Rewiring lights?
Question:An electrician came to do a wiring inspection at my 2 bedroom maisonette. He told me that my fusebox is old, that my lights are not earthed. He quoted me £1650 to rewire all 9 lights, to install an 8way mini circuit breaker (to replace the fusebox) and to add some supplementary earthing in the bathroom area. I am worried about the mess if I get this work done and it's also very pricey. A second electrician told me that instead of rewiring/earthing the lights, I could have a residual current device (RCD) + bonding (less mess, the wiring is difficult to get to in my property), not sure what an RCD is and what the difference is between rewiring? Can anyone help? He quoted me £978 including the supplementary earthing in the bathroom area. Which is the best option? I want to make the property safe and ensure it complies with regulations. The cables are PVC not rubber. Is the work necessary? My dad tells me that lights are not often earthed...
Answers:
The first electrician seems to me to be doing the right thing for you.
Reasons.. If he rewires all the lights it means should you change to "fashionable" metal switches, they can be earthed as could brushed metal lights.
Also by replacing your fuse box with an 8 gang mini fuse box he will be connecting your lights to its own RCB (residual circuit breaker) plus he will also be connecting your power to individual breakers.
WITH 2--- 5amp
2--- 15amp(maybe 1)
2--- 30 amp
Still have TWO spare to use should you extend or need more power without using spurs...
ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
BUT LISTEN TO OTHER ANSWER AND GET AT least ANOTHER two MORE QUOTES...
OH, and yes you will have a bit of mess but if he can he will pull your new cable through by using your old cable ..
An RCD is always installed in new installations. It is a highly sensitive circuit breaker that will isolate the entire system from the supply in the event of a fault - e.g. caused by a person contacting the mains - and could save your life.
MAKE SURE YOU GET UPTO THREE QUOTES FROM PART P SPARKIES
Don't trust anyone about rewire work, they tell you anything and do what ever is easiest for them. Get another quote from someone else but don't tell them anything the first two told you. at least that way you will be able to tell what work needs doing. Most of the old fuse boxes are being replaced by rcd as they have a trip switch instead of blowing the fuses. The switch just trips but there very sensitive can trip for no reason. Also your Dad is right lots of lights are not earthed in older properties. The thing is why did you need an inspection in the first place. You need to get up to date wiring for rental purposes but if you live there and there is not a problem leave it and look into it more . The fire service may do free inspections in your area, or the local council.
The lighting may be left as-is provided that:
(a) There's no metal light switches or light fittings - choose some nice plastic ones to replace them if there are any..
(b) It is marked at the fuseboard as a Class II Circuit.
(c) An RCD (keeping it simple) is a little gadget that works out if any electricity is leaking from the wires into the big wide world instead of lighting up the bulbs, powering the motor in your vacuum cleaner... A way of detecting if anyone/anything is getting or about to get a nasty shock, and turning off the power.
An RCD is NOT acceptable as a sole method of protecting you from possible shock where a circuit is unearthed. It should not be promoted as such.
(d) Bathroom bonding:
If it wasn't a requirement of the regulations (BS7671) when your wiring was done, then it isn't now UNLESS you change the circuit(s), such as installing downlights.
Clue: It wasn't a requirement when lights were allowed to be unearthed.
Also the 17th edition of the regs (due later this/early next year) will not require bathroom bonding.
I'm not saying that the circuitry would not benefit from rewiring, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
A better evalation of the wiring would be an Insulation resistance test. Shows up how well the PVC is holding up for it's age. I've seen 30-y-old wiring sail through such a test.
firstly, you are advised to have your electrical instalation inspected every 10 years, your insurance company may hold it against you should you need to claim for any damage caused by an electrical fault, as you have no earth to your lighting circuit i can only imagine your instalation is older than that. secondly i personaly wouldn't fit an R.C.D. to a lighting circuit, and incidently it is recommended not to. as if a bulb blows any where throughout the house the R.C.D. will undoubtedly trip, turning off all the lights. if this blows in the night then then a householder COULD fall down stairs, bump into object etc. or merely have difficulty locating the fuse board and reseting the R.C.D. I would recomend you scrap the R.C.D. idea and start to get quotes on rewiring your property, atleast that will be money well spent and invested. the R.C.D. would be a faulse investment as you could still need the rest of the property rewiring anyway. if you think your wiring is fine then you should call a reputable electricain to do a periodical inspection, at the end of which they will issue you with a report as to the state of your instalation and also they will detail any recommended actions.
as always though get quotes first as they will vary considerably.
Hi Munula Pauline & Steve gave the correct answer to this question heed their advice
beetlejuicemaburns It's an RCD not a RCB,thay don't make 5,15,&30amp MCB's only 6,16&32 MCB's for domestic CU's
Firstly, You don't need to to have your lighting circuit protected by RCD unless you are going to use metal (chrome) fittings. As long as you stick to plastic you'll be fine.
The fact that they are not earthed indicates that the wiring is old, probably done in the 60's. The electrician who came to do an inspection should have tested the wiring to make sure it is safe. By the sounds of it he only inspected it and not tested it, but in any case if it was showing signs of fatigue he surely would have mentioned it.
If you are still concerned then the only thing is to have it proprerly tested (which should have been done in the first place).
Supplementary bonding is being phased out now and as already been said (by Pauline), it 's not necessary.
As long as your main bonding (ie at the gas meter & water stop ****) is in place, I shouldn't worry.
Unless you are having problems with your electricity, I wouldn't be too concerned.
On the other hand if you want to get the work done for your own peace of mind then definitely get more quotes.
you need to do nothing regs do not say any work is required until new circuits are added
to change fuseboard should be about 400-600quid depending where you live
to rewire lights about same again only 1 days work after all
remember only plastic fittings for light circuits until upgrade done but no need to rush just yet
never heard of a 8-way mini circuit breaker
only 8-way consumer unit with mini circuit breakers
why was initial inspection carried out
you dont say why? no legal requirement for inspection
More Related Questions & Answers...