I have to agree with the comments about farm wiring. I've also seen regular BS1363 outlets and other "indoor" accessories hanging on cables in exposed locations, wires just twisted/taped and strung over the beams, and so on. In fact that goes for outbuildings in general, including domestic sheds, garages, and workshops.
Sometimes the buildings look like they will come down any minute.
Ain't that the truth!
Here in rural Norfolk there are derelict old farm buildings like this all over the place. Some have been "developed" into vastly over-priced homes. Sure, they have acres of living space inside them when finished and some people have made the interiors very attractive, but they still look as ugly as sin from the outside, IMHO.
I recently saw one of these monstrosities for sale with an asking price of over £100,000 ($160,000). That wasn't the finished article -- Just the unconverted barn in its original (poor) state.
There are plenty of old barns like this all over the French countryside too, but at much more realistic prices (e.g. only 20% of the above and with ten times as much land).
David,
I like: TNS & TNC-S systems which are the most prevelant in the UK.
Interesting you say that, as I was going to mention the different earthing systems. I too prefer TN-S or TN-C-S. I've never been keen on the TT system.
I'd agree that TN-S & TN-C-S are the most prevelant in towns, but in this area the majority of rural homes are TT. The whole area network has been converted for TN-C-S, but I see few rural homes which have yet taken advantage of that and earthed to the neutral.
Maybe PME (TN-C-S) was more common years ago in rural areas of the Highlands due to the more rocky ground conditions?
The TT system leads me to the comments from our Canadian friend:
I have mixed feelings about a whole home RCD, rather than the North American way of using GFCI only where warranted.
That's one of the drawbacks with TT. The high loop impedance means that
every circuit needs to be RCD/GFI protected and the cheapest way, of course, it to provide a main RCD for the whole house.
I'd much prefer to see individual North American-style GFI protection where needed in combination with a TN-C-S distribution system.