Wiring an old electrical workbench

[William Rab Beishuizen]

hi there, found this old workbench in a shed at a new house I’ve recently moved to, would be really handy for me if a could connect the sockets and the emergency cut off switches up for use with metal work tools etc, it has a large connections cupboard at the back and I can see some fuses are missing and on of the houses is burnt out, if I were to replace this how would you go about connecting it to power? Please see attached photos for detail

 

[Adam W]

That bench would have been for a specific application - by the look of it there are two NEMA sockets to the left, and what looks like 7 pin Socapex to the right. Are there any clues as to what it was used for?

If you're just after a power supply for a workshop you'd be better off with a couple of RCD sockets.

 

[PEG]

Have you been skip-diving,outside a college,built in the 70's?

To be honest,there is nothing useful on there,which could not be sourced as a modern equivalent,for reasonable money.

A nice,neat,blast from the past,though.

 

[DPG]

Agree with above - not really worth trying to re-hash. Although the sockets are a decent make, they are obviously seveal decades old, and probably been subjected to a lot of use when it was all in use as some sort of test/education bench - the contacts will have seen a lot of wear!

I'd fit a couple of new sockets (either RCD type, or fed from an RCD) and some fresh wiring. Where are you intending supplying the bench from - some flex and a 13A plug top?

Note, I used the phrase 'plug-top' intetionally as it causes upset among some members on here

 

[pirate]

Seems a shame to junk it, even though you could get something more modern/better for not a lot of cash...but then I hate taking stuff to the tip when it's not completely and utterly trashed...just don't like good gear going into landfill.
Is the top bit you screw onto the plug-top to cover the terminals a plug-top-top?
and once in a socket, is the top of it a plug-top-top-top?
I only ask in order to fuel the debate. For example, inline connectors often have 2 parts, a plug (like say a jackplug) and a socket...so they are plug and socket. A USB connector (plug) plugs into a USB socket, and so on, and those shiny blue round plugs for marine and caravan use plug into a matching socket, but they aren't called plug-tops...so is it only the standard13A style mains plug which isn't a plug but a plug-top?

 

[Taylortwocities]

I am not sure . Some of that is not made for UK voltages


Rip out the wiring and re-do it.

 

[DPG]

Yep, keep the wood and the metalwork but ditch the electrics.

Keep the bench top but not the plug top!

And good post Pirate.

 

[William Rab Beishuizen]

Thanks all for the replies! Have decided to just renew the sockets and wire directly to an RCD. Think whomever lived her before fancied them selves as a bit of a scientist, have found all sorts of potions lying around!

 

[telectrix]

Thanks all for the replies! Have decided to just renew the sockets and wire directly to an RCD. Think whomever lived her before fancied them selves as a bit of a scientist, have found all sorts of potions lying around!

you've visited my workshop then?

 

[GeorgeCooke]

Note, I used the phrase 'plug-top' intetionally as it causes upset among some members on here

Why do you want to upset people by using incorrect terms? What is this word 'intetionally' ?

 

[Rpa07]

Rumbled!

 

[DPG]

Why do you want to upset people by using incorrect terms? What is this word 'intetionally' ?

It's obviously a spelling mistake you cretin.

 

[pirate]

thanks, DPG...
I'm a bit green, and a lot pedant...