Full Rewire Cost Saving?

[ericmark]

Rubber cables, no option but renew, PVC cables, there were some bad batches, where the plasticiser leached out, and the PVC gets brittle, but in the main cables put in after 1966 are still OK today.

1966 the rules on earthing lights changed, and also around that time went to PVC, mineral insulated cables can last for centuries, but not used in homes much.

So the fuse box, it is unlikely a modern consumer unit (CU) will fit the space, so likely will replace with a junction box, and put the CU else where. This will need some planning, it is not a simple put new one where old one was, and this is where it gets hard.

 

[russ8585]

Could you at least chop out all of the back box areas, lift floorboards, pre run pull through cables, drill holes. I am guessing that is all the bits that electricians dont like doing anyway.

This is what I was thinking. Run all the new cables, put in the back boxes, then get a spark to do the wiring up.

Rubber cables, no option but renew, PVC cables, there were some bad batches, where the plasticiser leached out, and the PVC gets brittle, but in the main cables put in after 1966 are still OK today.

1966 the rules on earthing lights changed, and also around that time went to PVC, mineral insulated cables can last for centuries, but not used in homes much.

So the fuse box, it is unlikely a modern consumer unit (CU) will fit the space, so likely will replace with a junction box, and put the CU else where. This will need some planning, it is not a simple put new one where old one was, and this is where it gets hard.

I've had conflicting feedback from electricians on a new CU. Some say they can get one in the space, others say no.

 

[Collectors]

Out of curiosity? Is this a house or flat as i see the incoming main to the head is in conduit & not that large. Don't think i have seen this in a house. & is that cabinet on an outside wall or a covered area.?

 

[russ8585]

Out of curiosity? Is this a house or flat as i see the incoming main to the head is in conduit & not that large. Don't think i have seen this in a house. & is that cabinet on an outside wall or a covered area.?

It's a house. The supply comes from the house next door. The network supplier are going to install a new supply as the cables are very undersized.

 

[Collectors]

If they are replacing the incoming main it would be a good time to either fit a new & larger cabinet or think about a new place for the fuse board & meter. With the new smart meters, they are conected to the mobile network & dont think they worry where the meter goes. Always worth a letter or call to find out. If they are doing this for nothing? take advantage of the situation as they charge silly money for incoming cable work. we are talking thousands.

 

[morqthana]

In case anybody else was also curious

https://www.smartme.co.uk/docs/CommsHub_DS100023_TN_NOV2017_R1.pdf

 

[morqthana]

The sockets and fuse box do look very old.

The ones in the photo, not especially, and yes

I've had a few sparks out who have all said it's a full rewire.

Trying not to be cynical, and mindful that they've seen more that just the meter cupboard, but I can't see any cables in that photo that look like they should be replaced.

 

[russ8585]

If they are replacing the incoming main it would be a good time to either fit a new & larger cabinet or think about a new place for the fuse board & meter. With the new smart meters, they are conected to the mobile network & dont think they worry where the meter goes. Always worth a letter or call to find out. If they are doing this for nothing? take advantage of the situation as they charge silly money for incoming cable work. we are talking thousands.

I'm told by the network corporater it's free. They started the work today. My old supply comes from the house next door and the cables are about 10mm (very under sized apparently). New cable is now in place but they can't connect it up as the man next door isn't answering to allow disconnection of the old supply.

The ones in the photo, not especially, and yes




Trying not to be cynical, and mindful that they've seen more that just the meter cupboard, but I can't see any cables in that photo that look like they should be replaced.

There is a mix of old and new cables. Seems bits have been added on over time. Here's a few more photos.

 

[morqthana]

There is a mix of old and new cables.

Old, but old PVC. Could easily be absolutely fine. Did the electricians run any tests, or just look at things?

And a question for all:

Is there anybody here who really thinks that there couldn't possibly be any electricians out there so ignorant and stupid that they think they're not allowed to replace a CU onto red/black cables?

 

[mikehammer69]

Assumedly it's PVC throughout and not just the main board section in the pictures

Looks to be anyhow

 

[ericmark]

I did look at re-wiring my mother house myself. The council would charge £100 plus vat to register the work, and issue a completion certificate, but speed was the problem, I could not re-wire it with my mother still in the house, and the firm I used took 5 days, likely for me, it would take likely a month, mainly down to waiting for the council to give the go ahead to move to next stage.

Also, the council would not permit any corner cutting, so would need to get the DNO to remove supply and re-instate it, in real terms, fit an isolator, but again would have to wait until it was done.

In theory, it all seems great, in practice, not so easy. I did the wiring for the wet room using the direct council method, and it was not as easy as we thought it would be, we got in trouble for starting too early before we got the go ahead, but we told them it was emergency work, could not get away with that for a full re-wire.

My son re-wired his own house, his method was to live in a caravan in the garden while it was done.

If you consider moving the family into a guest house while the work is done, the cost jumps.

 

[russ8585]

Old, but old PVC. Could easily be absolutely fine. Did the electricians run any tests, or just look at things?

And a question for all:

Is there anybody here who really thinks that there couldn't possibly be any electricians out there so ignorant and stupid that they think they're not allowed to replace a CU onto red/black cables?

Assumedly it's PVC throughout and not just the main board section in the pictures

Looks to be anyhow

No tests have been done. All just looked at it and said rewire. From what I've read online cables should be replaced every 30 years (but in practice last longer). Some of the wiring I've seen in the loft does look dodgy. The guys running the new supply cable found a loose earth wire today.

I've just moved into the house a few months ago and I've redecorating the whole place, so if a rewire is due soon then now would be the best time since the place is a building site anyway

 

[mikehammer69]

No tests have been done. All just looked at it and said rewire. From what I've read online cables should be replaced every 30 years (but in practice last longer). Some of the wiring I've seen in the loft does look dodgy. The guys running the new supply cable found a loose earth wire today.

I've just moved into the house a few months ago and I've redecorating the whole place, so if a rewire is due soon then now would be the best time since the place is a building site anyway

You could screw off a switch or a pendant cover and take a picture

You'd be good to help out if the electrician was onsite

That way you could confirm everything as you go along . He can check your work.

 

[Risteard]

My house needs a full rewire and Ive been quoted £5K-£6K which I just cant afford.

Far too cheap.

 

[russ8585]

You could screw off a switch or a pendant cover and take a picture

You'd be good to help out if the electrician was onsite

That way you could confirm everything as you go along . He can check your work.

Ive managed to get hold of a spark today who's going to look it over and see what I could do myself .