loft electrical wiring

[nemisis_tfc]

hi guys

This will be my first jaunt into electrical wiring. i was hoping to get some help, complete the job and of course have it checked over by a qualified electrician

i have just bought a house and the loft will serve as a great place for my server equipment (im an IT techy not an electrician sadly for this job)

The wiring part itself will be simple for me however i would like some advice as to the best methods to approach this.

are there any specialist tools i should use and will there already be a mains cable in the loft or will i have to pull it up from the hall below?

also does anyone have any pointers for special tools to get cabling behind plasterboard down 2 floors? i need to run some ethernet cable down to the living room but have never gobe behind the plasterboard before

cheers in advance

[JohnD]

If you really mean the bit about having it checked, contact some electricians before you start and see what they say.

I'm willing to bet good money that you have lamps on the ceilings of the rooms below the loft, and that the wiring will be accessible up there. You may even find some junction boxes. This will supply your lights but not sockets (unless you are lucky and find some were installed when it was built).

Special tools? Look up "Fish" or "Fishing" on a tool supplier's website.

Also look at the reference section and buy or borrow the books mentioned, by the time you've read that section you'll know how to do spurs and what you must do so that they won't be spiked next time someone bangs a nail in to hang a picture.

[baldelectrician]

Just be aware of the building regs, if you are going to make the room 'useable' as the defenition goes then you have to comply with the building regs.

Useable means, generally something other than flooring and lighting- it implies power (sockets etc.) and carpet / furnature.

A common misconseption is that a loft ladder and calling it a floored loft is enough to get away with no building regs stuff.

If you go to sell your house you will have to make it a floored storage area- then you will be allright. If you don't you could get into problems.

Sorry to sound doom and gloom but call your local council for advice, and preferably write- then you get a reply in writing for your records.

for info on building regs see the scottish building standards agency website,
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk

I have a single page cross reference chart on my website.

http://www.baldelectrician.com/buildingstds/warrant.pdf

They are usually quite heplful.