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I occasionaly have to access my basement and have to use a torch to see with. (Headroom is just short of 2 metres, so I can walk around in it). I'd like to install lights run through the floor, from a plug-point in my living room. I think that 5, 60w lights would be adequate throughout. Can I...

Thanks Tony. I'm tempted to repair it, but truth be told, I think if it were to be inspected by a professional it would be condemned. (The 'burner tube' if you know what I mean, has a few splits in it too. I suppose it must be about 15 years old). It's such a shallow unit, only 7.5 inches, that...

I have an old Imperial (long since out of business) gas fire, "coal" / flame type. The pilot light keeps going out, and therefore the gas supply is automatically shut off. I presume that the thermocouple has finally burnt out. (Listed as, 350 mm, part No. T2-52). Will I be able to get a...

I have an old but usually reliable Neff 6503 washer dryer. The water is now heating to boiling on any program, so I presume that the thermostat is knackered. I can find the schematic parts diagram on google but all the parts have numbers only. No descriptions. I have no idea what the thermostat...

Thanks Steve and RF. I've figured it out from that. Unfortunately I've gone and mixed up my Reds. It seems to work anyway. Am I in any danger if I've got the two Reds the wrong way round, or would it just not work if I'd done that?

I'm replacing an old double light switch with a new one. I figured that I'd just take note of the wiring in the old one and replicate it, but the two don't have the same connections. The old one has three at the top (B, A2, A1) and three at the bottom (B2, B1, A). The new one has two at the top...

As a general observance; It's perhaps unfortunate that, with on-line purchases the general public can often buy products cheaper than retail outlets can buy wholesale (as in the case of my CU). Subsequently, longstanding retailers are struggling or going out of business. This applies across the...

I had already looked on-line and knew what I could get, and for how much. He couldn't get the CU for less, so gave me some specs to adhere to (number and Amp requirements of MCB connections / overall dimensions / split load requirements, and suggested I order it myself, to save some money. (He's...

Nope. Just a standard "along the line" terraced house feed. It comes to me from my neighbour's house. Prior to that... who knows, but there's definitely no overhead feed.

I'll be getting a fully qualified spark to do the work. All I'm doing is trying to have the appropriate CU unit for the job on site and ready to exchange for the old one. (I've only just ordered a Wylex 9 way unit plus the appropriate MCB's 5 mins ago, on-line). My electrician is coming next...

I only have a limited space for my new CU, so oversizing is not an option. I understood that a split load unit (Wylex) included an RCD protection for up to half the connections and all I had to add were the MCB's. Don't tell me I've got that wrong?! Just to be sure; If I purchase the '9 Way'...

I'm getting there with my purchase of a new CU, but am finding some confusion with '8 way / 10 way' etc. descriptions. I don't want a pre-assembled split load unit as none of them have the combination of MCB's that I need. I have a requirement to connect to 8 'ways'. (4x32A, 3x6A, 1x45A). It...

Thanks 'Ricicle'. If I can use a 50A MCB that gives me much more choice of unit. I don't suppose that you would have a rough idea of how much I'll have to pay to get an electrician to supply and fit a decent quality split-load CU in the same location as my existing one, would you? I would...

Back on 11th July, John D (amongst others) gave me some useful advice re. my new shower/cable/electrical requirements, and I have decided to renew my old Proteus CU with a 12 way split load unit (You can tell that I've since been doing some homework). My questions are these; Will I have to get...

Dear John D, RCBO's / RCD / DP isolators??? I presume these are all modern protection systems to replace my old fuse-wire system. I'll have to do a bit of reading up to familiarise myself with modern electrics. Funny, I've never wondered where the electric supply comes from. It first appears...

As requested, here's my CU. (Don't laugh). In removing the front cover to take the photos I see it was installed in 1989. The end (black 30A) fuse, which was spare at installation, was utilised for the shower about a year later. I hope this helps, somehow. (NB. Re. Ricicle; I'm in Scotland)

Yes, you're right. It's an old (20 yrs) consumer unit with fuse wires. The shower cable travels down a plastic conduit for about 150mm, then about 6m in air (under the floor in a roomy basement) then up within the plaster of the bathroom wall for 150mm, and connects into the shower. It has 30A...

Brilliant, many thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately I reckon it's the 6mm and I'll have to settle for a less powerful shower. Can you tell me what the CSA in the table in the link you sent stands for?

Hi all, First post, just a quick question. My 20 year old electric shower has just died (7.5Kw) and I am considering replacing it with one of the newer more powerful (9.8Kw) models. The guy at B&Q has told me I need 10mm cable in order to install this new shower, my question is how do I tell...