Few questions for an electrical installation

[MikeGT729]

OK, like I said, I'll give BCO a ring Monday and double check.

 

[The Ghost]

I think you may be forgetting the extra visits when they have to come back after not signing it off. As you say it shouldn't be an issue as it is only two circuits. That rather flies in the face of the information you have been given if you read carefully. You have been told that it is more than two circuits there are other background factors which are too complex to lay out here. For instance do you have a TN-C-S system or a TNS or possibly (rarely) a TT? Are you aware of the implications of exporting PME to other locations? Can you calculate the volt drop for the run? As stated there is more to it the a "couple of circuits" Now... I am not decrying the DIY attempt and personally I am all for you doing this and applaud your sense of adventure for want of a better word. If I were to do the work for you I would have to check with ESF whether your tumble dryer is subject to recall, have you done that? Tumble dryers have a terrible safety record and quite often burn out cabling. Anyway to answer your question, usually SWA is used to supply outbuildings. Terminating SWA is a skill you would have to master to install it. It would need to be buried circa 18 inches underground and properly marked and the correct gradient of stone laid around it. You could use 2.5mm² or 4 mm ² on a 32a MCB. You have not asked about RCD which is rather worrying as it may indicate you are starting from a point of knowledge which is inadequate. Where are you going to use the conduit just in the utility room? because outside you need to use the right colour. Now, again I am all for you doing this, but this is what it involves. Quite apart from BC signing it off all these points will have to be addressed and of course you are the person who will rely on the safety of the design and of course your family. Now...do you want to call an electrician? or are you going to brave it?

 

[MikeGT729]

OK, like I said, I'll give BCO a ring Monday and double check.

I think you may be forgetting the extra visits when they have to come back after not signing it off. As you say it shouldn't be an issue as it is only two circuits. That rather flies in the face of the information you have been given if you read carefully. You have been told that it is more than two circuits there are other background factors which are too complex to lay out here. For instance do you have a TN-C-S system or a TNS or possibly (rarely) a TT? Are you aware of the implications of exporting PME to other locations? Can you calculate the volt drop for the run? As stated there is more to it the a "couple of circuits" Now... I am not decrying the DIY attempt and personally I am all for you doing this and applaud your sense of adventure for want of a better word. If I were to do the work for you I would have to check with ESF whether your tumble dryer is subject to recall, have you done that? Tumble dryers have a terrible safety record and quite often burn out cabling. Anyway to answer your question, usually SWA is used to supply outbuildings. Terminating SWA is a skill you would have to master to install it. It would need to be buried circa 18 inches underground and properly marked and the correct gradient of stone laid around it. You could use 2.5mm² or 4 mm ² on a 32a MCB. You have not asked about RCD which is rather worrying as it may indicate you are starting from a point of knowledge which is inadequate. Where are you going to use the conduit just in the utility room? because outside you need to use the right colour. Now, again I am all for you doing this, but this is what it involves. Quite apart from BC signing it off all these points will have to be addressed and of course you are the person who will rely on the safety of the design and of course your family. Now...do you want to call an electrician? or are you going to brave it?

The building is joined to the house. All conduit is internal, no part of the installation will run external.

Main CU has RCD protection, as does the mini CU which I bought for the utility. I didn't ask about RCD as I'm well aware of it.

Dryer hasn't been bought yet.

I really don't see the problem in me doing this if a professional is going to check it, test it and sign it off? I'm just doing the labour really.

Is it really this complex? The other jobs we've had done were as simple as anything, hence why I thought I'd do this one this way.

 

[MikeGT729]

Just looked up your many acronyms...

As far as I can see we have a TN-S config with no PME

 

[westward10]

You have no discrimination between rcds.

 

[The Ghost]

Is it really this complex?

Well yes and no. Yes it is, and no as it is standard fare for an electrician. As you say there is no distance and yes it does sound very straightforward. And once again I am all for you going for it. Please don't be discouraged by the nature of what I have introduced. Just trying to let you know that it may not be that complex but equally is is not quite as simple as one could easily assume. What I have talked about is standard consideration in designing a circuit and as we do it almost everyday it is one of those things that is easy, once you know how.

 

[RWJ]

You have no discrimination between rcds.

Who cares it's only electric any Pratt can do that...... Shall I call the fire service now or later?

 

[westward10]

I think these circuits are so rudimentary most electricians would not perform any calculations however this whole thing is misconceived with no discrimination between rcds and overcurrent protective devices.

 

[Octopus]

You can lead a horse to water ......

 

[Pete999]

It's £360 Inc VAT. And this isn't BCO, this is the council's own sparky

So this Sparky is a council Sparky? is he doing this privately, or on behalf of the council?

 

[Midwest]

I rang BCO and asked whether I could do the install myself, they knew I wasn't qualified, and they said yes, but I would have to have the electrician who works for the council come out and certify, which costs £360, which seemed fine given the few prices I'd had for other jobs.

MikeGT the members having given advice here, have justifiable concerns over your ability to carry out this work safely and correctly. Unlike plastering, plumbing of water systems etc, electricity is obviously potentially dangerous to the installer and end user, as opposed to poor quality workmanship or water damage. As you have no experience or even practical skills as an electrician, a project of even this size, could put you or your family members at risk.

I'm a member of avforums, where members there undertake similar projects, for cinema rooms or even show casing whole house renovations. Most are sensible or perhaps realistic & recognise their limitations, and use the appropriate trades and carry out some of the easy take themselves. As a young man, I use to service my own vehicles, now days I leave that to persons who have the skills, knowledge & tools to carry out the work safely & correctly, I want my brakes to work when I need them.

If you are determined to go ahead with this, you should speak in depth with your LBC, to see how the installation would be inspected & tested as you proceed, for example the hole for footings has to be inspected & approved by LBC, before the concrete is poured. In my experience LBC, have little dealings & experience with people carry out their own DIY electrical installation, so the process might not be straightforward.

You might find Electrical Safety First web site a useful read;
Electrical Safety First - The UK's Electrical Safety Experts - http://www.----------------------------/

 

[telectrix]

and i used to think guys from oxfordshire had trouble stringing a few words into a sentence, let alone 4 paragraphs.

 

[Andy78]

So in short...
"Hi, I don't respect your trade enough to hire someone to do the job as it is easy, but can you tell me how to do it please, and for free ?"



If someone had the rudeness and cheek to ring me up and ask that I'd laugh them off the phone with a few choice insults thrown in. Why should asking on the internet be any different ?

 

[telectrix]

there are several internet sites offering "ask an expert" (e.g. solicitor). first thing yo need to do is enter your credit/debit card details, as the advice is not given free. maybe a few of us should start one.

 

[Midwest]

and i used to think guys from oxfordshire had trouble stringing a few words into a sentence, let alone 4 paragraphs.

I'm a pretty good cook as well