Advice on age of Electrics in 1930s house and relocation

[grcj8]

Hi,

I am currently looking into buying a 1930s house which has electrics as shown below:




I know its impossible to give me an accurate idea from just a picture but knowing nothing about electronics, how old would you say that looked? It's currently located above the door in a kitchen and I also want to relocate it to under the stairs if possible. Don't suppose anyone would know the rough cost of moving this and whether I would need to replace / rewire from the pics shown?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It would be difficult to say the age of the insatallation.
There has been addition boards installed that are quite new by the look of them, so I would assume the cable to those boards is also new. Has there been any documents offered to you to view regarding these?
As that will obviously offer the information you require regarding there age and condition.

The main fuse board, is something that would have been installed in the 60s, that does not mean the cable is of that age though, so picture of the cable to circuits, would allow for a more informed opinion.

As for installations condition only a proper, inspection and test via an electrical installation condition report (EICR) would help access that.

Moving metering, would be down to your local distribution network operator, so you would require to contact them as regional prices and distances the meter is moved will vary the price.
Then you would require to have an electrician on board to but power back to the installation. All the circuits will need to be rearranged and taken from the existing location to the new one, so some planning involved but firstly have the EICR done, as you may have to repair or re-wire some or all circuits.

 

[ivixor]

It's almost certainly not worth moving that lot. Just put a cupboard round it if you don't want to see it.

The installation itself looks visually fine but the only way to sure is to get it inspected by an electrician.

 

[grcj8]

hey,

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately it is located right above the door to the rear of the kitchen. However the kitchen is quite small and looking at knocking that wall down and building extension behind it so would need to move it (even if its only to the side wall so shouldn't require digging up drive etc)

It seems quite bulky and if I were to move it could I not replace parts of it for something more "compact" so would more easily fit within a cupboard etc

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It seems quite bulky and if I were to move it could I not replace parts of it for something more "compact" so would more easily fit within a cupboard etc

The metering cannot be moved by you or an electrician, other than one it employed by the DNO.
Every thing after the meter tails can be, and you will be able to make that part of the installation more compact, by removing three of the boards and replace with one, that contain all your circuits. This would be deemed notifiable work and an application would need to be made to building controls, or you can employ an electrician that can self cert.

 

[riveralt]

You cannot move the meter - you need to get your DNO to do that for you.

If you move only your Consumer Unit (plus the Shower Unit) as is then it is likely that you will need to extend the cables - which can be done but obviously the extended cables may need to be boxed in. You will also still need to contact the DNO because 'electricians' are not allowed to pull the main fuse - they will come out and pull the fuse for you while the work is completed and then provided you meet their connection criteria re-energise the installation.

The other option is to get them to fit an isolator - some do it free some charge - this will give you a bit more flexibility in determining when and what type of work you want doing.

Also be aware that some DNO's restrict the length of meter tails to 3m over which they require some additional isolation fuse switch.

Best option is to get a few electricians in and see what they suggest and get at least three quotes.

 

[grcj8]

Sorry, I worded that wrong. I don't know the first things about electrics so I definitely won't be doing any of the work.

I understand that there are potentially 3 parties that need to be involved. Someone (depending on who controls my area) to move where the electrics come into the building, energy supplier to move the meter and an electrician to move the Consumer Unit.

Ideally I would like to move the meter outside (as I've heard some companies do this for free) and then have the fusebox on the inside of the same wall hid in a cupboard or something. The entire thing would need to be moved about 1m maybe a bit less.

Rough ball park figures of around £2k sound about right?

 

[securespark]

It's really difficult to say.

Have you an overhead supply?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Rough ball park figures of around £2k sound about right?

You must ask them - they are the only people who can do it, so basically you have to pay what they want, or you don't get it moved - it's that simple.

Some of the work may be what is known as "contestible" (e.g. digging trenches), and you're allowed to DIY or use your own contractor (e.g. builder already onsite with a mini-digger for your extension footings) - you need to ask them about that.

Don't make any assumptions when working out the budget for your extension.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Have you an overhead supply?

The meter is up high, and the supply comes in at ceiling height.

If it's attached to the wall being knocked down, I doubt that £2K would cover it....

 

[JohnW2]

Have you an overhead supply?

The meter is up high, and the supply comes in at ceiling height.

Which presumably makes it likely that it is an overhead supply.

If it's attached to the wall being knocked down, I doubt that £2K would cover it....

Why do you say that? If it is an overhead supply (and if the DNO are happy to leave it as such), then I would have thought that moving the service head would be an almost trivial exercise for the DNO, wouldn't it?

Kind Regards, John