Outdated electrics??

LurkingAgain

Hi my DS has viewed a property. I'm guessing  this is outdated.

Jonboy_1984

The Siemens bit before the meter should be the problem of the local distribution network rather than the house owner.

The fuseboard with the British Gas warning sticker dates back to some point before the mid-seventies. There are still thousands of properties with them fitted, but they are less safe than up to date consumer units with RCDs/RCBO’s and SPD’s.

A straightforward replacement would likely cost around £150 for the initial EICR inspection to check the rest of the properties wiring is ok (ideally before purchase!) and then, assuming no other major faults found, around £700 for a up to date 18th edition consumer unit (make sure 18th edition is used as there are a lot of 17th edition versions still knocking around at wholesalers, again safe but not latest standard) .

As this is obvious upon viewing it should be taken into account when offering on the property. 

If a bigger re-wire is needed then before decoration takes place would be the ideal time as it is disruptive and dusty.

CSI_Yorkshire

LurkingAgain said:

Hi my DS has viewed a property. I'm guessing  this is outdated.

Extremely, but there are still lots of them around.  There is nothing that forces you to change it, and if you have it tested you will get a lot of "not up to current standards" which I'm sure you already know.

Risteard

Jonboy_1984 said:

The Siemens bit before the meter should be the problem of the local distribution network rather than the house owner.

The fuseboard with the British Gas warning sticker dates back to some point before the mid-seventies. There are still thousands of properties with them fitted, but they are less safe than up to date consumer units with RCDs/RCBO’s and SPD’s.

A straightforward replacement would likely cost around £150 for the initial EICR inspection to check the rest of the properties wiring is ok (ideally before purchase!) and then, assuming no other major faults found, around £700 for a up to date 18th edition consumer unit (make sure 18th edition is used as there are a lot of 17th edition versions still knocking around at wholesalers, again safe but not latest standard) .

As this is obvious upon viewing it should be taken into account when offering on the property. 

If a bigger re-wire is needed then before decoration takes place would be the ideal time as it is disruptive and dusty.

A periodic inspection of a domestic property costs around £300+ - not £150.

I can fairly safely state that substantial remedial works will be required - not just a new distribution board.

Rewiring may well be the best option.

Simonon77

Risteard said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

The Siemens bit before the meter should be the problem of the local distribution network rather than the house owner.

The fuseboard with the British Gas warning sticker dates back to some point before the mid-seventies. There are still thousands of properties with them fitted, but they are less safe than up to date consumer units with RCDs/RCBO’s and SPD’s.

A straightforward replacement would likely cost around £150 for the initial EICR inspection to check the rest of the properties wiring is ok (ideally before purchase!) and then, assuming no other major faults found, around £700 for a up to date 18th edition consumer unit (make sure 18th edition is used as there are a lot of 17th edition versions still knocking around at wholesalers, again safe but not latest standard) .

As this is obvious upon viewing it should be taken into account when offering on the property. 

If a bigger re-wire is needed then before decoration takes place would be the ideal time as it is disruptive and dusty.

A periodic inspection of a domestic property costs around £300+ - not £150.

I can fairly safely state that substantial remedial works will be required - not just a new distribution board.

Rewiring may well be the best option.

Yes, for an electrician... 

To the OP, yes it would definitely benefit from having a modern consumer unit fitted for added safety, but as long as the electrics are all working fine and safe then there is no reason to rewire the whole house. If you are planning on doing work on the house, need more sockets etc.. you can just update the wiring on rooms as and when needed. 

There are loads of older properties in the UK that haven't been rewired and are perfectly fine

silvercar

The green/ yellow wires indicate someone has done some earthing at some point. 

It shouldn't take much persuasion for the supplier to swap the meter out for a  smart meter, at which point they may notify the DNO that  the Siemens unit needs looking at (I haven't got a clue, but the brown gunky stuff doesn't look too good).

I would also want to replace the MCB, prefer flippy switches to those blocks that would require fitting fuse wire if they blow.

CSI_Yorkshire

silvercar said:

I would also want to replace the MCB, prefer flippy switches to those blocks that would require fitting fuse wire if they blow.

I know what you meant, but the MCB is the 'flippy switch'.

You either would replace the fuse wire carriers with MCBs (probably would fit because there is already one there) or RCBOs (almost certainly wouldn't fit), or replace the whole consumer unit.

silvercar said:

 that  the Siemens unit needs looking at (I haven't got a clue, but the brown gunky stuff doesn't look too good).

It might even be old enough to have a fuse in the neutral still - which is instant "dangerous, must change immediately" red alert.

FreeBear

silvercar said: It shouldn't take much persuasion for the supplier to swap the meter out for a  smart meter, at which point they may notify the DNO that  the Siemens unit needs looking at (I haven't got a clue, but the brown gunky stuff doesn't look too good).

And while the smart meter is being fitted, get them to install an isolator switch between meter & consumer unit. Some suppliers will charge, others don't. Either way, well worth having if the consumer unit needs changing (no need to pull the DNO fuse), and is needed if you ever get an electric vehicle charging point.

Section62

Simonon77 said:

Risteard said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

Rewiring may well be the best option.

Yes, for an electrician... 

To the OP, yes it would definitely benefit from having a modern consumer unit fitted for added safety, but as long as the electrics are all working fine and safe then there is no reason to rewire the whole house. If you are planning on doing work on the house, need more sockets etc.. you can just update the wiring on rooms as and when needed. 

There are loads of older properties in the UK that haven't been rewired and are perfectly fine

I suspect where Risteard is coming from is that to achieve a compliant installation anyone is going to have to do rather more than just wire in a new consumer unit to replace the existing.

It is also questionable whether there would be "added safety" without carrying out a full rewire.  For example, with so few circuits then replacing the existing fuses with RCBO/RCD protection would create a new risk of a minor fault causing a disproportionate amount of the installation tripping out.  With (for example) lighting circuits tripping off, there is a risk of falls or other personal injury accidents which leaves the installation (overall) less "safe" than it currently is.  The circuits need sorting out and splitting appropriately - in accordance with the current regs... which in practical terms probably means a full rewire.

Section62

silvercar said:

It shouldn't take much persuasion for the supplier to swap the meter out for a  smart meter, at which point they may notify the DNO that  the Siemens unit needs looking at (I haven't got a clue, but the brown gunky stuff doesn't look too good).

I suspect the brown stuff is more likely to be coming from the supply cable (insulation) rather than the service head itself.

I also suspect that a request to have a smart meter will result in the identification of the meter tails as being inadequate, followed by a refusal to do anything more until a modern CU and adequate meter tails have been fitted by a qualified electrician.

Personally I wouldn't open the smart meter can of worms until the consumer unit has been replaced... just in case the smart meter fitter pulls the supply fuse and refuses to put it back in.

FreeBear

Section62 said: I also suspect that a request to have a smart meter will result in the identification of the meter tails as being inadequate, followed by a refusal to do anything more until a modern CU and adequate meter tails have been fitted by a qualified electrician.

Looks like 16mm² tails - More than adequate if there is a 60A main fuse.

Had my meter changed last month, and I have 16mm² tails (along with a 60A fuse). The fitter said nothing about the cable being inadequate. He also fitted an isolator switch free of charge