understanding my new electrical set up

leeruddecology

Hello I am in the process of purchasing a house and I have a slightly dated electrical system. If you check out the link it connects you to a slideshow of some photographs.


I understand the cables at the bottom are grey PVC so that's better than cloth or rubber I have heard about in older systems.


I don't know the model so I wasn't able to explore any further. Does anyone know the model of the consumer box by looking at it?


I assume there are no breakers. I can see an on off switch which looks like a breaker but assume its not quite the same.


Any advice on the set up is welcomed.


https://youtu.be/ENtLYfxMS2k

Head_The_Ball

Did you get an Electrical Report as part of the house conveyancing? What does that state?

If you are in any doubts over the set up then get a qualified electrician to give it a check over. £50 or £100 or whatever it will cost is well worth either peace of mind or eliminating a possible dangerous problem.

I'm no expert but it looks like a standard set up from a few decades ago of one Main switch plus 6 ceramic fuse holders supplying 6 circuits that could be a mixture of lighting, mains and oven. We had a similar set up in a 1961 built house although that had older type wiring that I can see in your video.

A qualified electrician may comment further and will probably know what amperage the colours on the fuse holders indicate.

Unless you have a specific electrical problem it should work just fine for a long time. Don't fix what isn't broke but do get it checked anyway.

What does the timer on the right do? Central heating perhaps?

Do the two grey wires to the left come from an Electrical Board box? (Meter tails)

Some wider still pictures would help.

You can check which fuse controls which circuit by removing them one by one and checking what no longer works.

Keep spare fuse wire or fuses (depending on what is in those ceramic fuse holders) and a torch handy in case a fuse ever blows.

Enjoy your new house.

Wi88le

Looks like an older style Wylex board that has had re-wirable fuses that have been changed to a plug in circuit breaker.

Google image search Wylex rewirable fuse circuit breaker

brightontraveller

Looks like a 50- 60s “wylex standard range” Metalclad (Manufactured until 1980s with little change)

Wylex WEM 80/a RCD most likely 100ma http://srselectrical.co.uk/image/cache/data/SRS%20Electrical/DSC00620-500x500.jpg

With wylex push button MCB probably had rewireable fuses, that have been 'upgraded' to MCB.
Installation would fail test (although looks like little added) Will need a rewire sooner rather than later.......

leeruddecology

Thank you for your responses.

The timer is for the heating - combi boiler.

The only report I have to date is the valuation survey as the surveyor said due to the need for modernising a home buyer report was not fit for purpose. I'll be honest I don't really understand this position my.

That said they highlighted within the valuation survey that the electrical installation had cause for concern and they there was risk of asbestos being present. Probably true on the later as it was built in the 1950s. I followed the elelectrical pond my up and they said it's because it's dated.

I'm yet to exchange but nearly there. I don't think I will gain much by doing the electrical test pre exchange because I do not believe from previous correspondence they would offer any discount if remedial works are needed. They say sold as seen (corporate sale).

I will look into getting an electrical test done once I move in. I'll also get the boiler checked out - check for gas leak etc.

I don't have much spare cash but was hoping for reassurance that this set up isn't intrinsically dangerous or hazardous. If so I guess I would consider a loan as my safety is important. Of course!

leeruddecology

brightontraveller wrote: »

Looks like a 50- 60s “wylex standard range” Metalclad (Manufactured until 1980s with little change)

Wylex WEM 80/a RCD most likely 100ma http://srselectrical.co.uk/image/cache/data/SRS%20Electrical/DSC00620-500x500.jpg

Assuming this has some benefit with safety as it will cut out in the event of issue.

With wylex push button MCB probably had rewireable fuses, that have been 'upgraded' to MCB.
Installation would fail test (although looks like little added) Will need a rewire sooner rather than later.......

If installation would fail test does this mean an electrician would condeem it?

And regards re-wire do you mean the entire house - based on wires you can see or the logically assumption the wiring will be as old as the system. The house was built around 1955

brightontraveller

Not condemn but fail it or parts at least yes ? and yes full rewire

A test should tell you immediate faults, dangers but unlikely how long installation would remain “safe” if your thinking of decorating, plastering, changing lighting, adding sockets etc within next 3-5 years then I’d rewire it if your doing nowt too it then It will most likely be fine
If built in 50s I’d say all original (probably no earthing on lighting) Depends on how you define “safe” and if you want to add anything to it, have kids, pets dont just use 1950s appliances and like retro living etc I’d say not safe ?

But plenty on here think 60 + year old installations are fine:rotfl:also 4 -8 way extension leads tend to be there rewire solution and gaffer tape is there main construction material)

Heedtheadvice

There is no doubt that your prospective installation would not conform to current regulations within the UK.
However that does not mean it is intrinsically unsafe or that you need to do work. It would be advisable that it is modernised and a full electrical inspection could advise if there is a current safety problem and if rewire is necessary now.

It ought to be desirable to rewire now anyway to get the whole system up to date especially whilst you property will be empty.

You do seem to be between a rock and a hard place! Cannot afford to get report before you move in; maybe move in and find there are problems (not just with electrics too)and cannot afford to get the work done or no allowance in your budget; or find you need to do work in the future having settled in redecorated etc. and then find you have lots of disruption and wasted expenditure!

Or all might be well for years!

Better to know where you stand? Look at other property that you can buy with some spare capital as contingency?

Could just be a leap of faith!

stator

Be careful with the heating control. I had that one when I moved in, broke it by turning it the wrong way. Replaces with a modern system also.

It's always best to get the electrics up to standard anyway, you don't know what 'sins' may have been committed by the original installer or any bodgers since then. Get those floorboards up and have a look

Mr.Generous

Nothing in that link would really worry me, your mains board has RCD and MCB circuit protection. It has breakers of different ratings (I would check they are suitable ratings, but they normally are). The cable visible is PVC clad.

However it looks like it hasn't been updated for a while, if the rest of the electrics are the same then your going to need a load of extra sockets and probably a few bits and bobs sorting out.

If it has been done - without changing the board, then I'd be having a very close look at the work. If you were going to sort it out properly it would have included a new mains board, so if electrical work has been done it could bring up more problems.

Properties with electrics like this tend to have other things to look at too, heating/ radiators/ boiler / roof /damp/ kitchen / bathroom.

Unless you have cracking to the walls or a phosphate attack on the floors anything else is just cosmetic, the stuff above AND the electrics take time and cost money. Good luck.

leeruddecology

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I can afford to get the test done now. I just mean I don't think the vendor would budge on price so hence waiting till it is mine. I'm very close to exchange.

I'm looking at living there for about five years. However it does need decorating and would really benefit from some of the outlets being switched to double sockets. Most of them are singles.

I will be renting a property for a month once I exchange due to notice so would make sense if anything drastic needs doing to get it done whilst it's empty.

Looking to change/modernise the kitchen and bathroom in the next couple of years as well.

The electrics have to be the priority on this case. A rubbish looking bath won't kill me. Well.

I'll look to get a few quotes.