Wow, we could never get away with wiring like that here, especially the service entrance. To be honest, that equipment looks more like a phone system than an electric service. Bad wiring or not, it's difficult for us on the other side of the pond to understand what a "good" installation should look like in the U.K.
That gray "T&E" cable looks like the cable that we use for wiring low-voltage on boats, trailers or RVs. The differences between U.S. and U.K. wiring standards are pretty amazing. Our standards include heavy restrictions.
Perhaps you could post some pics where it is done the right way so we have some idea? Here in the States, we can't ever have individual phase conductors running open like that. They must be within a cable or in conduit.
[This message has been edited by EV607797 (edited 12-20-2006).]
