Rewiring House

[lsheehan_uk]

Hello to all the Electrical Specialist.

I've been investigating into the whole rewiring scenario as when I
bought my house the survey said it should be looked at. I've checked
the quality of the wiring into each socket and it doesn't seem that old.
However, there are limited sockets in the house and I've also noticed
as all documents I've read on the subject state the you expect two
sets of wires to each socket as it a continual loop. My sockets only appear
to have one. Would it be correct to assume that for some reason they've
used three terminal junction boxes to tap off each socket and is this implementation correct. Even then due to the fact that I want more
socket would it be ideal to rewire.

If I do decide to rewire would it be helpful to sink all the back plates I require for my sockets and sink all the conduit into the walls as this would greatly increase the speed of the job and should hopefully reduce cost as this is a lengthy job in itself.

One of the guys I used to work with I offered the option of rewiring my
house as he used to be a sparky and had recently retrained to
software/hardware engineering before he started working with us.
He said rewiring a house was a nightmare job because it was such a
hassle with all the stripping of plaster and replastering etc. Also, had
a few sparkies pass on the job. So i'm prepared to do as much as
possible to make it less hassle. Even to the point of cutting and feeding
the cabling so all thats required is for the spark to come in and fit new
consumer unit. I'd fit the sockets as i've done many of them, but would
obviously understand them wanting to check the socket where wired
correctly etc, as in the end its you boys that have to sign your name
to it.

Another question is would it be better for me to get the wiring, sockets
etc or do you people get a better deal on trade.

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Lee

 

[Damocles]

Do all the sockets have just one wire coming in, or do some have two wires or three? One possibility is that there is one ring either upstairs or down, with spurs going vertically down/up to the other floor. Or there might be a big junction box somewhere with loads of wires coming out. (ok, not loads becaue there are not loads of sockets in the first place)

What fuses are there, how big and what does what? How many cables come out of each fuse?. Presumably it is fuse? One box or several, is it a modern style row of rectangular plastic topped wire fuses with colour coded tops? or even older all ceramic fuses?

What earthing is there? cables going off to water and gas mains? Anything joining bathroom pipes?

How many rooms exactly, and what sockets/lights/anything else electric?

Is the cabling pvc, does it have solid conductors or stranded? Is there an earth in the lighting circuit? Can you identify the size of cable used in lights and sockets. most likely lights 1.0mm^2 or imperial equivalent if it is old enough. 2.5mm^2 sockets. But if the sockets are an unusual arrangement it might be different.

Either you are going to need to learn a lot about electrics or you will need help from someone who knows more about it. You are quite right though that most of the work will be smashing holes, lifting boards and then putting everything back. Can you do this all at once, or are you living in the house with carpets everywhere and loads of furniture?

There is the complication of part P if you want it signed off and documented next year. Though if you did want it done by the book, probably doing a whole house it would be cost effective to get building control to inspect, if you had to. Except that no one yet has the least clue how the system will work...if at all.

I think you are right, that at the very least you will have to create new socket rings. We do not know if the sockets are actually radials rather than spurs, but it seems most likely you are going to want to hack a room about and join them all up.