Is It OK to Ignore A Permanent Live?

[pbarlow1]

We've just had an old Baxi back boiler/fire taken out and I'm installing a new electric wall mounted fire in its place. The old boiler had a permanent live but I'm wanting to fit a standard plug socket so only need the live, neutral and earth. Am I ok just insulating up the permanent live and ignoring it? I was hoping to avoid the need for ripping out the old 4 core power cable and putting in a new 3 core one, the way it's been set in is a real bugger to get out.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well, you can terminate any unwanted wires in a connector block and tuck out of the way but...

will you not want the socket to be permanently live?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Tell us more about this 4-core power cable.

What size is it (i.e. conductor size)?

It used to connect into the boiler, yes? Where does it originate?

 

[pbarlow1]

Thanks for the replies.

Not sure on conductor size but it is wired up to the old and very basic boiler control which is in turn wired to a master control switch. This switch is the only easily accessible part of the whole setup. The individual wires in the 4 core look as thick as those behind a standard wall socket?

The idea was to utilise the existing wiring and switch for the time being until the builders are in to sort out the wall where the wiring and old boiler control box is currently set. If it's a no go we'll just do without the electric fire for now until the work is finished.

 

[JohnW2]

Not sure on conductor size but it is wired up to the old and very basic boiler control which is in turn wired to a master control switch. This switch is the only easily accessible part of the whole setup. The individual wires in the 4 core look as thick as those behind a standard wall socket? ... The idea was to utilise the existing wiring and switch for the time being until the builders are in to sort out the wall where the wiring and old boiler control box is currently set. If it's a no go we'll just do without the electric fire for now until the work is finished.

I think that's what you need to do (do without the fire until the electrics are sorted out properly). I think what others are getting at is that if this cable previously served just the controls of a boiler, then, despite what you say, it's fairly unlikely that it would be man enough cable (adequate conductor size) to run an electric fire - in which case trying to run an electric fire from it could possibly result in fire in places you didn't want it!

Kind Regards, John

 

[pbarlow1]

Avoiding fires where we didn't want them was the whole point of asking about the permanent live

I'll leave it for now, the better half will just have to make do with the warmth from the new CH system!

Cheers all.

 

[mattylad]

And if it does turn out OK to use, can you find the other end of the cable and un connect the 4th wire?