Anyone used plug in type MCB's?
My energy supplier contractor put in a 'over the top' [£810] estimate to replace my Wylex wired fuse fuseboard circa 1978-82 the fuses with the colour dots white 5amp Blue 15amp and Red 30amp. It works ok it's just a pain wiring up one when it blows. And supplementary bond 4 pipes in airing cupboard.
His tick sheet for the visual inspection gave the Main earth,supplementary earth and the fuse boards as in need of urgent attention yet he never put a meter on any of the earth points or the fuse board so how would he know they need URGENT attention. I am not having him do it any way. I think he thought 'He's an oldie I can screw him for a wedge'...wrong I'm wiser than he is, been their done that, I re-wired my London house many yrs ago including fitting an new fuse board obviously well before Part P regs and it all passed.

He wasn't aware I had a friend who does testing for a living test it months ago and the earth was up to standard, that's why the shark isn't getting the job. I'd like to know how many oldies he's stuffed up, a company was featured on Tele doing the same thing replacing fuse boxes at exorbitant prices no wiring just fuse boxes and some didn't need changing from description and age. One even needed re-wire but they just changed the fuse box.

Opinions please on the following MCB's
Wylex do a plug in type MCB and I found site that sells them £7.25 each or £68 for 10 +postage a big saving.
Is replacement as easy as pulling out the old one an plugging in the MCB or does the fuse carrier also have to be changed?
it's a Wylex fuse board....
Rob

Rob, August 2007

Yes but unfortunately the cover will no longer fit, since the MCBs stick out further than the original wired fuse carriers. Why Wylex who supplied the replacement MCBs do not also supply an extended cover or even a skirt to go between the cover and unit, is beyond me. I've been looking for a cover for years and judging from the sites I've been to, so have many other people.

Ronbe, November 2010

You don't say what size cable, or what type was used for the main earth, supplementary earth bonding.
Regardless to whatever a test meter will tell you, the regulations are very clear as to minimum cable sizes for these earth points (as you put it).
It could well be that he didn't bother to put a meter on them, as quite often a visual inspection is enough to determine that the cable, and possibly the terminations are inadequate.

Paul, December 2009

Hi

The pins on my old fuse carriers are horizontal like this = but the ones on the MCB are vertical like this ¦

Does fitting the new shroud take care of this?

thanks

TT

Trevor Tyrrell, November 2009

These mcbs(made by ABB) come complete with a new insulated shroud/carrier
its just a matter of removing old rewirable fuse,undoing the small screw underneath that holds in the old live bussbar/pin shroud,screwing in the new one and pushing in the mcb.
*dont try and fit mcb without fitting new shroud as the slots are different and you may damage mcb pins if you try*.

paul h (sparky)., August 2007