Kitchen Mains Circuit?

[Octopus]

Ok so you have an RCD, and space to add a MCB protected by the RCD - but that would mean a single trip of the RCD would kill all your sockets.

Are you planning on changing the lights/switches in the kitchen, say switching under cupboard lights by the door?

Are you planning on a new cooker or hob as they might need circuits too!

 

[Blaggsta]

Good news. Make sure you get a certificate for the work once they have done the electrical work. Have you got to pay up front for the B&Q quote?

I will make sure I get the certificate, we never went for B&Q in the end I got the feeling everything was marked up too much! So just getting the kitchen elsewhere and finding someone to install it, the contractor we have asked first is the guy who was going to install it for B&Q, he said for small electrical work he would do himself i.e. moving sockets, but obviously we will now be installing a new ring so he will have to get the sparks to install it.

 

[Blaggsta]

Ok so you have an RCD, and space to add a MCB protected by the RCD - but that would mean a single trip of the RCD would kill all your sockets.

Are you planning on changing the lights/switches in the kitchen, say switching under cupboard lights by the door?

Are you planning on a new cooker or hob as they might need circuits too!

We are getting an electric cooker not Hob though, and we are not adding any addition lighting like you described, just staying with the ceiling lighting.

I think i see what you mean with the one trip on the kitchen circuit would shut off the other ring circuit aswell??... because they are protected by the same RCD?

 

[telectrix]

We are getting an electric cooker not Hob though, and we are not adding any addition lighting like you described, just staying with the ceiling lighting.

I think i see what you mean with the one trip on the kitchen circuit would shut off the other ring circuit aswell??... because they are protected by the same RCD?

yes.the solution here would be to fit a RCBO for kitchen sockets, fed from the right hand side of the CU.i.e. not through the existing RCD.

 

[Octopus]

We are getting an electric cooker not Hob though, and we are not adding any addition lighting like you described, just staying with the ceiling lighting.

I think i see what you mean with the one trip on the kitchen circuit would shut off the other ring circuit aswell??... because they are protected by the same RCD?

So you may need a new dedicated circuit for the cooker too

 

[Blaggsta]

So you may need a new dedicated circuit for the cooker too

Yeah I already assumed that for the cooker.
Although I just checked the cookers and they are on 13 amp plugs? that would mean 3kW? really?? that low?? I thought they would be up with showers >7.5kW.

But I guess either way 3kW would be another high power unit on the circuit, so then the kitchen circuit could potentially have Cooker, Dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and kettle going at once whic sounds a lot! I suppose this applies to all households though
So cooker on its own would take a load off

 

[HandySparks]

Although I just checked the cookers and they are on 13 amp plugs? that would mean 3kW? really?? that low?? I thought they would be up with showers >7.5kW.

If, by 'cooker' you mean oven, then less than 3kW is typical. Electric hobs, on the other hand, will be in the 7kW+ region.

 

[Blaggsta]

If, by 'cooker' you mean oven, then less than 3kW is typical. Electric hobs, on the other hand, will be in the 7kW+ region.

Yeah sorry in my brain cooker = oven
Will be electric oven and gas hob. because electric hobs are rubbish!

 

[Midwest]

From my experience, B&Q will use electricians registered with NICEIC (not a prerequisite for competence, just 'cos their registered), so they would suggest a kitchen installer would not be doing the work.

As suggested, RCBO for new 'Ring Circuit', be you may need to check compatibility of new Hager RCBO in your 'fuseboard'. And as kitchen designers often do, you new cooker/oven will probably be relocated to the other side of the kitchen, which also may require RCD protection for new buried cable route. This could be accommodated in the existing RCD, but the 'Division of Installation Police' may be along in a minute to quash that idea. Earthing & bonding might need upgrading, although looking at your fuseboard & notices near it, that might already be in place.

Suffice to say, you need to get a competent electrician in to advise you.

 

[Blaggsta]

From my experience, B&Q will use electricians registered with NICEIC (not a prerequisite for competence, just 'cos their registered), so they would suggest a kitchen installer would not be doing the work.

As suggested, RCBO for new 'Ring Circuit', be you may need to check compatibility of new Hager RCBO in your 'fuseboard'. And as kitchen designers often do, you new cooker/oven will probably be relocated to the other side of the kitchen, which also may require RCD protection for new buried cable route. This could be accommodated in the existing RCD, but the 'Division of Installation Police' may be along in a minute to quash that idea. Earthing & bonding might need upgrading, although looking at your fuseboard & notices near it, that might already be in place.

Suffice to say, you need to get a competent electrician in to advise you.

Yeah I have contacted some Electricians to get quotes, using the information everyone has provided me on this forum, I will ask the relevant questions. If I state that these various options then at least he will know I have a better understanding of what should and should not be done

 

[Midwest]

Just don't be tempted to do it yourself And as I think's been mentioned, as it looking at a new circuit, it will be notifiable to your local building control. So you electrician will need to be registered with a government approved scheme (there are 2 other options).

 

[HandySparks]

... because electric hobs are rubbish!

Except induction hobs, which are very good.

 

[Octopus]

Yeah sorry in my brain cooker = oven
Will be electric oven and gas hob. because electric hobs are rubbish!

As you will be having a dedicated socket circuit for the kitchen and even though the oven of choice at this time mauy have a 13A plug the fun will start as and when you change your mind, however if you have a dedicated circuit run in for the oven you buy yourself much more flexibility in the long run.

 

[Blaggsta]

Just don't be tempted to do it yourself And as I think's been mentioned, as it looking at a new circuit, it will be notifiable to your local building control. So you electrician will need to be registered with a government approved scheme (there are 2 other options).

Absolutely... I would not take on this task as there are way too many regulations to follow... I would only stick to changing light switched and socket covers

 

[Midwest]

Except induction hobs, which are very good.

The glass is a pants to clean, bit like stainless steel isn't stain proof!