I'm replacing a gas fire with one of these new electric ones, optiflame I think it's called (flame effect on a sheet of glass behind some illuminated pebbles - looks better than the description).
Thing is, the fire (a dimplex one) is essentially, a non fixable one i.e. it comes with a 13amp 3 pin plug and there is no facility to directly wall mount, apart from hanging it off screws in the wall using large diameter holes on it's back plate in a 'key hole' type of fixing (i.e. you can lift it off without tools). Therefore, I suspect it should be connected via a socket and not wired in permanently? (that's question number one)
That's easily achiecheved of course by simply running the loose flex to the nearest socket outlet. Except you will see it and of course it will look unsightly. So Question number two, how does this sound:
Fix into the back of the grate (it's fed via a flexible lined flue which will be blocked up using expanding foam to stop moisture ingress) a surface mount single socket. There is a twin socket outlet near the grate that I can extent the ring from to the new socket and route the cable such that the only exposed part will be covered by the fire surround itself (stainless steel).
The only heat from the new fire will be from a 2KW fan heater in the top of it (under a hood which is mostly in the room, not the grate) so there is no heat into the grate as such as it's only drawing in air from the living room and blowing it out again so I do not see there's a heat problem. There would be if I inset the fire into the grate but i'm not removing any of the surround spacers (if you know the type of fire, you will know what the spacers do - fully inset without, surface mount with.)
Should there be a problem with the fire, you will be able to lift it off it's fixings and unplug it easily enough.
Overcomplicated? Dangerous? What does anyone think?
Just to add that I am a designer but of industrial (petro chemical) installataions so I'm familiar with mechanical protection of cables and mounting equipment etc - but you don't get many fireplaces on oil refineries
Thing is, the fire (a dimplex one) is essentially, a non fixable one i.e. it comes with a 13amp 3 pin plug and there is no facility to directly wall mount, apart from hanging it off screws in the wall using large diameter holes on it's back plate in a 'key hole' type of fixing (i.e. you can lift it off without tools). Therefore, I suspect it should be connected via a socket and not wired in permanently? (that's question number one)
That's easily achiecheved of course by simply running the loose flex to the nearest socket outlet. Except you will see it and of course it will look unsightly. So Question number two, how does this sound:
Fix into the back of the grate (it's fed via a flexible lined flue which will be blocked up using expanding foam to stop moisture ingress) a surface mount single socket. There is a twin socket outlet near the grate that I can extent the ring from to the new socket and route the cable such that the only exposed part will be covered by the fire surround itself (stainless steel).
The only heat from the new fire will be from a 2KW fan heater in the top of it (under a hood which is mostly in the room, not the grate) so there is no heat into the grate as such as it's only drawing in air from the living room and blowing it out again so I do not see there's a heat problem. There would be if I inset the fire into the grate but i'm not removing any of the surround spacers (if you know the type of fire, you will know what the spacers do - fully inset without, surface mount with.)
Should there be a problem with the fire, you will be able to lift it off it's fixings and unplug it easily enough.
Overcomplicated? Dangerous? What does anyone think?
Just to add that I am a designer but of industrial (petro chemical) installataions so I'm familiar with mechanical protection of cables and mounting equipment etc - but you don't get many fireplaces on oil refineries
