Old WLYEX fusebox

[LewisM]

I'm swapping out some old 3036 rewireables for some 60898 plug in Mcbs for an old boy foc, do you have to change the bases as well or is it just pull out push in?

Seems simple but I've never swapped them before and I want make sure I have all the bits

 

[littlespark]

Is that the white push button MCBs, or a toggle?
I think the bases came with the breakers when they were new, so I would say you need both.
Are they new, or second hand…. which could mean they are unreliable…

I’m going to state the bleeding obvious though and mention RCD protection on the circuits?

 

[brianmoooore]

Spacing between the pins is different, so matching bases are needed. IIRC, there's a different make (Centaur?) that fits the original Wylex bases.

 

[Rockingit]

I would say that you can't actually (technically) do this any more. The reason being that they won't allow the cover to go back on which inhibits any chance of fire protection.

 

[brianmoooore]

If it's not an early box, cover should have a knockout front that you refit.

 

[LewisM]

Thanks for the info it's for a family friend who can't see to change the fuse wire anymore so will be more convenient for him

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/wylex-32a-sp-type-b-mcb/87979

These are the ones

 

[LewisM]

 

[brianmoooore]

They're still being sold, new?? You can see in the pic that the base is different. No shallow shroud around the outside for a start, and, although you can't see it, the pin spacing is different

 

[Mikegh]

Most of those jobs it's simpler and better to change the whole unit

 

[brianmoooore]

The pic. three posts up shows the GE one's that I think will fit the original Wylex bases.
The mixed arrangement in those pics. is NOT acceptable, and , with the MCBs, the cover must be fitted with the front removed.

 

[brianmoooore]

There's also the fact that blowing rewireable fuses should be a 'never' event. Why are they blowing?

 

[Mikegh]

I don't know how old those boxes are but it's likely the whole installation needs an upgrade or rewire

 

[LewisM]

Guys is 82 it only blew once when an old lamp went and he sat in the dark for a few days, I know the board needs changing etc but there's no point the guy hasn't got long left whole house needs an update lol just wanted to make his life easier I'm not charging for it

 

[timhoward]

I get the concept but I'm afraid I think this is flawed. Rewireable fuses are far less likely to need attention in the first place unless something is really wrong (e.g. faulty lamp). A bulb blowing won't pop a rewireable.
So plug in MCB's will probably need the elderly person to visit the consumer unit far more. If eyesight is failing it's paramount that the CU is 100% safe.
Bottom line - if there is no cover available you are leaving behind C2's or worse - you can in fact see live parts in the photograph.
In my view the £40 for four new plug in MCB's would be better off going towards a new board. Even if it's a £65 screwfix special Chint unit. At least he gains RCD protection and zero chance of zapping himself at the board.

 

[LewisM]

Guys is 82 it only blew once when an old lamp went, I know the board needs changing etc but there's no point the guy hasn't got long left whole house needs an update lol

I get the concept but I'm afraid I think this is flawed. Rewireable fuses are far less likely to need attention in the first place unless something is really wrong (e.g. faulty lamp). A bulb blowing won't pop a rewireable.
So plug in MCB's will probably need the elderly person to visit the consumer unit far more. If eyesight is failing it's paramount that the CU is 100% safe.
Bottom line - if there is no cover available you are leaving behind C2's or worse - you can in fact see live parts in the photograph.
In my view the £40 for four new plug in MCB's would be better off going towards a new board. Even if it's a £65 screwfix special Chint unit. At least he gains RCD protection and zero chance of zapping himself at the board.

The plug ins are free as I have some for some reason the Screwfix was just an example

 

[Mikegh]

I get the concept but I'm afraid I think this is flawed. Rewireable fuses are far less likely to need attention in the first place unless something is really wrong (e.g. faulty lamp). A bulb blowing won't pop a rewireable.
So plug in MCB's will probably need the elderly person to visit the consumer unit far more. If eyesight is failing it's paramount that the CU is 100% safe.
Bottom line - if there is no cover available you are leaving behind C2's or worse - you can in fact see live parts in the photograph.
In my view the £40 for four new plug in MCB's would be better off going towards a new board. Even if it's a £65 screwfix special Chint unit. At least he gains RCD protection and zero chance of zapping himself at the board.

Its a flawed concept full stop upgrading accessories and boards on an old installation

Seen it so often where the board is changed and the rcd bypassed or removed

 

[brianmoooore]

If what you have is genuine Wylex, they won't fit without the matching bases

 

[Lucien Nunes]

As mentioned by @brianmoooore the mixture of breakers and rewireables plus the missing cover is a very bad thing. Especially with the metalclad boards. When a rewireable blows, the arc vents through slots top and bottom of the carrier. If the plastic cover is missing, the arc at the bottom on the busbar side can flash over to the metal front and either burn a chunk out of it or potentially blow the bullet.

FWIW I have 16 ways of rewireable in my house. Last one that blew was also a 5A taken out by a faulty 150W lamp without integral fusing. In about 1987.

 

[LewisM]

Hmm I think you are right no point trying to polish a turd, I'll mention a board change

 

[westward10]

The idea of the plastic shield was to prevent molten metal splashing out onto the carpet when a fuse ruptured it was never there to prevent possible access to live parts although that seems to have become it's secondary use. As already mentioned a new mcb should come with the required base and you can still obtain them.