electric shock

[PeterC]

This is where natural selection doesn't work - if he's already bred, the stupidity gene has been passed on.

[dennis]

Part P was never intended to reduce accidents. Its there to make sure the trade associations make more money to donate to Labor.

[ARWadsworth]

Maybe, but I have never come across 4BA threads on on backboxes in houses where the original lighting circuit has an earth. ISTR that lighting circuits needed an cpc from 1966 onwards.

I often see 3.5M thread 16mm deep back boxes that have no earth terminal. Therefore I believe that the thread size changeover was just before the cpc requirement for lighting.

Adam

[Dave]

Ah, I see what you mean. My big mistake. :-(

Dave

[ARWadsworth]

I also have a 4BA tap and some 4BA bolts. Guess what I use to fit sockets to back boxes where the 3.5 thread is totally knackered?

Adam

[John Rumm]

more likely, it was hoped to sweep much of the black economy into trade body membership, whose records could then be used to identify additional sources of hitherto untapped tax.

[The Medway Handyman]

This did have an earth, not sleeved though. It was a bakery not a house. Building dates from 1936.

[Dave]

Do 4 BA bolts/screws have the correct countersink angle for fitting sockets? If so, what is it? It's something I have never looked at.

Dave

[Dave]

I forgot to ask, what sort of place sells the 3 and 4 BA C/S bolts/screws? Electrical wholesaler, or what?

Dave

[ARWadsworth]

I have a friend that works for a bolt company. I buy from him.

But any ironmongers, diy store or electrical wholesaler should stock what you need.

Adam

[Dave Liquorice]

I don't think you'll find BA in a diy store, metric only there. A proper ironmongers may have them but finding a proper ironmongers might be tricky. Electrical wholesaler, doubtful.

Electronics places such as RS, CPC maybe Maplin might.

Failing those Yellow Pages for a local fastenings specialist.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Other way is to superglue 3.5 nuts to the back of the lug. They can be difficult to get, though.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'd say trying to source the correct head chrome or brass BA screws for electrical fittings might be tricky these days.

[Frank Erskine]

On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:55:21 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)" had this to say:

It's all such a botch though, isn't it? ALL for the sake of so-called standardisation. Where does real engineering fit into all of this?

[Michael Chare]

I would suggest buying a meter and checking the other switches

[ARWadsworth]

I cannot remember where I got my last lot from. I do not use many these days.

Adam

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Bit late to rail against something which happened a couple of generations ago?

[Pete Verdon]

Which is somewhat irrelevant for British plugs and sockets :-)

I know places like Hong Kong use the same ones, but apparently they're much less strict on quality so have their own local ones rather than more expensive ones that could actually be sold here.

Pete

[Pete Verdon]

50 hurts?

Pete

[PeterC]

Yup - it was standardised, now it ain't.

Even Thatcher daredn't attack 19" racks - 10s of millions (at least) of complex units (1.75" IIRC) that would need rewiring if changes needed.