Using a cooker connection unit to extend 6 mm cooker cable

[Jimmy321!]

Hello,

I am renovating my kitchen and have run into a problem. I need to extend a 6 mm cooker cable on a 40A MCB. The cable can’t reach the cooker switch, so I’m planning to use a 45A cooker connection unit as an extension point ~1.5 m before the isolator. Is this compliant with UK wiring regs?

Thanks

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, that's ok - but it will have to be accessible.

 

[Jimmy321!]

Yes, that's ok - but it will have to be accessible.

Thanks! Yes it will be just above the wall units.

I was also looking at a maintenance free junction boxes, but couldn't find anything that was rated for 40A+, would that be a better option?

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks! Yes it will be just above the wall units.

Fair enough.

I was also looking at a maintenance free junction boxes, but couldn't find anything that was rated for 40A+, would that be a better option?

If, as above, it's going to be accessible, then there is no need for (and no real advantage of) a maintenance-free JB.

However, for what it's worth, Wago 221-6xx connectors can accommodate 6mm² conductors and are rated' at 41A - but I'd have to look at the documentation to see if, strictly speaking, they would qualify as 'MF' if enclosed in a Wagobox.

 

[Ragnar_AT]

You could also use a 45 mm back box and a blanking plate. Then it won‘t need to be maintenance-free.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Would it not be possible to fit the cooker switch at the end of the existing cable and then another cable to the cooker position?

 

[JohnW2]

Would it not be possible to fit the cooker switch at the end of the existing cable and then another cable to the cooker position?

It wasn't totally clear, but is that not probably what the OP was proposing to do? - after all, there must currently be something (probably a 'cooker switch') at the end of the circuit he wants to extend.

 

[JohnW2]

..... so I’m planning to use a 45A cooker connection unit as an extension point ~1.5 m before the isolator. Is this compliant with UK wiring regs?

As has been said, that would be OK (provided accessible).

However, you would not really need a further 'isolator' for the cooker, since the cooker connection unit would serve that purpose - you could have just a 'cooker outlet plate (or whatever they call it!) at the end of the extended cable.

 

[EFLImpudence]

It wasn't totally clear, but is that not probably what the OP was proposing to do?

It's not what he wrote.

I am renovating my kitchen and have run into a problem. I need to extend a 6 mm cooker cable on a 40A MCB. The cable can’t reach the cooker switch, so I’m planning to use a 45A cooker connection unit as an extension point ~1.5 m before the isolator. Is this compliant with UK wiring regs?

 

[Jimmy321!]

Would it not be possible to fit the cooker switch at the end of the existing cable and then another cable to the cooker position?

Hmm I think that would be possible. The cable is coming from the upstairs floorboards and will only reach to behind the wall units. I can put the cooker switch behind the wall unit and cut the back out to make it accessable.

 

[Jimmy321!]

As has been said, that would be OK (provided accessible).

However, you would not really need a further 'isolator' for the cooker, since the cooker connection unit would serve that purpose - you could have just a 'cooker outlet plate (or whatever they call it!) at the end of the extended cable.

I was actually planning to use something like this,

https://www.diy.com/departments/mk-45a-1-gang-raised-slim-profile-unswitched-cooker-connection-unit-gloss-white/53982_BQ.prd

It doesn't have a switch.

I have added a picture of the whole situation on the original post. If you zoom in you can see the cooker wire going half way down the wall.

 

[JohnW2]

It's not what he wrote.

Not exactly, I agree. However, given the paucity opf information I thought (I now know incorrectly) that the cooker cable he wanted to extend was probably a currently-in-service one, hence presumably terminated in something (quite probably a 'cooker control unit') - but it now seems that he's simply talking about a new bit of cable which isn't quite long enough?

 

[JohnW2]

I was actually planning to use something like this,

https://www.diy.com/departments/mk-45a-1-gang-raised-slim-profile-unswitched-cooker-connection-unit-gloss-white/53982_BQ.prd

It doesn't have a switch.

Yes, that was the sort of thing I was talking about.

... so what did you mean by "1.5m before the isolator" in your original post? I thought you meant that you needed to extend the cable by 1.5m and connect its end to 'an isolator' forgthe cooker?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Hmm I think that would be possible. The cable is coming from the upstairs floorboards and will only reach to behind the wall units. I can put the cooker switch behind the wall unit and cut the back out to make it accessable.

That would be acceptable for an isolator and save you a joint and £6.45.

Just to point out that local isolators for a cooker (or anything else) are not mandatory so placing in a cupboard is satisfactory.

 

[Jimmy321!]

Yes, that was the sort of thing I was talking about.

... so what did you mean by "1.5m before the isolator" in your original post? I thought you meant that you needed to extend the cable by 1.5m and connect its end to 'an isolator' forgthe cooker?

Sorry for the confusion, I didn't explain it very well, I have drawn a diagram to better explain it.