new kitchen with only one wire for Oven + hob

[Stevethetiler]

what are you comlaining about! i take it its the exorbetant fees charged by the council for an easy checkover? i was absolutely appalled when i phoned my local council.

I said all i wanna do is move a few bits....not rocket science.....but apparently DIY leccy in the kitchen is no longer a viable option.

If you ask me, the new regs have just given licence for sparks to make more money and the council to make even more. Makes sense safety wise but the cost to joe public is huge.

Im not a spark, hence being here for advice. I know its notifiable work, i just wanna make sure what i do (if i do it) is gonna be right.

 

[Stevethetiler]

Sorry if i was on my soap box there!

 

[ColJack]

I suppose you moan that you can't do gas work yourself also?

people don't mind that you have to get a registered gas installer to move pipes for gas cookers or to intall a new fire and stuff, but bitch and moan that they can't move a piece of cable for an electric one..

at least with a gas pipe, you know if you've done it wrong because you can smell the leaking gas..

with electric, if you do it wrong there is no warning..
it doesn't make the carpets wet, it doesn't smell funny...
it's a silent killer..

 

[Stevethetiler]

Good point.

Im not moaning. Im just somewhat frustrated.

With the CORRECT advice, i am competent to do the majority of things. Not saying im a jack of all trades cos im not.

What i am saying is that because i cant get a electrician to give me practial safe advice on how to go about doing certain things (which i know are better done safely than have a bodge myself) its gonna end up costing me alot of money.

Point in question being - surely it would be more practical - regulation wise - for electricians to be able to advise a non qual person on the best/safest way to do some minor alterations that would probably be within that individuals ability - given correct guidance.

What dya think?

 

[Stevethetiler]

An example may be something like this:

Joe wants to install a extractor in his kitchen. Doesnt have one at the moment, but what he does have is a double socket near which would be capable of providing a spur to a FCU.

But for Joe, becuase its in a kitchen he has (oficially) gotta get building regs in to do it (kiss goodbye to £250) or pay for a qual. electrician to do it and get a certificate.

How does Joe feel? - Answer - a wee bit peeved!

Solution? - Joe feels it would be better if he could do the work under the guidance of suitable person but he cant.

Outcome? - Joe cant afford either option , so he does it himself anyway and possibly risks killing his entire family.

Sensible solution? - Joe feels alot safer if he COULD do the work himself and then just call a spark to come out and give him the thumbs up.

Make any sense?

 

[flameport]

For the original question, a double outlet box is a suitable solution. You can put a 13A socket from one of the outlets, provided the cable is the same size throughout (6mm in this case).
An alternative is to fit a normal outlet plate and a single socket next to it. Cable from switch - single socket - outlet plate. Again, all of the cable must be the same size.

Sensible solution? - Joe feels alot safer if he COULD do the work himself and then just call a spark to come out and give him the thumbs up.

The current situation is poor, since plenty of people are completely unaware of Part P and plenty of those that are will probably continue to do things themselves anyway.

If a system of checking afterwards did exist, the main problem will still be that people won't bother. After all - they install the item, switch it on, it works - so end of story. (The fact it could be installed wrongly or dangerous won't occur to them).

The other problem is that having seen plenty of 'DIY' electrical work, it is highly likely that it would not comply with the regulations. Just look at some of the examples on this site recently. (How about that halogen hob wired in 0.5mm flex). Mr DIY is not likely to be pleased when told that the work he has spent the last 6 weekends doing is a load of rubbish and will have to be done again. Particularly when the walls have just been decorated and the expensive laminate flooring fitted in every room.

 

[Stevethetiler]

This is true. Im a safety concious kinda guy cos as you correctly state, there are lots of bodgers out there doing things that they think are perfectly fine and not knowing that they are risking lives.

If you take a look at my other post concerning this. (its more specific to my needs). There are pics etc to give you a better idea.

I certainly wouldnt tackle anything that i felt had even the remotest chance of being unsafe, but, i would if i was told that yes, it would be.

Dya get me?