Difference between revisions of "Dating Old Electrics"

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Some dates - but may contain errors, and sometimes things did get installed later than they should strictly have been.
 
Some dates - but may contain errors, and sometimes things did get installed later than they should strictly have been.
  
[[Cable]]s:
+
 
 +
===[[Cable]]s===
 
*Lead sheath cable: before 1948, except on farms
 
*Lead sheath cable: before 1948, except on farms
 
*TRS (Tough Rubber Sheath) 1945-1962
 
*TRS (Tough Rubber Sheath) 1945-1962
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*Wooden trunking:
 
*Wooden trunking:
  
Earth wire in cables:
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===Earth wire in cables===
 
*Separate bare copper earth wires run alongside twin cable:
 
*Separate bare copper earth wires run alongside twin cable:
 
*Black earth conductors: before 1966
 
*Black earth conductors: before 1966
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*Earth wires just twisted together at junctions:
 
*Earth wires just twisted together at junctions:
  
Main [[Earthing and Bonding|earth bonding]]:
+
===Main [[Earthing and Bonding|earth bonding]]===
 
*No main equiptential bonding conductor: before 1966
 
*No main equiptential bonding conductor: before 1966
 
*2.5mm main equipotential bonding conductors: 1971-1972
 
*2.5mm main equipotential bonding conductors: 1971-1972
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*10mm main equipotential bonding conductors: post 1983
 
*10mm main equipotential bonding conductors: post 1983
  
[[Fusebox|Fuseboards]]:
+
===[[Fusebox|Fuseboards]]===
 
*[[RCD|ELCB]] (Voltage operated circuit breaker): pre 1981
 
*[[RCD|ELCB]] (Voltage operated circuit breaker): pre 1981
 
*Double pole [[fuse]]d switchgear on ac Installations: pre 1955
 
*Double pole [[fuse]]d switchgear on ac Installations: pre 1955
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*Slate fuseboard with bare [[screw]]s for [[fuse]]wire links: in use in late 1800s, obsolete by the 1930s
 
*Slate fuseboard with bare [[screw]]s for [[fuse]]wire links: in use in late 1800s, obsolete by the 1930s
 
*Wooden fusebox with wooden lid: standard in 1930s
 
*Wooden fusebox with wooden lid: standard in 1930s
 +
*non-EEBAD installs (local earth rod but no ELCB or RCD): pre 1955
  
Sockets:
+
===Sockets===
 
*Accessories mounted on wooden [[pattress]] blocks: before 1966
 
*Accessories mounted on wooden [[pattress]] blocks: before 1966
 
*Round pin socket outlets: mostly before 1955, but sometimes used much later
 
*Round pin socket outlets: mostly before 1955, but sometimes used much later

Revision as of 10:59, 4 November 2010

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Some dates - but may contain errors, and sometimes things did get installed later than they should strictly have been.


Cables

  • Lead sheath cable: before 1948, except on farms
  • TRS (Tough Rubber Sheath) 1945-1962
  • Capothene and Ashothene sheath cables: 1952 - 1960
  • PVC inner PVC outer T&E style cables with no cpc (no earth wire) (lighting circuits): 1955-1966
  • Imperial PVC cables: 1955 - 1971
  • 2.5mm PVC/PVC T&E with 1mm cpc: 1971 - 1981
  • Twin twisted flexible cords: before 1977
  • Rubber/PVC mix T&E cable: 1958 to 1961
  • CMA (Cable manufacturers association) cable: ceased in the 1940s
  • Non-association cable: pre apx 1948
  • Aluminium cable:
  • Copper coated Aluminium cable:
  • Cables fixed to wall with ceramic cleats (small plates with grooves to hold the wire): pre WW1
  • Wooden trunking:

Earth wire in cables

  • Separate bare copper earth wires run alongside twin cable:
  • Black earth conductors: before 1966
  • Green protective sleeving: before 1977
  • Green & yellow earth sleeving: 1971 onwards
  • Earth wires just twisted together at junctions:

Main earth bonding

  • No main equiptential bonding conductor: before 1966
  • 2.5mm main equipotential bonding conductors: 1971-1972
  • 6mm main equipotential bonding conductors: 1966 - 1983
  • 10mm main equipotential bonding conductors: post 1983

Fuseboards

  • ELCB (Voltage operated circuit breaker): pre 1981
  • Double pole fused switchgear on ac Installations: pre 1955
  • Wood backed Wylex fuseboxes: still being installed in 1983
  • Slate fuseboard with bare screws for fusewire links: in use in late 1800s, obsolete by the 1930s
  • Wooden fusebox with wooden lid: standard in 1930s
  • non-EEBAD installs (local earth rod but no ELCB or RCD): pre 1955

Sockets

  • Accessories mounted on wooden pattress blocks: before 1966
  • Round pin socket outlets: mostly before 1955, but sometimes used much later
  • Square pin 13A sockets: post 1945 - may be on older wiring though
  • 2 pin 5A sockets:
  • No sockets upstairs:
  • Sockets with no shutters:


See Also