This can't be right... can it?!

[Stu1234]

I've just had an electrician round to quote for an extra socket in the living room.

He suggested that the 'simplest' solution would be to drill two holes through to the exterior (outside) wall, one behind an existing socket in the bedroom above the living room upstairs that the spur will run off and one behind the new socket... then conect the two with a verticle cable running outside (clipped to the exterior wall).

This can't be right - can it?!

Apart from looking weird... what about the rain trickling down the cable from the outside into the hole in the living room wall - and new socket?

 

[chiplard]

Steer well clear.

No PROFFESIONAL electrician would even dream of doing that.

 

[ezzzekiel]

i do it all the time, sometimes i just trail the cable across the sitting room floor and if you put a rug over the top its barely noticable

 

[Phil]

i do it all the time, sometimes i just trail the cable across the sitting room floor and if you put a rug over the top its barely noticable

i once had to sort a supply out for a cooker that had been laid in such a fashion. then it gets better as when i got to the other end in the switch they had struggled to get the cores terminated so it was trimmed back to two cores.

 

[High Tower]

Just ask him to spur off the light fitting, staple to ceiling and hey presto Mind you having said that you will have to have lights on to watch the tv or use laptop though but that shouldn't be to much bother

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Firstly, for this sort of thing it is preferable to keep the wiring within the fabric of the building...But....,precautions can easily be taken to ensure there is no water ingress where the cable enters such as drilling at a downwards angle and making good with a suitable sealant. Clipping a cable down an external wall with no other protection is not acceptable but if the cable is enclosed in conduit,no problem.In many circumstances this may be the only option where it is unobtrusive, and internal walls are decorated and the customer doesnt want trunking on the surface etc.

 

[philip962]

Report him to everyone you can think labc trading standards phone him up and ask who he is registered I suspect no one just for giggles how much was he going to charge if you live in the north east pm me and I will do the job properly

 

[ezzzekiel]

In many circumstances this may be the only option where it is unobtrusive, and internal walls are decorated and the customer doesnt want trunking on the surface etc.

very valid point, the key is how well it is done, decent conduit run etc would not be as unsightly as cable clipped

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Report him to everyone you can think labc trading standards phone him up and ask who he is registered I suspect no one just for giggles how much was he going to charge if you live in the north east pm me and I will do the job properly

Apart from possibly lack of protection for a T/E cable on an external wall would you care to state exactly what regulations are broken here and exactly what you are going to tell trading standards??..........Come on,while the job as described is hardly professional, it's hardly lethal either..and as the job is in a lounge he can be registered to the kennel club and still legally carry it out......Trading standards????

 

[ezzzekiel]

T/E is ok to run outside just not very professional, its only minor works but rcd would need to be provided for the new socket as a minimum.

Now are you wanting to pay £40 for someone to throw a socket in or are you willing to pay xx to get it done decent?

did the spark say what cable, could be swa glanded to ip boxes or run in conduit as "wirepuller" stated, did he mention bonding or rcd etc etc

 

[eskimo39]

In his defense if you have a wooden/laminate floor which cannot be lifted that would be one of the only options to get a socket at the other side of your living room (unless you can access from a cellar). However if you have normal floor boards then he really has just chosen the worst way, not forgetting you would also need to make notice that your downstairs ring now includes a socket from your upstairs ring so if for any reason in the future someone isolated your downstairs ring, it would still have 1 live socket.

What he has said is not against any regulations as long as the original socket is protected by rcd, however as others have said clipping it directly to the wall outside is about as effective as running it under carpet.

If correctly installed water cannot get in via a cable as most professionals put a drip loop before it goes into the property (have a look at your sky/tv cables) and a breakout cover siliconed above.

Quite possible the most professional way would be to run a cable to spur from the back of an existing living room socket into the floor and bring up where you require the new socket. If you have a wooden floor down which cannot be disturbed, you could instead bring a spur down from upstairs however it would be better chased into your living room (inside) wall and then patched back up.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Nice to see some sensible comments on this in the last couple of posts rather than the hysterical "holy-er than thou' nonsense posted before.

 

[martysparky]

how many times do you see T&E run from the back of a socket supplying an outside light?

Its done all the time, not as well as should be, but done.

Not much difference really just returning through the wall.

I hate visible T&E in any circumstance and thats excluding the effect from weather.

As others have said its not ideal but as a solution for route it can be done.

If done properly, enclosed / protected etc, cant see a prob.

 

[chiplard]

The way i look at it is the wiring of a house is part of the bricks and mortar, ie permanent. I think i would rather go to the extra effort to chase an internal wall / lift floors and have the cable where it should be. Any damage to internal decor can easily be patched up. Once you have the conduit/ SWA outside it is outside for good. Obviously you can move at a later date but then you have to get another electrician in and incur further costs. IMHO, i think this electrician is just lazy and looking for the easiest way to do the job.

 

[martysparky]

Agreed totally, but if no option regards to route customer budget etc although reluctant would you turn the work down?