Grid plate customer request

[Pauldicker]

I have had a customer ask me about installing a grid plate in their kitchen as part of the quotation for a rewire of said kitchen.
It wil need to include a 16A oven, washing machine, dishwasher,extractor hood and microwave oven.
I have not used one of these before so thought i would ask people who have.
Does a grid need its own supply i.e 6mm radial or does it come off the ring supply. Does each require a fuse next to each switch or are the 20amp switches enough.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Separate fusing down is only required if the appliances don’t come with plug tops

I usually try to run in separate 16a feeds back to board but if pushed you could incorporate into a new dedicated kitchen ring circuit

 

[Pauldicker]

Separate fusing down is only required if the appliances don’t come with plug tops

I usually try to run in separate 16a feeds back to board but if pushed you could incorporate into a new dedicated kitchen ring circuit

I dont have enough ways for individual, traditionally incorporate everything except the oven on a ring, but they want a fancy grid, just trying to find out how easy they are. But if i can use the ring as the supply and everything coming off as a radial to each appliance then it could look nice.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Just out of interest how do you fuse at the grid switch (if needed)?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I've just been reading another thread on this and it seems to be acceptable on a ring (although I cant quite see how as it's like having 4 spurs coming out of one socket which seems like a pretty big imbalance at that part of the ring).

 

[Pauldicker]

Just out of interest how do you fuse at the grid switch (if needed)?

As in each switch being fused like a fused spur.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

As in each switch being fused like a fused spur.

So the grid switch itself has the capacity to add individual fuses within it for each switch? Sorry Paul, you asked a question and now you're answering mine

 

[Pauldicker]

So the grid switch itself has the capacity to add individual fuses within it for each switch? Sorry Paul, you asked a question and now you're answering mine

Thats ok, normally i use spurs for built in appliances e.t.c and was wondering if using a grid woyld be the same, just so i know what size to get.

 

[telectrix]

ideal solution would be a dedicated 32A (4.0mm) feed to the grid, separate from the ring circuit. if the customer had money to spend, get the switches engraved. and be prepared for call-outs to burnt out 20A switches.

 

[APE37]

The company I do work for normally do a dedicated ring to the grid and cable from there to appliance accessory. If the appliance has a plug and is connected by means of a socket no fuse required in grid, but if through a flex outlet, a fuse would be needed at grid. It's not my fav way of doing it as I think it's very fiddly and as tel said, make sure all connections are sound as they will burn out. Also as a side note. Noticed on a job a while ago that I was doing another electrician had wired all neutrals together and ran the lives round the switches and fuses. I am not a fan of this as if an appliance has a neutral to earth fault, it will take the whole circuit out, and all appliances are lost. Wire the neutrals round the switches as well so if one appliance is faulty it can be isolated and the customer has the rest available to them.

 

[Pauldicker]

The company I do work for normally do a dedicated ring to the grid and cable from there to appliance accessory. If the appliance has a plug and is connected by means of a socket no fuse required in grid, but if through a flex outlet, a fuse would be needed at grid. It's not my fav way of doing it as I think it's very fiddly and as tel said, make sure all connections are sound as they will burn out. Also as a side note. Noticed on a job a while ago that I was doing another electrician had wired all neutrals together and ran the lives round the switches and fuses. I am not a fan of this as if an appliance has a neutral to earth fault, it will take the whole circuit out, and all appliances are lost. Wire the neutrals round the switches as well so if one appliance is faulty it can be isolated and the customer has the rest available to them.

I think im going to encourage the customer to let me go without the grid. Thanks guys you made it alot clearer.

 

[APE37]

I would. More trouble than it's worth.

 

[Dustydazzler]

If they insist on a grid plate switch then bump up the price , they are fiddly at the best of the time and often fail which will require possible call backs

 

[Des 56]

There often seems to be overheating problems that occur with inadequate connections on these grid plates,I suppose one way to shed the load on them would be to have large connector blocks in the box and spur feeds to each switch
I always prefer separate accessories for each control switch needed

 

[richy3333]

I'm on the flip side of the coin. I don't like seeing rows of isolator switches in a kitchen. In Scotland Building Standards require above counter isolation. Grid switches come in all sizes etc.

If you have to put it on a RFC then it really needs to be in the middle of the ring IMHO