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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Electrical Questions › HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress

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HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress (Read 15809 times)

shell GDPR opt-out	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #17 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 7:37pm Thats great lectrician, hes already got plug sockets installed in the loft, does he just link one of them to the new fused connection unit ? Lspark no can do as this is a bedroom.
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Zambezi

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Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress
Reply #18 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 7:52pm

I am not comfortable with advising any further with this one because there are too many things that don't stack up:
- If it is a loft that has been converted "legally" through building control etc then you would expect it to have lights and power etc,
- The existing electrics don't look particularly safe, no jbs etc,
- If the sockets in the loft have been fitted by your hubby then I wonder if he has broken into a ring properly, is it a radial, has it been spurred off,
- None of it has been tested,
- Part P?

I would follow LSpark's advice and get an electrician in. Although saying that he will probably not want to touch it if it is a DIY loft conversion...

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shell GDPR opt-out	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #19 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:02pm Ok i understand, hes put a spur out of an existing socket he is fairly confident with electrics but this one has stumped him.He wasnt sure if it was safe to put lights in through a socket but he said that what lectrician said made sense. Thanks for your help.
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Zambezi GDPR opt-out	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #20 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:07pm When you say he put a spur off and existing socket, did he: a.) connect the new cable for the sockets to the back of an existing socket? b.) connect a new fused outlet (similar to the one in an earlier thread by Lectrician) to the existing socket and then connect the new sockets to the fused outlet?
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shell GDPR opt-out	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #21 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:12pm He did option one, are you suggesting he does option two ? That way he will be able to connect live for lights as suggested by lectrician ?
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Goodsparks

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Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress
Reply #22 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:13pm

You're still going to need to break into the existing lighting circuit (or provide an independent circuit) to supply the interconnecting smoke detectors that are required in ADB for a converted loft / habitable room. Given the state of the wiring in the pictures this will probably prove to be a useful addition rather than something installed just to comply with the building regs.

Given that the install will be to the 17th edition of BS 7671, i'm not sure that a fused connection unit off of the circuit supplying the socket outlets would be acceptable. If the RCD protecting the circuit were to operate, you would plunge the loft (and presumably the stairs) into darkness.

Quote:

he is fairly confident with electrics

Paul

« Last Edit: Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:15pm by Goodsparks »

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Zambezi

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Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress
Reply #23 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:16pm

That is what I was worried about! It should be option b.) with a 13 amp fuse in it.
The lights need to come off their own fused connection unit with a 3 or 5 amp fuse in it (they normally come with a 13 amp fuse fitted to them).
Good point Paul, I bet there is no RCD anywhere in the install though judging by the wiring to the lights.

« Last Edit: Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:17pm by zambezi »

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shell GDPR opt-out	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #24 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:19pm Thats great thankyou very much. How much do you think that would cost an electrician to do that job ??
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LSpark

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Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress
Reply #25 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:27pm

Quote:

he is fairly confident with electrics but this one has stumped him

That is because confident is not the same as competent. I might be confident to fit a boiler, but it doesn't make me competent, I certainly couldn't test flow rates, gas pressures, and god knows what else.

I don't have a problem with people undertaking work themselves, but it should be within the law, and be under instruction or advice by someone in the know. And there is no excuse now since you have online forums such as this where you can come and get advice before carrying out such tasks.

« Last Edit: Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:28pm by LSpark »

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shell GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 3 For This Post: 0	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #26 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:33pm Good point and fully agree. Money is very tight and would like to do it ourselves which is why all the question to see if it can be done by hubby. But out of interest , all points considered how much would this cost a proffesional ?
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Zambezi GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 3 For This Post: 0	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #27 - Feb 1^st, 2009, 8:51pm Can't tell how much it would cost without looking at it. Chances are that there will need to be other works done to the circuit/s being altered to meet the current regulations.
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sparky415 Trade Member Offline Its more complicated than I first thought Posts: 679 Total Thanks: 0 For This Post: 0 Gender: Trade: Electrician	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #28 - Feb 2^nd, 2009, 11:58am Shell, I agree with the other Sparks on here, You need an Electrician to have a look Just because a light or socket works doesn’t mean that it is wired safely Can any friends or neighbours recommend an Electrician? Zambezi, I got a roll of DI 1.5 red two years ago (Eddies)
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shell GDPR opt-out Total Thanks: 0 For This Post: 0	Re: HELP HELP HELP Damsel in distress Reply #29 - Feb 2^nd, 2009, 7:04pm Evening guys, we have decided after all your advice , even the sarcastic comments lol to take extension leads up there, your comments on our interestig wiring made me and after much debate wiv my hubby that we would all prefer to live ! ! So thankyou all very much on help in this matter Shell.
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