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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Adding extra circuit to old wiring https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1254924824 Message started by londonman on Oct 7^th, 2009, 3:13pm

Title: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by londonman on Oct 7^th, 2009, 3:13pm

The wiring in my elderly mothers' house is equally as elderly but at least has red/black T&E and not old rubber sheathed stuff. The CU is an old fused unit. She needs a power socket by the telephone socket to feed her CareAlarm unit. The best option that I can see is for an electician to simply (?) add a radial circuit from the CU to a fixed 13A socket mounted in the under-stairs cupboard where the CU is located.

Then her oddjob man can drill a hole in the cupboard and run a thinner extension cable and fix it around the skirting etc to an extension mains socket nearer the phone, plugging said extension cable into the new understairs socket with a 2A fused plug. Or would a fused spur be more sensible?

Why not run the new circuit all the way to the phone, I hear you ask? Mother fusses about wire visibility etc and although one can get white T&E, I'm guessing that it still has to be 2.5mm and so more visible then white/cream flex.

Question...will a sparky add in the radial cable or say no, the whole thing needs a rewire which is out of the question.

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by scotspark on Oct 7^th, 2009, 9:44pm

all socket outlets need rcd protection so either small consumer unit or seperate rcd for the new cct.

or if cabling is not concealed eg surface or in trunking the could fit rcd protected socket outlet.

main bonding?????

SS

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by londonman on Oct 7^th, 2009, 10:01pm

Thanks for that. It will be surface wired so an RCD socket outlet will work.

What will happen if, as I suspect, there isn't much evidence of any main bonding etc. ?

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by Goodsparks on Oct 8^th, 2009, 10:49am

Quote:

What will happen if, as I suspect, there isn't much evidence of any main bonding etc. ?

It'll be a cash job ;)

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by londonman on Oct 9^th, 2009, 6:38pm

wrote on Oct 8^th, 2009, 10:49am:

Quote:

What will happen if, as I suspect, there isn't much evidence of any main bonding etc. ?

It'll be a cash job ;)

;D Is there any other type ? ;)

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by CWatters on Oct 9^th, 2009, 7:48pm

Perhaps move the telephone socket instead? Phone wire is quite small. Flat type can be run under carpet etc.

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by londonman on Oct 10^th, 2009, 2:38pm

CWatters wrote on Oct 9^th, 2009, 7:48pm:

Perhaps move the telephone socket instead? Phone wire is quite small. Flat type can be run under carpet etc.

Nice bit of lateral thinking there. Unfortunately when they wired the house sockets must have been like gold dust as there isn't single socket anywhere in the downstairs hallway!

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by CWatters on Oct 10^th, 2009, 8:27pm

londonman wrote on Oct 10^th, 2009, 2:38pm:

CWatters wrote on Oct 9^th, 2009, 7:48pm:

Perhaps move the telephone socket instead? Phone wire is quite small. Flat type can be run under carpet etc.

Nice bit of lateral thinking there. Unfortunately when they wired the house sockets must have been like gold dust as there isn't single socket anywhere in the downstairs hallway!

Does the alarm unit have to be in the hallway. You can extend a phone line quite a long way. It will be the next thing you are asked to do anyway - she'll want an extension next to her armchair and one near the bed.
:)

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by londonman on Oct 17^th, 2009, 5:03pm

CWatters wrote on Oct 10^th, 2009, 8:27pm:

londonman wrote on Oct 10^th, 2009, 2:38pm:

CWatters wrote on Oct 9^th, 2009, 7:48pm:

Perhaps move the telephone socket instead? Phone wire is quite small. Flat type can be run under carpet etc.

Nice bit of lateral thinking there. Unfortunately when they wired the house sockets must have been like gold dust as there isn't single socket anywhere in the downstairs hallway!

It is the best place because it has a built-in microphone and loudseaker, the theory being that if she takes atumble, she presses her button hanging on a cord around her neck, whih triggers the unit to dial up the control centre. Then the operator tries to speak to her via the box. That's the theory.

Title: Re: Adding extra circuit to old wiring
Post by The_Trician on Oct 19^th, 2009, 1:40pm

No need for 2.5 cable for such an application, especially if it is a dedicated cct from the cu and is fused down to say 5A and a 2 A plug/socket is fitted at the other end.

A bit of 1.00mm twin would be fine for such an application.

TT.