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The main problem with UK cabling if used in other EU systems is that the earth is undersized and unsheathed in standard UK flat twin and earth. While I'm not 100% sure about the french regulations, I have definitely seen multi-core cable used in France. The difference is that the earth is the...

Basically, the French building / wiring regulations have a bit of forward planning for future services. It's obligatory in new build under Norme NF C 15-100 (2003) They have to go back to a "Coffret de Communication" (A communication distribution hub/distribution centre). Typically, this...

Many ovens and hobs sold in the UK can be wired for 3 phase as they are intended for EU-wide supply. Check what kind of supply is available in the kitchen in France. French cooker wiring is usually, but not always, single phase. If the specs of the cooker allow 3 phase etc it will not...

There's really no difference between a French and British hob. It's quite likely to be manufactured for the whole European market. Both countries use 230V 50hz (as do all European countries) Consult a French electrician if you need help hooking it up though.

There seems to be plenty of other brands on the market in France in my experience : Legrand, Ebenoid, Arnould and quite a few others too. We used a range of fancy sockets and switches from Hager in France. I don't really think Legrand is THAT dominant, at least no more so than Siemens...

I've seen standard CEE 7/4 sockets in some French houses i.e. normal Schuko rather than the French earth-pin variety. It was just a case of someone wanting designer sockets which were to German specs rather than French. I assume that's not quite legal? even if they accept the same plugs...

I don't "claim" the UK has these regulations, it does have these regulations regarding IP ratings for electrical devices in bathrooms. However, in my experience talking to electrical contractors from Germany / Austria etc the reaction to putting an instantaneous water heater into the shower...

Legrand, like MK in the UK/IRL, are high priced but they also make very high quality products and they're made in France usually. When it comes to electrical fittings, you often get what you pay for. I've found MK products to be very expensive, but they also last and cause absolutely no...

They aren't more than splashproof, I've just been reading Triton's specs and they're only IP X4 !!! All that means is that there is no rating for the access to hazardous parts i.e. X The 4 just means it's safe to splash it with water. It does not even mean that it's safe to spray it with a...

Same layout as a BS1363 UK/Ireland plug Terre = Earth Phase = Phase/Live Neutre = Neutral

The UK and Ireland are pretty much the only countries in the world that don't allow standard sockets (protected by an appropriate RCD) in the bathroom. Yet, we have no problem allowing a 40Amp electric water heater aka an electric shower to be installed in the shower cubicle :roll...

Ring circuits can only be used with fused plugs / fused spurs. You should absolutely never use them with other types of plugs e.g. Schuko as used in Norway (and most of Europe). The ring system is pretty much unique to the UK and Ireland. Even in Ireland we tend to prefer radials where...

I am assuming that you've probably figured it out by now, but just in case anyone else needs to do this in future: There should be a latch at the top of the drain-filter-cover panel. You just push it down, and the door should open downwards. Just tried it on ours and it's pretty simple...

If you're moving around within Europe the voltage / frequency are the same 230V 50Hz. At worst, you may need to change the plug. Analogue television is rapidly becoming irrelevant but, many televisions, as has been pointed out above, will work in multiple countries. You usually have to select...

That's actually the case, although there are plenty of water-proof BS1363 sockets installed outdoors in DIY installations, they do not really meet the requirements of the Irish wiring rules. ALL sockets in Ireland must be protected by a 30mA RCD too, this has been a requirement since 1980...

One of the hazards of a forum with a slow turnover of messages is that old threads end up at the top of the pile. Most people just assume that posts on the first page or so are new.

You really shouldn't have any problem doing this. French rewirable plugs are pretty simple to fit. If it's a very small appliance i.e. maximum 500W you can use a small 2 pin flat plug. If it's anything else, you'll have to use a 16A round plug, which are as bulky as UK/Ireland plugs.

The fuse in a UK plug is really largely there because of the ring-circuits i.e. the socket might only be fused at 30Amps or 32Amps. On the continent, socket circuits are fused at 16Amps normally, sometimes 10amps (older wiring). Just cut the UK plugs off the appliances, and wire on Schuko...

There are a few things to remember with low voltage lighting. 1) Just because it's low voltage does not mean that you can use thinner wires. Ensure that the wires that you are using are of a sufficient gauge to carry the load at the voltage you are using i.e. 12V or 24V. You will actually...

With regard to the design of circuits, you basically need to consider a few things. 1) For a kitchen you will typically have a 32amp supply for the Cooker, which is dedicated to the cooker and cannot have any sockets connected to it. i.e. the UK style cooker control unit isn't permitted, we...