Here's a hum dinger!!!! (Kitchen)

[zx7rrocks]

Hi Guy's and Girls if there are any here!?

Ok this is my first post and I think its a hum dinger!!!

My mates done a DIY number on his kitchen and the results although good the electrics are shocking, (pardon the pun).

The consumer unit is behind a kitchen cupboard with a hole cut out the back for access to the fuses (old style wire fuses that is!!)

As well as that he's moved the sink far too close to the consumer unit!!!

so not only fire hazard but risk of electric shock there too...

I've offered to move the consumer unit for him but here's the problem, he doesn't want to loose the cupboard or move the sink but I need to extend the wires.

I was thinking to solder/ crimp then heat shrink the wires then bury into wall, plaster over then put cupboard on, is it exceptable to do this?

The other problem is that the wires are going to be of different colours red and black old style to new blue and brown....

So do these links have to be accessible? and if so I'm back to the old problem of fire hazard / electricution unless I use a fire proof and water proof junction box and then will it be ok to cut a hole in cupboard for access to that junction box?

Any advise on how to tackle this would be much appreciated.

Cheers!!!

 

[monkeyelectric]

HIya mate, yeah i would use an adaptable waterproof box and crimp and heatshrink the wires inside it, leaving it accessible from the cupboard, then slap a label on the consumer unit stating what you've done, the location and colour change

 

[Mac]

Have you tested the circuits mate.How old is the installation

 

[zx7rrocks]

Hey cheers for the reply Monkeyelectric, think its the best plan!!

I've not tested the Earth bonding or anything yet, its a very old install so I'm probably going to have to run earth wires around but the new 17th addition states I can just bond to the hot and cold at one place and as long as they run all the way through it'll be ok? Would I still need to bond in the Bathroom? if its a small flat and the pipes are all definitely connected?

This could turn out to be a nightmare!!!

 

[Mac]

If it's a very old installation,have you done a PIR on the circuits yet.Regarding the bonding,what type of earthing arrangement is at the property

 

[zx7rrocks]

Hi Mac,

I havn't done a pir yet, was just round for a few beers..

He did say there was earth bond to the pipes behind the washing machine so I'll check on that and move to somewhere more visible...

 

[electricAl]

I've not tested the Earth bonding or anything yet, its a very old install so I'm probably going to have to run earth wires around but the new 17th addition states I can just bond to the hot and cold at one place and as long as they run all the way through it'll be ok? Would I still need to bond in the Bathroom? if its a small flat and the pipes are all definitely connected?

This could turn out to be a nightmare!!!

The 17th actually just states that; you need to bond to the incoming services (cold water & gas) close to their point of entry, all extraneous conductive parts must be bonded effectively - if they are then no supplementary bonding is required other than in a bathroom & also that supplementary bonding within the bathroom can even be omitted, but ONLY if all ccts of the location:
a) are protected by a 30mA RCD,
b) meet the necessary disconnection times, and
c) an effective low impedance connection between all extraneous conductive parts & the MET can be demonstrated

You haven`t mentioned RCD protection of necessary ccts (inc socket outlets in kitchen nor lights etc in bathroom).
Obviously you`ll be measuring circuit impedance of all the ccts anyway, so can prove b).
To satisfy c) you`ll need to establish that all extraneous conductive parts have no greater than 0.05 ohms impedance back to the MET & between each other (achieving equipotentiality) In necessary you can bond hot to cold water pipework etc in an adjacent cupboard or similiar.

This is all irrespective of property size/type

& best of luck with trying to help your mate out - sounds like he has given you a bit of a headache!