new kitchen circuits advice please

[Reg Hedge]

With apologies if these questions have been answered many times before!

I'm planning to fit a new kitchen soon. I have an electrician coming next week, but I'd like to get some feedback if possible please before he turns up, so I know what to expect.

The Kitchen is currently fed one half by part of a 30A ring main, and the other half of the room is on a radial which is also protected by a 30A fuse. (we have a gas cooker at the moment but I believe at one time this was the cooker circuit as it appears to be using 6mmm wire). I think this radial should actually be on a 20A fuse?

Firstly; we're switching to an double electric oven which is rated at 30A. Am I right in saying that it needs to be on its own separate 30A radial circuit? Or can I run any 13A sockets from it as well?

The "radial" half of the kitchen; would it be better to keep as a radial (20A), or make it into a ring main? I'm planning to run 3x single sockets and 1 x double.

Finally, as we are working to a tight budget, I'm hoping to do the majority of the "donkey" work myself - run the wires, fit the back-plates etc. I plan to ask the electrician at this stage for advice on where to put it all, and then get him back to inspect, test and certify. Is this a reasonable expectation? My understanding of part P is that I can do this, but is the electrician likely to be Ok with this request?

Thanks in advance!
Reg

 

[Click-Sure]

Your electrician may have different ideas but here goes with how I'd approach it (without seeing it, that is!).

Get rid of anything fed from the ring final that feeds one half of the kitchen.

If you have a radial final circuit wired in 6mm2 wire it is perfectly capable of carrying 30 amps, however I would probably try to re-use it for the cooker.

Run a new ring final to serve all the socket outlets and such.

And then theres the usual checking of earthing arrangements and capacity/fitness of your current consumer unit.

Your electrician may be happy for you to do some donkey work for him/her but just bear in mind that as far as signing the job off it is their decision. Personally I know a couple of builders that I am happy to leave to get on with running the wiring in leaving me to connect up and test, but thats about it.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I agree with ClickSure per the above. One point though:

If you have a radial final circuit wired in 6mm2 wire it is perfectly capable of carrying 30 amps, however I would probably try to re-use it for the cooker.

It is capable of carrying 30amps but only is ALL of the wiring is continued in 6mm (unlikely cos you wont get 2 x 6mm cables in the back of an average socket).
All too often the old cooker circuit is used to power a string of other sockets (added as a radial). If the cable used there is 2.5mm then the fuse should be at 20amps.

Your spark will (should) know about all of this..

 

[plugwash]

BTW MK spec thier sockets to take 2x6mm cables

 

[Taylortwocities]

That's why I said "the average socket".
You'd need a good deep box behind each too...

 

[Reg Hedge]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Spark came today and seems to concur with you all; complete new ring main in 2.5mm for all the sockets - cooker onto the existing 6mm cable salvaged from the little radial circuit. He wants to run the cables, but happy for me to chase all the plaster out and fit the boxes which is fine by me.

Quote to follow in the post! Reckons two days' work.