Where to start.

[londonfire]

Been out to a family member that has just brought a new property.

He would like a few new sockets the usual. Open the cupboard under the stairs to find this.

All earthed metal conduit. A real piece of workmanship just seems a shame to take it all out. Would be nice to keep some of it but where to start!

The lack of rcd protection being the main problem for any additions.

What would you guys do?
I was considering a second board and running new circuits out or possibly using the conduit to pull new cables through and then floor boards up and new rings?

All advise welcome!

 

[Octopus]

Love it. Strip it out and keep it!

 

[sammyshooter]

Love the old school!

 

[londonfire]

The thing that bothers me most about replacing it is there really is nothing wrong with it ( apart from not meeting current regulations) and would out last the cheap Chinese tat that replaces it!

 

[Silly Sausage]

Love it. Strip it out and keep it!

No no no, I'd fit a new CU somewhere and wire them fuses with bits of welding rod and keep it all in circuit.
I'd pass it on a Periodic!

 

[londonfire]

At least testing is a dream. A circuit for every point! Takes all the guess work out of it.

 

[londonfire]

Its a shame i cant just mount din rails in the old unit and update it.

 

[Octopus]

This is a classic example of the nutters who write the regs, making people like distrub such works of art and craftsmanship!

 

[Guest111]

If it were me then I,d be making some of the radials into rings,flexi conduit and add earth for the under floor bit,as for rcd I,d just put one up front if I were that bothered.as others have said that install will outlast a lot of the modern crap.

 

[Engineer54]

For a domestic set-up, someone in the past has put a lot of care into that houses electrical installation. Shame it's going to have to come out, it really is!!

 

[shanky887614]

For a domestic set-up, someone in the past has put a lot of care into that houses electrical installation. Shame it's going to have to come out, it really is!!

if it were me and if it had to be replaced, it would have to be a metal ccu

could it be altered to fit mcbs though, it would be a shame to remove it

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Lovely. Proper gear. As said will outlast the latest plastic cobblers.

i expect they will not want you to leave it though, as cupboard space will be taken up.

 

[londonfire]

The owner actually quite like it.

Would have been nice if the guy that fitted it labelled it up though.

Have spent all morning with this

And it new friend:

For the old sockets with 4.5A fuse wires.

Im considering running 16a radials to each room through the old conduit and adding new sockets from the original position.

Hopefully saving the walls as much as possible then its just floors up.

The lights im going to test, They seem to be live looped in at the switch,

And the neutrals and the switch line at the light itself.

Starting to think din rails in the old case with an rcd up front for the sockets

Then putting the lights on mcbs (no rcd) as its earthed metal conduit.

One question

I have seen small metal bars fitted in old imperial size light fittings so that new switches can be fitted (due to position of the patress screws)

Does anybody know what these are called or where i might source them?

As replacing the old solid ones would be a nightmare and involve smashing the wall to bits.

Can see this job being a real labour of love!

 

[Knobhead]

There’s got to be a way to reuse a lot of that.
Shanky’s suggestion of a metal clad board sits well with me but I’d go for SPSN RCBO’s. Not a cheap solution I know but how much time is it going to take to rip it all out and start again?

Like anything, money will govern what gets done.

I’ve got to say, I love how that neutral bar has been done.

 

[ipf]

If everything is in steel conduit, wiring in good condition and tests out well.....why not change all the sockets to RCD version ?....and add a 17th board for any new stuff, of course.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

If everything is in steel conduit, wiring in good condition and tests out well.....why not change all the sockets to RCD version ?....and add a 17th board for any new stuff, of course.

Great idea.

 

[AndyL]

All looks great, is pic 4 a double pole fuse tho?

 

[AndyL]

Also, is there any sign of an earthing conductor?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Also, is there any sign of an earthing conductor?

Good question, not evident from the piccys

 

[telectrix]

If everything is in steel conduit, wiring in good condition and tests out well.....why not change all the sockets to RCD version ?....and add a 17th board for any new stuff, of course.

crap idea. 1. cost. 2. cables to sockets still not RCD protected. my solution would be to fit a RCD/MCB sub-main for the new work and leave the existing well alone ( except for getting rid of any neutral fusing)