M
Max Primal
Hi.
I read another topic regards to this but my case is a little different so I would appreicate some views. I have just had B&Q out to quote on a new kitchen for me. I was told almost instantly that I need to have a new ring and radial (for the cooker) put in as my Kitchen is currently part of the main downstairs ring main.
My house was built in the 1960's and still has an old style fuse panel - I have never had need (or the money) to upgrade to an MCB board.
Upon hearing that my Kitchen is not separate the man from B&Q instantly said the 17th edition regs state that a kitchen must be on it's own circuit and therefore they must do this and replace all existing electrical outlets for new ones. He also stated that as my cooker point is rated at 30A the radial to that needs upgrading and replacing as the range cooker I want is (by some fluke) rated at 32A. He also would be adding 1 double socket on top of what I have and a spur for a dishwasher (which I do not have currently). I have a single socket on another wall which he made no mention of retaining but he has too as it is used regularly for a soup warmer when we have friends over.
I used to me a marine electrician - but never a domestic one, so I was never overly familiar with the 16th edition regs, let alone the current ones. But as soon as he said this I was not comfortable with it and thought it was a money making addition and I looked on my mobile phone and found a topic on here suggesting that a new ring was not necessary.
I would like thoughts on this and also the cooker issue. Given the age of my house and still having a old wired style fuse panel. Do I really need to change the electrics in the kitchen? He has not mentioned if this includes replacing cabling which surely is the more important part (and a right pain as they would need to rip up floor boards in my main bedroom AND remove part of the ceiling in my hall which leads to the fuse box on the garage wall). He just said about moving it to a new ring and changing the cooker point. One issue he did not even look at is my fuse box, which if he HAD looked at or asked about, he would have found has NO SPARE WAYS in it. They are all taken and full - so how he will add a new ring is beyond me without swapping the board (which he said would be out of my budget with the cost of the kitchen) to do if I wanted it off my own back.
This guy was obviously a sales man / basic designer with no real grasp on the intracies of what needs to be done outside unit/floor fitting etc and this bothers me.
What would people here recommend. Do I need to alter the house electrics which have been fine over the 11 years I have lived here or not, or was the man from B&Q adding stuff to the price that I do not need?
Thanks
Max
I read another topic regards to this but my case is a little different so I would appreicate some views. I have just had B&Q out to quote on a new kitchen for me. I was told almost instantly that I need to have a new ring and radial (for the cooker) put in as my Kitchen is currently part of the main downstairs ring main.
My house was built in the 1960's and still has an old style fuse panel - I have never had need (or the money) to upgrade to an MCB board.
Upon hearing that my Kitchen is not separate the man from B&Q instantly said the 17th edition regs state that a kitchen must be on it's own circuit and therefore they must do this and replace all existing electrical outlets for new ones. He also stated that as my cooker point is rated at 30A the radial to that needs upgrading and replacing as the range cooker I want is (by some fluke) rated at 32A. He also would be adding 1 double socket on top of what I have and a spur for a dishwasher (which I do not have currently). I have a single socket on another wall which he made no mention of retaining but he has too as it is used regularly for a soup warmer when we have friends over.
I used to me a marine electrician - but never a domestic one, so I was never overly familiar with the 16th edition regs, let alone the current ones. But as soon as he said this I was not comfortable with it and thought it was a money making addition and I looked on my mobile phone and found a topic on here suggesting that a new ring was not necessary.
I would like thoughts on this and also the cooker issue. Given the age of my house and still having a old wired style fuse panel. Do I really need to change the electrics in the kitchen? He has not mentioned if this includes replacing cabling which surely is the more important part (and a right pain as they would need to rip up floor boards in my main bedroom AND remove part of the ceiling in my hall which leads to the fuse box on the garage wall). He just said about moving it to a new ring and changing the cooker point. One issue he did not even look at is my fuse box, which if he HAD looked at or asked about, he would have found has NO SPARE WAYS in it. They are all taken and full - so how he will add a new ring is beyond me without swapping the board (which he said would be out of my budget with the cost of the kitchen) to do if I wanted it off my own back.
This guy was obviously a sales man / basic designer with no real grasp on the intracies of what needs to be done outside unit/floor fitting etc and this bothers me.
What would people here recommend. Do I need to alter the house electrics which have been fine over the 11 years I have lived here or not, or was the man from B&Q adding stuff to the price that I do not need?
Thanks
Max
