Leccy Check points...

[P48484]

Hi,


First time here. Basically a house (1960's) I have brought I thought needed a new CU. As possibly thinking about renting out a room.. However the guy who came round has given me the following report:

• no RCD (earth trip protection)
• no main bond to water service
• main gas bond not connected to any form of earthing or MET
• no thermal protection to the imm heater
• dining room pendant has single insulation
• bathroom bond not to current standards
• electricity supply to barn not to current standards
• Main earth is undersized and the Ze (resistance to earth) is too high
• BS3036 rewireable fuses have the incorrect size fuse wire in them –
• The consumer unit has multiple circuits connected in to each fuse way
• Some inspected sockets need replacing
• The main earth has been cut out and disconnected
• Most circuits are wired in rubber insulated cables
• Lights and sockets in the lounge do not have earths
• Several sockets are reverse polarity
• Bathroom light fitting is not suitable for the location
• Consumer unit (fuse box) in bad condition – taped up

I pretty handy with DIY, but must admit I'm at a loss with the new Part P regulations, despite spending time on this site trying to glean on the legalities and certifications required..

I'd like to know what I can do myself and what 'has' to be done by a quailified sparky.

As mentioned I orignally wanted a new consumer unit installed, but the guy requested a complete rewire at about 4K.

Heres what I thought I could do myself:

1. Main bond to Gas and Water back to new CU
2. Replacement new Immersion heater (with thermal protection)
3. New dinning room Pendant
4. Inspect and replace Bathroom bonding
5. Remove lashed up connection to barn end-to-end (barn=shed)
6. rewirable fuses N/A will go with new CU
7. Multiple circuis N/A will go with new CU
8. No RDC N/A, will go with new CU (+ RCD)
9. Restore socket Polarity
10. Bathroom fitting replace with Zone 1 rated light
11. Rewire Lounge with proper spec cables ?
12. Replace all sockets


Heres what I assume will have to be done proffesionally:
1. Fit new CU
2. Main earth is undersized and the Ze (resistance to earth) is too high
3. Repair/replace - The main earth has been cut out and disconnected

Any insight on notifcations etc that I'd need to submit, areas I'm no loner allowed to touch etc would be gratefully recieved,

Many thanks in advance

 

[RF Lighting]

Never mind messing about trying to do those bits and bobs yourself.

Your house needs rewiring. Sorry to sound blunt, but if that report is accurate, your installation is in a hugely dangerous condition, and the only realistic thing to do is cut it all off and start again. Often as soon as you start to touch rubber wiring, the insulation will crumble away leaving you in a real mess, but it is recommended to be replaced as soon as possible anyway.

Speak to your electrician and see what she is happy for you to do. She might let you work along side her doing the donker work like chopping out, making good and running cables etc.

 

[electronicsuk]

As a landlord I appreciate that you are looking at this property purely as a means of turning a profit and therefore the less spent on it the better. However, as per RF's post above, it really does sound as if the property is in need of a rewire. If most of the circuits are in rubber/VIR then only a complete cowboy will attach them to a new consumer unit.

 

[londonboy]

If most of the circuits are in rubber/VIR then only a complete cowboy will attach them to a new consumer unit.

I didn't think you were allowed to under 7671?
I was taught that they don't have a BS mark so don't comply?

 

[electronicsuk]

If most of the circuits are in rubber/VIR then only a complete cowboy will attach them to a new consumer unit.

I didn't think you were allowed to under 7671?
I was taught that they don't have a BS mark so don't comply?

Hence my comment?

 

[RF Lighting]

Providing the cables pass all the apropriate tests, especially IR, then theoretically you could reconnect them, but I wouldn't personally take a job that required it.

 

[Johnmelad502]

Hi,


First time here. Basically a house (1960's) I have brought I thought needed a new CU. As possibly thinking about renting out a room.. However the guy who came round has given me the following report:

• no RCD (earth trip protection)
• no main bond to water service
• main gas bond not connected to any form of earthing or MET
• no thermal protection to the imm heater
• dining room pendant has single insulation
• bathroom bond not to current standards
• electricity supply to barn not to current standards
• Main earth is undersized and the Ze (resistance to earth) is too high
• BS3036 rewireable fuses have the incorrect size fuse wire in them –
• The consumer unit has multiple circuits connected in to each fuse way
• Some inspected sockets need replacing
• The main earth has been cut out and disconnected
• Most circuits are wired in rubber insulated cables
• Lights and sockets in the lounge do not have earths
• Several sockets are reverse polarity
• Bathroom light fitting is not suitable for the location
• Consumer unit (fuse box) in bad condition – taped up

If you think he is exaggerating get a second or even a third inspection report, though they will probably be identical.

See which quote is best and not necessarily the cheapest.

 

[londonboy]

If most of the circuits are in rubber/VIR then only a complete cowboy will attach them to a new consumer unit.

I didn't think you were allowed to under 7671?
I was taught that they don't have a BS mark so don't comply?

Hence my comment?

Sorry I thought you were implying that it was acceptable with the regs, but just not the done thing.

 

[RF Lighting]

It is exactly that.

Can you find a reg which prohibits reconnecting rubber cable, providing all the apropriate tests come back ok?

 

[londonboy]

No but I'm sure theres one that says cables need to be BASEC approved.

 

[RF Lighting]

Find it, and I'll pop a fiver in the post to you.

 

[londonboy]

Well on page 230 theres a list of BS numbers for each type of cable, and surprisingly VIR's not there... so does that count?

 

[RF Lighting]

I think you know the answer to that, don't you?

 

[electronicsuk]

It still stands though; any electrician with any sense of pride in his work would flat-out refuse to terminate such circuits into a new CU. Even if the cable was still workable enough to terminate without causing insulation failure, the installation would be nearing end-of-life making the whole exercise rather futile.

 

[londonboy]

I agree, and never touch it. You look at the stuff and it falls apart!
I still tend to find it on old immersion radials and cooker circuits mainly.