommend a replacement or upgrade of existing CUs simply because they are old . Page 99 in the onsite guide makes that absolutely clear. Packs of Fuse wire is still available they come as packs of four sizes 5amp 15 amp fifteen amp and thirty amp and some packs will have 45 amp as well.
If the client ask for the CU to be replaced/upgraded then fine. But don’t use scare tactics like saying the CU is old and or dangerous and doesn’t comply with the regulations. To make the client go for a new CU it should be and is the client’s decision. Not ours. Do I think they should be replaced ? Yes I do , but I will not replace them simply because they are old and I think it should be replaced I will advise the client of the benefits of a new CU and let them decide if they want to go with it or not . I will always make sure that the installation is safe for continued use and hope that they will give me the go ahead or they call me back to replace the existing CU however if we are installing a new circuit or a rewire then yes we must comply with the current edition of BS7671 and that will mean RCD protection so yes a CU replacement/upgrade will be necessary.
Great points made and as an electrical designer i agree. There are so many buildings within Cambridge university that still have this in use. In my report i will make a note that this is installed and they have no intention of replacing them.
SPDs used with in the boards are type 1 and 2, the ones used with in extension leads are type 3, this gives you extra protection. Might want to have a review of your statement.
Yes this is something I have currently learnt. There are different types of surge protection
Interesting discussion topic Ben. Some of the old Wylex boards are OK, still OK if no changes required. However I have seen OLD boards replaced by Stevie Wonder or John Wayne with such a lack of compentency that the install is now unsafe and certainly in a worse condition. The materials used also make a difference.
As a side note your Milwaukee Spirit level seems to be faulty. The CU and connection box behind you seem to be a bit
Mil WONKY
Sergio. Ben always comes up with some good topics to discuss . He’s clearly passionate about the industry. He’s previous video the other day where he challenged and old CU for a nice new black lewden CU was brilliant and he gave a good indeath explanation to what he was doing and why. Well worth watching. Oh yah I received my prize from eFIXX this morning. A pack of five metal cutting disks and a marksman chalk pen , now I have to buy an angle grinder 😂
@@Dog-whisperer7494 angle grinder, lol. I am still waiting for my eFixx prize. Been almost 3 months.
As an electrical designer im fine with my wylex fuse board(i have the mcb upgrade due to me being lazy). I have a new consumer unit sitting in my office waiting to be installed however due to the awkward position it forced me to make a CU relocation box(wasnt happy with the plastic wago one so made a full metal enclosure one). Im still sourcing some galv trunking to complete my plan but this is me wanting something done right in my house. I will then run full RCBOs and plenty of spare ways for futre additions such as EV(i wont own one) and Pv with large battery storage so i can run on island mode. You haven't brought up CUs for landlords of HMOs, they will require AFDDs and i believe something was stated that landlords need to make sure thay rented properties meets current standards. (i dont design domestic, i tend to work on £50m-200m properties)
If these properties are of high value, I would look into installing AFDD too to future proof the install too
Its not about value.... Its about safety.
When looking for a good electrician to do a fuse board change what should I be asking them to ensure I am getting a good spark?
my fuses have to be replaced when they burn out and there is 0 ground fault protection. i think it's pretty obvious i need a rehaul 😄 im guessing the board is from the 1960's
they did put in fuses with switches, at some point. only on circuits where the fuses blew at some point. anyway, im redoing the whole install and my dad is an electrical code inspector so itll be done good :) thanks for sharing your vid, xoxo
I think it’s time bud
Ahhhh nice - you dad will make sure it’s right
Probably just become average Surgeons or Astronauts