Yes, the grounds are just twisted together outside each of the boxes, with a green wire from the black box and a bare wire from the yellow go down to a commoning block along with the incoming neutral. Wires going in everywhere, no grommets or clips anywhere. The nut on the top of the black box holds the lid shut. Paul, it is one of them old fused both in live and neutral units, and I have a question: were they originally intended to be installed without protective earth wiring? There appears to be no provision for it.
I beleive the black box dates to 1954 when electricity was first arrived in the area, the yellow to 1969. I think the meter was also replaced '69 as there is the shadow of a backing board to the left of the black box. It surprises me that the South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB warning sticker on the wall) happily connected this lot up to service. The meter tails feeding the black box are fabric covered.
This is my parents house. I recently removed all the perishing rubber insulated cable in the rest of the house as that was especially urgent, this is second in line! Oh, and the water supply (from a spring) dates to 1860, cast iron and lead pipes...
Didn't anyone spot the burning under the second fuse holder from the left?
Gideon.
[This message has been edited by gideonr (edited 04-07-2005).]
