Refitting electrics in kitchen

[russella]

Hi all,

I'm busy re-fitting a kitchen, and I'm now at the stage where I need some wiring done. I've got an oven power supply - looks like 6mm cable, and I've got three sockets, one of which shares the same supply as the oven, the other two sockets were found plastered in the wall (live of course!).

All of the cabling for the wall sockets in the house is accessible through a crawl space, so I can see that all of the standard sockets are a in striaght forward ring. The oven supply wire is a single run straight from the fuse box.

Does this sound like a straightforward scenario to replace the sockets on the ring with new ones in new positions, and moving the oven (basically shortening the cable)?
What would I need to do if I wanted to this on a DIY basis legally?
Is the legal position affected by the fact there is currently no sink or other open water fittings in this kitchen? (technicality I know!)

Thanks,

Russ

 

[Chri5]

The intention is that the room will be a kitchen, so I'd go with the rules of Part P and notification.

Since the kitchen is likely to have splash back and flooring that may limit future cable access I'd tend to suggest future proofing it all by doing a full rewire for the area.

You then end up with a new kitchen with new wiring and a 30+ year life span.

Talk with a recommended and appoved spark, do the donkey work of cabling, chasing, back box and material supply. His services will be restricted to checking your cable routes, terminating the sockets, switches, cooker and testing the installation and certificate production + notification.

Charge would be a day (maybe much less) depending on what you decide to add in:-

Lights / spots
Under wall unit lights
Cooker, hob
Fan extraction
4- 6 double sockets
Counter top switching for built in appliances (dish washer, fridge, tumble drier, w-machine etc)

 

[russella]

On the subject of running cables, the building's a traditional cavity wall construction with no cavity insulation, we're going to replaster using plasterboard and dot-and-daub (I think that's what it's called!). To run cables, is it okay to chase into the walls using an angle-grinder, and then what kind of conduit should I use? I'm aware of the thing with safe zones, just not sure about the conduit!

Thanks again,

Russ

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Sounds like new fixed cabling to me - definitely notifiable.

 

[flameport]

we're going to replaster using plasterboard and dot-and-daub

No need for chases or conduit. Clip the cables to the existing wall surface and put the new plasterboard over the top.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Well - since only partial chasing would be needed to accommodate steel conduit, the OP might like to consider that for circuits where he really would prefer not to use an RCD....

 

[russella]

Looks like I will have to end up doing as Chris has suggested and just preping everything ready for someone more qualified to join it all up and test! Other half has just quoted around 700 quid to get building control out.

For neatness sakes are there any drawbacks to using conduit?

Also, am I right in thinking that I can just use standard 2.5mm twin and earth cable? I was reading earlier something about voltage loss if you extend an existing ring main too far, have I got the wrong end of the stick there, or do I need to measure anything up?

Thanks again all, really helpful feedback so far.

Russ

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Looks like I will have to end up doing as Chris has suggested and just preping everything ready for someone more qualified to join it all up and test!

It doesn't quite work like that - the electrician has to certify that he did it all.

Other half has just quoted around 700 quid to get building control out.

That sounds rather high. Is there any chance that she's keen for you not to DIY?

For neatness sakes are there any drawbacks to using conduit?

Time, effort, cost.

Also, am I right in thinking that I can just use standard 2.5mm twin and earth cable? I was reading earlier something about voltage loss if you extend an existing ring main too far, have I got the wrong end of the stick there, or do I need to measure anything up?

You need to get an electrician...

 

[russella]

It doesn't quite work like that - the electrician has to certify that he did it all.

Darn it - okay, I think I know just the chap. :S

Also, am I right in thinking that I can just use standard 2.5mm twin and earth cable? I was reading earlier something about voltage loss if you extend an existing ring main too far, have I got the wrong end of the stick there, or do I need to measure anything up?

You need to get an electrician...

I have a few other sockets elsewhere in the house that I was planning to add (we've only got 2 sockets in the sitting room right now), are there generally any technical issues I need to be aware of if I want to extend the length of the ring by a few metres?

Thanks agian,

Russ