Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Right, I've been investigating the cupboard under the stairs where my fusebox and consumer unit are, and it seems that I have 3 100A fuses, marked '100A Series 5' and then underneath that 'Type IIB 415V BS 1361'. All of these have the electricity board's seal/tag on them, so are not to be tampered with by us mere mortals. The simple question (see pics below) is, does it look likely that my house has at some point been wired for 3-phase, and is it possible or indeed likely that I could once again run 3-phase power out to my garage? 'cos it would mean I could actually get the workshop tools I want! If it's not for 3-phase, then why would I have 3 100A fuses marked as 415v? Sorry for the quality of pictures, it's dark down there! If there are any electrical type people who know about this stuff out there that can help with information, that'd be great! I say it's sort of on-topic as I want it for my garage so I can put big machines in there to work on my old cars and bikes!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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I'm no expert but it looks like a 3-phase installation to me. If it were mine, Id break the tags on the 2 unused fuse holders and see if they are connected.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Well it looks like a 3-phase fuse block but there's no way of knowing if 3-phase comes in to the house unless you can get to the bottom of that block, if you can see the wires or measure it with a meter that'll confirm it.
Unfortunately your meter (I assume on the right) only has single phase to it so you'll need a new meter and all that entails in dealing with the local leccy board!
It would be unusual for domestic install, but it is out in the street everywhere.
---Oooops, silly old goat has left herself logged in!!
Mike.
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Last Edit: Mar 3, 2008 22:32:29 GMT by giggles
Mrs Sniper
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Argh! don't break the seals! I done this a few years ago to check something and the electricity guy opened a can of whip ass on me! They are there for insurance reasons. If the seals are broken and anything bad happens to your house the insurance company will want to know why the seals are broken.
With things like this I would advise getting someone who knows what they are doing to have a look. You will probably find the fuse box is a universal one and there will be more involved in running 3 phase than sticking a few extra wires in.
Hate to sound like a public safety advert but I think it is better to get a grown up!
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I do not know. But it looks the same as what I've got. And the same as we had in the other "old" house we lived in. And when I wanted to move it all to somewhere more sensible I was told "don't bloody touch it yersel", so left it alone.
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i work for the lekky board and wouldnt think twice if i went into a house with no seals. item in question is called the 'cablehead' and is indeed a 3phase, although youd have to pop the fuses out and test it with suitable equipment to check it actually is running with 3 phase. as i explained to grizz last week, if you live in a terraced house or semi, they used to run one 3 phase cable into the end house and run the wiring internally to save digging up the pavement multiple times. having 3ph in your house is all well and good, but they charge an arm and a leg to convert to a 3ph meter. no harm in asking tho.
or alternatively tap a friendly looking lekky board employee on the shoulder with a couple of 50pound notes=free 3ph. lol.
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@ CRX_IN_SCOTLAND
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Aye, Ive never had a problem with no tags on the fuses before. When I fitted a second consumer unit at my sisters for her overly powerfull leccy shower and twin oven/hob I had to pull the main fuse to work on the wiring as there is no other way to isolate the wiring between the meter and the original fusebox. The leccy man came round a couple of months later to get rid of her stupid pay as you go meter and he never batted an eyelid when he saw it. It was the same story at my own flat when I was changing the random wiring it had, a later inspection and the guy wasnt bothered about missing tags. This was in scotland though, where I believe things arent as draconian regarding people diy-ing electricity and all this Part P rubbish.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Nope thats single i think.
Notice how you have 3 fuses but only one is wired up.
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strike a deal with both of your next neighbours and connect up a 3 phase drive supplied from all of the houses. Chances are, between you you'll probably have three phases I've never tried it, but it could work well!
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Last Edit: Mar 4, 2008 8:55:26 GMT by mcbodge
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Yeah the seals were broken before you moved in wern't they, eh,yeah know what i'm saying,On a more serious note it costs a fortune to power 3ph kit.
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Just smash it off and twist on some wires to see if it works. You can measure the voltage with a couple of light bulbs wired in series because it's 400V instead of 240V, oh yeah and there's 3 wires so maybe you need 3 bulbs or is it 6? I can't remember. But wear rubber washing up gloves when you do it because you can't get electrocumuted through rubber
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Nope thats single I think. Notice how you have 3 fuses but only one is wired up. because he has a 1phase meter. trust me, i do this for a living.
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@ CRX_IN_SCOTLAND
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