Help please!

[nat]

Hello,

this question might have been asked before but the only thread i found was related to australia, so here we go...

i just moved into a conversion-type apartment and to my horror i realised that there are only 2 (!!!!) power outlets in the entire living room / reception area / balcony and those 2 are also right next to each other.
since i'm renting, i can't get more sockets built in so will have to do with those 2.
my question is how many extension cords i can attach to each plug / socket and still be safe?
the things i need power for are : TV, home phone, router, sky box, dvd player, ipod docking station, laptop, 2 lamps, hair dryer, fridge, heater (obviously only in winter) and occasionally things like hoover, ironing board, bbq. ????????????
also, does anyone know where to get the type of extension cords that've got their outlets in different places instead of all together?

thanks for any advice and suggestions!!!!

 

[malcolmsanford]

If this were your own property I would certainly advise you to not get extension leads but to employ an electrician to hard wire in some extra sockets for you.

As this is a rental property I would be asking your landlord or his agent that it is not an acceptable scenario to just have 2 double sockets, and that it contravenes the regulations (553.1.7)

But for the time being I would advise to get leads that perhaps had RCD

Such as these on them if your apartment does not have RCd protection.

I would run them around the skirting either in some plastic mini trunking or you could clip them, so as not to have them trailing across the floor.

 

[nat]

thanks for your reply!!! in fact, it's not even 2 double but 2 single!!!! sockets! what is this 553.1.7 regulation though? and what's RCD? thanks again!

 

[malcolmsanford]

Regs 533.1.7 is from the BS 7671-2008 Electical regulations and is

"Where mobile equipment is likely to be used, provision shall be made so that the equipment can be fed from an adjacent and conveniently accessible socket-outlet, taking account of the length of the flexible cord normally fitted to portable appliances and luminaries"

So though the regs are not a statutory document, and so not law I always find that mentioning regs do tend to put unreceptive people on the back foot.

An RCD is a protection device against electric shock, again our regs give certain guidance on how they should be fitted. If you do not have them in you "fusebox", then if you do go down the extension lead route it is best to get the extension leads that have them fitted as I showed.

 

[nat]

thanks a again! do you also know how i can find out if this protection device is fitted in the fusebox??

 

[malcolmsanford]

It will look like either of these, you can tell if it is an RCD/RCBO as it will have a small button on it that tests them

 

[nat]

do you also happen to know that if i or the landlord got an electrician in to install some new sockets, if this would be very expensive to do??

 

[malcolmsanford]

Not excessive, it will depend on a lot of things where your location is, how they are installed either surface or buried in the wall, all things like that.

If you post your approx location, ie town then I'm sure a local lad on here would PM you and perhaps pop over to give you a better guesstimate