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Use of Old Serviceable M.E.M. switches and Switch Fuses.

Zoomup
Evenin' all,


 I have access to old unused or used but in good as new serviceable condition, metal clad M.E.M. switches and switch fuses, 15 to 32 Amp mainly.  You know the type, popular during the 60s to 80s. Battle ship grey painted, heavily chromed switch  handles, rewirable of H.R.C. fuse carriers. Some have ceramic innards. Very good contact distance clearance and good positive action upon switching.


Can I use them in new installations thus saving money and recycling materials?


Z.


  • 0
    A builder I knew “recycled” fittings, he had a stand up row with one customer because the “new” light switches had big X’s scored into them from wallpaper hanging in an earlier life.
  • 0
    Chris Pearson:
    Legh Richardson:

    If this switchgear was, or is, suitable for modern purposes then they would still be manufatured. I suspect that they maybe regarded as an over engineered product and so breaks one of the fundamental rules of modern material design....no built-in planned obsolescence.....


    I don't think that the current version is very different from Zoom's example. If the gear ends up dented scratched and rusty, it has not been looked after.


    Built like an outhouse as JP says; or built like a battleship and wouldn't look out of place in one.


    I am all for repurposing stuff, but if you charge a fair rate for bringing it up to scratch, you probably don't save the customer anything.




    Hello Chris, in many cases the M.E.M. switch fuses and isolators would be near to new or even "new old stock" and never installed. They are mechanically perfect and electrical perfect. They would not look out of place in an industrial setting like a farmers barn, old workshop or storage facility.


    Z.


  • 0
    PG:

    One of the developments in switchgear is that it it is still "fingerproof" IP20 when you open it. I think that the old MEM range has accessible incoming terminations?

    If so it wouldn't comply with current standards and shouldn't be used in a new installation.


    Strangely enough even back in the 60s, 70s  and 80s gear was designed so that live parts were covered to prevent electrocution. Also, with most M.E.M. switches the switch is mechanically interlocked so that the door can not be opened with the switch in the ON position. The switch has to be OFF before the door can be opened, say to replace fuses in the case of a switch fuse.


    Please notice the sheet of brown coloured insulating Paxolin that prevents the IP test finger from gaining access to live parts. Have you ever worked on a live dis. board or consumer unit? Some sparks have to do so to allow other essential circuits to continue to be used. Not good, but it does happen.

    USED MEM EXEL 15AXTN2 TPN Switch Disconnector Isolator 20Amp 3-Phase Eaton | eBay


    Z.


  • 0
    We have loads of old GE, English Electric, Dorman Smith kit and yes, its solid and reliable. Most of ours have BS88 fuses, or solid links, a few with 3036 carriers and flash pads. 


    They seem reasonably safe, regarding live parts right until the bits of paxolin, split pins etc are removed and not replaced, then they can get a bit zappy if you arent careful. 


    This holds true with the new metal switchgear, which we get from Schneider, nice and solid, but still relies on professional safety and correct replacement of insulators. 


    it used to be that we always fitted an isolator or switch fuse/fused switch with the chrome handle for anything, but they are so expensive, and most of the time a plastic rotary isolator is fine, and much cheaper

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