Immersion circuit

[EFLImpudence]

D'oh - I thought you meant inverted.

 

[JohnW2]

It's 3KW in a three bed semi, and not far from consumer unit, not sure about the insulation

Thanks - as we (well, virtually all of us ) assumed. In that case, 2.5mm² cable would be fine, and provided that it was not totally surrounded by thermal insulation (probably unlikley), even 1.5mm² would theoretically probably be OK.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Terry lambert]

He's now saying he wants my sparks to run the cable and he's putting the ceilings up on Monday

Talk about touchy, what's a few mm between friends

 

[JohnW2]

He's now saying he wants my sparks to run the cable and he's putting the ceilings up on Monday ... Talk about touchy, what's a few mm between friends

Hmmm! If he now wants your electrician to do it, he doesn't plan on also charging you for what his so-called electrician is (presumably?) meant to be doing, is he? Do you have an electrician who actually knows what (s)he is talking about, and doing? Is there other electrical work involved - and, if so, who is going to do that?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Terry lambert]

There are other electrical works being carried out.

He keeps banging on about his spark being part P and that's where he learned of the change to 4mm, that I can't connect the immersion to the spur as I'm not.

To be honest, I'm best stepping back., keeping quiet and just fitting the cylinder in a couple of weeks when the builder has gone.

I'll let you know if the spur is on 4mm though

 

[Iggifer]

I would speak to the spark directly when he's in.

Clearly the builder doesn't have a clue what he's talking about.

Ask the spark what reg number he's talking about

And you're perfectly allowed to connect the immersion heater yourself - although I would prefer to see a 20A DP immersion switch over a FCU (presuming on a 16A circuit breaker)

If he does put in 4mm, then bonus! Stick a double immersion in

 

[JohnW2]

There are other electrical works being carried out. He keeps banging on about his spark being part P and that's where he learned of the change to 4mm, that I can't connect the immersion to the spur as I'm not. To be honest, I'm best stepping back., keeping quiet and just fitting the cylinder in a couple of weeks when the builder has gone. I'll let you know if the spur is on 4mm though

It's really all a bit ridiculous. As Iggifer has said, there's no harm done (other than a small increase in cable cost) if it ends up being 4mm² , but it would be a bit ridiculous if 1.5mm² would probably have, and 2.5mm² would certainly have, be adequate. As has been said, provided that the 'new circuit' (back to the CU) is installed (which is 'notifiable work') by a registered self-certifying electrician, you can connect the immersion to the circuit yourself - as Iggifer has also said, a 20A switch at the immersion end would be more sensible than an FCU (since the fuse in the latter would be redundant.

Unless he is being misrepresented by the builder (as has been said, you need to speak to the electrician directly, to find out) I would still be nervous about having this 'electrician' doing any work in my house!

Kind Regards, John

 

[kai]

Typical immersion circuits in homes start at a B16 breaker, followed by 2.5mm cable run, into either a 20amp DP switch with neon, and the 1.5mm heatproof flex to the immersion, or as I have have seen on many such installations, a 13amp DP switch fuse connection unit, feeding a 1.5.mm flex to the immersion.
Maybe electricians tend to include the 13amp FCU to be on the safe side perhaps?

 

[JohnW2]

Maybe electricians tend to include the 13amp FCU to be on the safe side perhaps?

Maybe that's what they think, but it's really not necessary (even if the flex is 1.5mm²) if the circuit has a 16A MCB.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I have to say that if I were you, I would be telling my builder that I did not want this person doing any electrical work in my house.

It's not his house - it's somebody else's, and terrydoh is the plumber retained by either the builder or the homeowner.

Chances (or should that be chancers ) are that if the builder has known the electrician for a while, and gets on with him, the relationship will continue, and he will carry on ripping people off. Let's just hope that the electrician does what he does safely, even if what he does is unnecessary.

 

[JohnW2]

I have to say that if I were you, I would be telling my builder that I did not want this person doing any electrical work in my house.

It's not his house - it's somebody else's, and terrydoh is the plumber retained by either the builder or the homeowner.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that - but the sentiment of what I wrote still stands, no matter whose house it is!

Let's just hope that the electrician does what he does safely, even if what he does is unnecessary.

I don't think I'd have any faith in the competence of someone who not only apparently invents regulations but also presumably doesn't have enough understanding to realise that the reg he's invented makes no electrical sense.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Or common sense. But then, TBF, he might not expect that from the Wiring Regs.

 

[JohnW2]

Or common sense. But then, TBF, he might not expect that from the Wiring Regs.

I don't think even the Wiring Regs would be so daft as to require 4mm² cable "so that it would be recognised as an immersion circuit" - as I said, if someone saw 4mm² cable, an immersion circuit is probably just about the last thing they would think it was!

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

D'oh - I thought you meant inverted.

That would make changing the element an interesting job....