your opinions wanted with regards kitchen rewire

edward cooper · Nov 10, 2011

Got called today to quote on a second fix of kitchen extention. On arrival all wiring was in place for lights extractor cooker. I have the start of the kitchen lights radial and the two legs of the ring to wire in as well.

I noticed that the cooker socket was not a dedicated radial but part of the ring. I asked client how the origonal electrician was going to link the ring in and was told he was going to extend the existing house ring to incorporate the kitchen so I asked to see the fuse board.

On looking it appears to be about 30 years old with the entire house sockets been supplied from one single 32A MCB which had replaced an old rewireable fuse in the board. (if you see what i mean)

So I said I dont believe the existing installation is capable of taking the extra load considering the age of it and especially because of the cooker being added to the ring. He then got a little defensive and started to say that he was only going to have a 3kw oven so was ok but i still said I was not happy.

What are your thoughts on this?

I want to split his tails feed another consumer unit, Put the new ring and lights on it as the existing installation is not rcd protected and there no space in the board and run in a new cable for cooker probably 6mm.

I know I should not mess with other peoples work etc so please constructive not destructive answers please

Thanks

JamesBrownLive · Nov 10, 2011

i=p/u said:
but in theory, a plug top can take 13.4A so we are talking around 11A for cooker, its just not good practice

Not any cooker that's worth owning though :winkiss:

Engineer54 · Nov 10, 2011

Always amazes me, these dip-sticks spend thousands on the cabinets, wall tiles, floor tiles, and other goodies in there new kitchens, but then want to penny pinch on the wiring that will in all probability out last the dammed kitchen 3 times over!!

Also, Never seem too concerned at all with the families safety, by leaving the supply source in place, that's been in service 30 odd years or more.

To be honest, tell this guy what is needed to bring his new installation upto date and fit for purpose. If he doesn't like it walk away, ....and that's not being destructive, that's being professional and sensible !!

By the way, the oven may be rated on the box as 3KW, but in reality there will always be at least 1 element in there that cannot be utilised in conjunction with the other elements. So i reckon you can knock at least a KW off that connected load figure on the box!! ...lol!!!

GLENNSPARK · Nov 10, 2011

edward cooper said:
What do you think about the cooker in the ring. The regs say that its recommended anything over 3kw should be on its own circuit and Im just not happy about plugging a cooker in no matter what its rating because it will lead to the circuit been abused in the end when he realises his oven is s**t.

2 KW mate...Appendix 15 p(362)...Ring and Radial finals...

GLENNSPARK · Nov 10, 2011

Really should be a seperate ring or radial final for the kitchen though mate....and FCUs for appliance isolation n all.......as above if that cooker is rated above 2KW then a seperate radial here n all...........

GLENNSPARK · Nov 10, 2011

Appliance on FCUs if no access for plugtops that is..........

PC Electrics · Nov 10, 2011

I'm not going to comment on the design of this "installation". I don't think you need my advice on that topic because I believe you already know what should be done.

My advice would be to be very very wary of this client. If you aren't bothered about the work, walk away. If you need it, then price up carefully, allowing for the inevitable problems you will encounter with a DIY'd job and make sure you have a water tight payment plan.

arturas · Nov 11, 2011

Sometimes it's easier to stay out than get out.

tigerpaul · Nov 11, 2011

Sounds like the customer done the wiring himself, or got a builder to do it, and now he's stuck not knowing how to connect up. Then he wants to get a spark in to finish up and get it all done cheap.

I'd be wary signing anything. Can you see the cable routes? how do you know the cables are not ragged to f*** where they've been pulled round tight corners, pressing on hot water pipes, squashed, pinched , bent over etc.

And, I think its perfectly acceptable to mess with other peopls work, especially when its s***!