Upgrading a fuse box

milliebear00001

Hi there

I posted earlier about my house survey coming back, but this is a single question I am hoping to get some advice on.

The house I am in the process of buying has old fashioned wiring and an old-style fuse box. I want to know if it's possible to change the fuse box to a modern one, without rewiring the whole house? I am most concerned to make sure there is a trip switch/easy to replace fuses etc.

Thanks

aboard_epsilon

I wouldn't call call grey pvc old fashion wiring ..cause they are still using it ..the only difference is the colours have changed.

the old black rubber stuff is the stuff to worry about ...

yes you can change the fuse boxes to a modern one with mcbs and rcd on the imput ..

it may mean moving it up the wall ..as the wires will may be too short......moving up the wall will catch them up .

What I don't like, is your decryption of all your wiring, being in plastic conduet....not unsafe ..but unsightly inside a house ..i would not like it .

As long as it's your house and you live there, and you feel yourself that you are competent to do it..you can do what you want ...

Problems will only come when you sell-on ...when they start suggesting the same things again.

all the best.markj

milliebear00001

aboard_epsilon wrote: »

I wouldnt call call grey pvc old fashion wiring ..cause they are still using it ..the only difference is the colours have changed.

the old black rubber stuff is the stuff to worry about ...

yes you can change the fuse boxes to a modern one with mcbs and rcd on the imput ..

it may mean moving it up the wall ..as the wires will may be too short......moving up the wall will catch them up .

What I dont like, is your decription of all your wiring, being in plastic conduet....not unsafe ..but unsightly insde a house ..i would not like it .

As long as it's your house and you live there, and you feel yourself that you are competant to do it..you can do what you want ...

Problems will only come when you sell-on ...when they start sugesting the same things again.

all the best.markj

Thanks for your response. Yes, that's a very valid point, and I do intend to have a rewire at some stage. I just can't afford it immediately (it's not all the wiring that's in conduits by the way - most is buried). My main concern, is to ensure there are at least circuit breakers in the short-term, with a view to a rewire before I sell on in 4-5 years. Glad to know that's a possibility in the short-term.

Would I just ask an electrician to quote for removal of old, plus supply and fitting, of a modern fuse box?

justjohn

get a quote for rewire....hunt hard you may be surprised at the prices you get

aboard_epsilon

btw ..before you do anything ...if it hasnt got one already ..have a mains isolator switch put in betweeen the meter and the fuse box...this should be provided and fitted free of charge by your electricity company .

all the best.markj

baldelectrician

aboard_epsilon wrote: »

btw ..before you do anything ...if it hasnt got one already ..have a mains isolator switch put in betweeen the meter and the fuse box...this should be provided and fitted free of charge by your electricity company

Scottish Power charge £85 for this (isolator costs £15 an takes 15 mins to do)

milliebear00001

aboard_epsilon wrote: »

btw ..before you do anything ...if it hasnt got one already ..have a mains isolator switch put in betweeen the meter and the fuse box...this should be provided and fitted free of charge by your electricity company .

all the best.markj

What does this do?!

Jonesya

milliebear00001 wrote: »

What does this do?!

Allows the electrician to isolate the electrical supplies to the fuse board so he can work on it safely.

vaio

as opposed to pulling the main fuse (which is what they do so they can fit the isolator safely)

Jonesya

vaio wrote: »

as opposed to pulling the main fuse (which is what they do so they can fit the isolator safely)

Which the person installing the isolator is authorised by the DNO to do, but the electrician is not.