Tracking from another electrical socket. Is this ok?

[dprovan]

Hi all,

I am hoping that someone can put my mind at ease. My friend who is a builder, not an electrician, said he would fit a new electrical socket for me. I needed a new single socket in my kitchen. He tracked a cable from my utility room washing machine socket to the kitchen apprximately 20 cm along the wall and 20 cm up the wall and then through the wall into the kitchen.

He had no plastic coving for the cable so wrapped it in insulating tape and told me to pollyfilla the cavity, when I asked if it would be ok without the plastic casing he said it would. It is encased in an internal solid wall.

Now, I imagine that the cable should be in plastic casing but is this ok/safe.

thank you

 

[goldie]

Running the cable across from another socket is ok, as horizontal or vertical route from another outlet is within the correct zone. Sounds like where he chased up the wall before drilling through may be in the incorrect zone.
He can only spur from the existing socket if it is on the ring final circuit and not already a spur or if it is on a radial cicuit.
The cable size should have been 2.5mm2 and the cable he used sounds asthough it should be rcd protected at the board if not already protected by this.
Kitchen is also classed as a special location so works should have been certified and notified.

 

[goldie]

Cable does not require plastic casing if hes used sheathed cable, Cant see why he has wrapped the cable up in insulation tape...... (has he used single insulated wires or a 3 core cable?) Ive got lots of friend in different trades but i wouldnt trust half of them with electrics.
Jst to be on the safe side get yourself a sparky friend and ask him to inspect it

 

[Octopus]

Has your CU/fuseboard got RCD(s) fitted? If not you need one for your new socket.

Also re the socket in your utility, is it on a ring or is it a radial or a spur?

 

[dprovan]

thanks goldie, not sure what it is best I can do is decribe it. Grey thick cable quite rigid in feel. When I cut into it there is a blue and brown cable seperated by a copper cable. Hope this helps

 

[dprovan]

murdoch i would not know what RCDs are or how to recognise them. Likewise I dont know what a ring, radial or spur are or how to identify which it is

 

[goldie]

Yes sounds like grey sheathed cable, cant think why he would wrap it up in insulation tape though. Would normally say 2.5mm2 on it.

 

[Octopus]

murdoch i would not know what RCDs are or how to recognise them. Likewise I dont know what a ring, radial or spur are or how to identify which it is

Could you post a picture of your fuseboard? That would help regarding the RCD. As for the type of circuit its more dificult to "identify" without taking a look really.

 

[dprovan]

maybe its not insulating tape maybe i have picked him up incorrectly ita wrapped in a silver shiny tape if that helps

 

[cablemonkey]

If you ask me get a sparks in to have a look. Better safe than sorry mate.

 

[DNS1]

Where are you mate? Maybe someone on here could drop by and take a quick look.

 

[dprovan]

I am based in N Ireland (Ballymena)

Here is a photo of the fusebox, hopefully you can see it ok

 

[Richard]

Any chance you could post a picture of where he has routed the cable?

Richard

 

[dprovan]

hi

the first photo is the tracking along and up the wall. From there is just goes to the other side of the wall where it connects to the new switch in the kitchen.

The second photo is a closer look at the cable.

 

[Octopus]

Apologies for asking this, but your original post mentioned a from a socket to a new socket, yet the photo shows a switch?