Loft conversion circuits

[bigbro]

Hi all,

Advice please...

I am considering having my loft converted but only want to pay for the shell and do the rest myself. Times are hard!!!

I have an old cu that is wire fuse. Will i need to change the cu box and have all the current circuits tested or is there a way to have a secondary cu from my old supply. the loft will need ring, lighting, smoke alarm on three floors to include two current levels and a shower circuit.

I realise that i will pay to have the testing done but really need to keep costs down so the wiring to the cu area i can do.

Any advice greatly received.

Brendan

 

[mackers]

That depends doesn't it?? But i did say if you read the post you quoted ''If Required''!!

Anyone that suggests installing a new CU for what is a bedroom, really needs to think again!! That's exactly what i would expect from a keen DIY'er to come up with!!!

think your been a bit harsh there,think dave was giving the easiest way therefore the cheapest as asked for by op, tapping on to the existing circuits is not always easiest .chasing and spoiling deco for one,lighting poss having no earth or other faults which once u touch they need rectifying therfore costing more money. your all crying out change cu but if the client don,t wana pay he won't long as the new work complies theres not much u can do apart from record it on cert!


everyone seems to slag diyers off but u all still seem happy to answer there every question! just a thought! lol

 

[Engineer54]

think your been a bit harsh there,think dave was giving the easiest way therefore the cheapest as asked for by op, tapping on to the existing circuits is not always easiest .chasing and spoiling deco for one,lighting poss having no earth or other faults which once u touch they need rectifying therfore costing more money. your all crying out change cu but if the client don,t wana pay he won't long as the new work complies theres not much u can do apart from record it on cert!


everyone seems to slag diyers off but u all still seem happy to answer there every question! just a thought! lol

EASY isn't always the right way, in fact more often than not, it will be the wrong way forward!! Please, ....A separate CU for a bedroom?? ...do me a favour!!

 

[Rockingit]

Right - broken down into pieces:

New loft = new or extended wiring = needs RCD = board for the new.
Standing in wholesalers = 4/5/6 way 'new' CU for new work + henleys + tails + whatever = £70 say
Standing in wholesalers = 12 way new RCD CU for entire house = £70 say.

From where I'm sat, isn't this a no-brainer???

 

[mackers]

EASY isn't always the right way, in fact more often than not, it will be the wrong way forward!! Please, ....A separate CU for a bedroom?? ...do me a favour!!

not saying its best way but not to right his idea off as diy,just because u disagree don't make it wrong. none of us have seen the job and are just throwing ideas about for op.
some of the council work we do its written in spec not to touch or extend existing wiring and supply new cu for all new works,

now i'm of to work to find the hardest way to do everything! LOL

 

[mackers]

Right - broken down into pieces:

New loft = new or extended wiring = needs RCD = board for the new.
Standing in wholesalers = 4/5/6 way 'new' CU for new work + henleys + tails + whatever = £70 say
Standing in wholesalers = 12 way new RCD CU for entire house = £70 say.



From where I'm sat, isn't this a no-brainer???

far point but how much more is it going to cost to test the whole house and rectify any faults you find and explain them to the customer :QUOTE (ITS BEEN OK FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS) LOL .............................................................................

 

[danzor]

Hi mate. You can probably ignore all the existing circuits (you should make sure gas and water are bonded). Come out of the meter in 25mm tails (split off the existing tails with a henley block) into a 60amp switch fuse (next to meter) then run a 16mm T&E up to the loft into a 5 way RCD consumer unit. You may find when you get the building inspector to sign off that he wants to see proof that the work has been done by a part P approved contractor. You cannot just get an electrician along to 'sign it off' unless they are willing to claim they have done the work. As far as I'm aware only building control can sign off non part P work.

What about RCD protection to the 16mm t+e?

 

[Engineer54]

not saying its best way but not to right his idea off as diy,just because u disagree don't make it wrong. none of us have seen the job and are just throwing ideas about for op.
some of the council work we do its written in spec not to touch or extend existing wiring and supply new cu for all new works,

now i'm of to work to find the hardest way to do everything! LOL

Yes, but at the same location as the original CU, not as in this case, in the dammed bedroom itself!!!

 

[Geordie Spark]

What about RCD protection to the 16mm t+e?

Aye ..... well ........ it's surface run innit !!!!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Yes, but at the same location as the original CU, not as in this case, in the dammed bedroom itself!!!

Maybe he likes to check RCD functionally at 3am every day.

 

[mackers]

Yes, but at the same location as the original CU, not as in this case, in the dammed bedroom itself!!!

ican't disagree with that!

 

[Dave 85]

But it WILL save him having to reduce the price of his property when he sells it, to cover the cost of rewiring the place won't it??

So what are you saying, every time you add a small extension or whatever, best to bung in a CU to cover it, cause the guy won't invest in updating his main CU or in rewiring it!!! So over a period of time you could end up with 3 or 4 CU's in a standard 3 bedroom house This is getting sillier by the minute!! lol!! You START with the basics, you don't do the basics after major re-fits.... And starting with a CU change or if required a full rewire is, or should be considered a Basic Requirement!! More importantly, It also gives his family a safer environment to live in!!

Look mate. Not sure how house surveys work in china but over here people do not generally have a full PIR done when they buy a 3 bed house. Even so, an open ended ring and a shared neutral does not mean they need to have a rewire. Infact the owner/buyer doesnt have to do anything no matter what the condition, its their house.
With regard to the loft, no I am not suggesting you put 4 Effing CU's in a 3 bed house am I. Installing a small C/U for a loft is a widely recognised way of wiring loft conversions, it has been recommended by several others in a more recent post on the same subject. The OP asked the following question: "Will i need to change the cu box and have all the current circuits tested or is there a way to have a secondary cu from my old supply" I answered said question and eloborated, all you have done is make smarmy flippant remarks. And what's with all the !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and ??????????? Lay off the coffee

 

[Dave 85]

What about RCD protection to the 16mm t+e?

Well as far as Im aware if its not TT and its not chased into a wall <50mm then it doesn't need it.

 

[Knobhead]

View attachment 9881

The OP must be p***ing himself by now!

 

[Engineer54]

Look mate. Not sure how house surveys work in china but over here people do not generally have a full PIR done when they buy a 3 bed house. Even so, an open ended ring and a shared neutral does not mean they need to have a rewire. Infact the owner/buyer doesnt have to do anything no matter what the condition, its their house.
With regard to the loft, no I am not suggesting you put 4 Effing CU's in a 3 bed house am I. Installing a small C/U for a loft is a widely recognised way of wiring loft conversions, it has been recommended by several others in a more recent post on the same subject. The OP asked the following question: "Will i need to change the cu box and have all the current circuits tested or is there a way to have a secondary cu from my old supply" I answered said question and eloborated, all you have done is make smarmy flippant remarks. And what's with all the !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and ??????????? Lay off the coffee

Smarmy Flippant remarks?? .... Listen, only a dammed cowboy or a DIYer would suggest bunging in a separate 5 way CU in the loft, just for what is a bedroom, and that's the end of it!!!

If the OP can't afford a couple of hundred quid or so, to up-date his CU or if required his electrical installation, then he shouldn't be considering undertaking a loft conversion on a shoe string. ...Basics come first!!

Oh, and as far as i know, there are few houses/flats sold these days in the UK without the buyers solicitors or mortgage lenders asking for an electrical report!! As for what China requires, Who Knows or cares, your guess would be as good as mine!!!

 

[Rockingit]

Just to reinforce your point E54, I must have been asked for at least half a dozen buyers/sellers surveys over the last couple of months. It's a good leftover habit from the failed HIPS idea.