full rewires

[panny300]

how do you sparks do a full rewire on an occupied dwelling, i assume it takes a few days to do the job? so how do you start to remove the old cabling and still leave the homeowners with lighting and power?
also if you are just replacing an old consumer unit what do you do if the cables are'nt long enough to fit the new one?
just questions that i wonder about after reading posts on here.

 

[ricicle]

When I used to do them it was normal to start from the top down ie upstairs lights first (usually easiest) and this gives you time to get a feel for the property as you progress.Usually mains last.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Cables too short? Crimp 'em my boy.

The way I tackle a rewire where the house is occupied and stuffed with furniture is to leave it for some other dumb*ss to do.
I'm a sparky, not a removals man.

TTC

 

[ricicle]

The way I tackle a rewire where the house is occupied and stuffed with furniture is to leave it for some other dumb*ss to do.
I'm a sparky, not a removals man.

TTC

Must have loads of work then TTC

 

[ColJack]

1st day, 1-2 hours pulling up floorboards and carpet, moving furniture etc...

1-2 hours putting floorboards back down, carpets right, furniture back..

2nd day, same as the first...

2-4 hours a day lost ...


answering you question..

for the power, you pull the wires out and joint under the floorboards temporarily using either some old surface back boxes and the socket fronts or suitable JB's..

if you can get them to let you, you leave one floorboard up round the edges of the rooms near the sockets ( where they are not likely to walk and fall down the holes.. ) and then provide 4 way extension leads ( plugged in to the sockets under floor or wired into the JB's ) to provide power to essential equipment ( like the TV.. )
this leaves the wall sockets free to be re-wired as you can..

for larger items such as the shower and cookers, it's a one shot job with these.. run the new cables and leave them in the ceiling / floor and then whack them in on changeover day..
Or just explain that they will have to get pizza and chinese for a few days, and take baths not showers for the duration...

lighting is a bit more tricky.. start with the switches, pull the old cables out of the switches and replace with the new ones, leaving enough slack to get to any re-located ceiling roses / JB's.. and connect. ( connect temporary to existing switch wires in JB's if not 3 plate.. )

then run the new feeds, again leaving slack, but at the board this time, and connect them in..

then run the new links between lighting points..
( going on the assumption that you will be changeing to 3 plate wiring.. )


as for what to do if the cables are not long enough, then if there is room, move the board over and extend the incomming mains with one of those brown 2 tier connection blocks..

if not, you're screwed.. recommend a re-wire as i'm pretty sure you can't use through crimps to extend the cables..

 

[Pensdown]

As BAS would have said
















IN coming!!

 

[Taylortwocities]

i'm pretty sure you can't use through crimps to extend the cables..

I was assuming that the extension was just in the CCU housing itself. Crimp is OK there AFAIK

TTC

 

[C&GStudent]

As BAS would have said


IN coming!!

 

[RF Lighting]

Day one: Cut off the old upstairs lights, and rewire.
Day two: cut off the old upstairs socket supply and rewire
Day three: downstasirs lights
Day four: downstairs sockets
Day five: replace mains, bonding etc.

Easy with one spark and an apprentice. In and out in a week.

Power on to all points, all chases plastered, all boards down and vacuumed up every night.

 

[sparkybird]

Pain in the bum and I try to avoid them, but if I have to...

Get customer to clear as much stuff as possible to garage/shed/garden even!
Persuade them to move out even if for a few days.
I find it easier to bung on a builders board at the start and run extension cables for TV/fridge etc, plus work lights so that you can just rip out all the old stuff without trying to 'keep it going' - ends up taking twice as long.
Charge loads!

SB

 

[panny300]

thanks for all your replies, so is it ok to crimp as taylor says?

 

[davy_owen_88]

Yes, crimping is a recognised method for creating a permanent joint (it's only permanent if you use the appropriate sized crimp and a suitable ratchet crimper).

Davy