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| Thread ID: 111057 | 2010-07-12 03:09:00 | Running 3-core electrical cable - DIY | nofam (9009) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1118100 | 2010-07-12 03:09:00 | We're renovating our house at the moment, and stage one is moving the bathroom into an existing bedroom, so there's quote a bit of wiring to be done for downlights, extractor fan, underfloor heating etc. We've stripped the room right back to the framing, so my plan (to cut costs!) is to run all the wiring myself, and have the sparky just come in and fit off the lights/switches etc, and hook it into the board. I'm quite happy to admit I know absolutely nothing about electricity, so what's the basis concept for wiring? Presumably I can place a certain load (a number of lights for example) on a single circuit? Do I wire from the fitting point (say the downlight location), back to the switch (which closes the circuit when turned on), and then back up into the ceiling space and back to the board? Any/all help appreciated!! :D |
nofam (9009) | ||
| 1118101 | 2010-07-12 06:35:00 | ok, we run on PNE, Phase Neutral and earth. all wires are colour coded. Phase is brown and carries the current. Blue is the neutral lead and the green and yellow lead is the earth. on switches there will be a metal bracket, the earth wire should screw into this to "earth" it. Lights and sockets will be labled P N E as in phase neutral and earth respectively. get this right as a mistake can be deadly Use an RCD (residual current device) for safety sake. its saved my ass before many a time! There are different circuits for lighting, heating and extractors. they run off different fuses. As far as I can remember the neutral lead goes to the light, the Phase goes to the switch and then continues to the light. The earth goes to the switch's metal case (and sometimes the light if it requires earthing, see wiring diagram attached for more detail) the circle with a cross is the symbol for a light bulb. the brown line off on an angle is a switch Keep your wiring tidy and organised. electrical fires are dangerous and common. if in doubt check with the sparky Electricity involves physics and therefore maths. Ohms law and a lot of resistance etc. Ill stress this again, if unsure or in doubt check with you electrician. i'd also recommend him checking your wiring job for safety. if you don't know what you are doing don't do it Good luck. PS, Underfloor heating should probably be done by sparkie. it involves adding extra fuses and using higher quality wire specially for higher currents. |
The Error Guy (14052) | ||
| 1118102 | 2010-07-12 06:42:00 | for the minimal $$$ that you will save your better off getting the sparky in and give him a helping hand. theres a number of legal requirements especially with bath rooms. your going to spend a few weeks working it all out just to save an hour or two of labor. |
tweak'e (69) | ||
| 1118103 | 2010-07-12 06:45:00 | Extreme caution, please! Consult your electrician before you cut and place any wires. It is likely that what you propose is illegal. See http://www.energysafety.govt.nz/ for details of who is allowed to install electrical wiring. And if you are going to go ahead regardless, please take time to read some of the many electrical accident reports available for the Electricians Registration Board. Only a fully qualified and licensed electrician is allowed to connect installations to the mains supply. It's not about protecting their job, it's about protecting you and your family! |
coldot (6847) | ||
| 1118104 | 2010-07-12 06:48:00 | First you need to find a sparky to agree to fit off your cables. Most companies don't do this, either because of the loss of profit (no profit made on the cables) or because when a COC is signed, they are signing off that the cables are up to standard as well, and have been run to spec. | pine-o-cleen (2955) | ||
| 1118105 | 2010-07-12 07:00:00 | On 2nd thoughts, do it with your electrician (as part of a response to the rest of the posts) It will be much safer and you won't save a huge amount doing it yourself anyway. be safe | The Error Guy (14052) | ||
| 1118106 | 2010-07-12 07:17:00 | First you need to find a sparky to agree to fit off your cables. Most companies don't do this, either because of the loss of profit (no profit made on the cables) or because when a COC is signed, they are signing off that the cables are up to standard as well, and have been run to spec. If the work isn't being supervised by a licensed electrician it must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector. It's quite likely that the average electrician can't sign off work he hasn't done. www.energysafety.govt.nz |
PaulD (232) | ||
| 1118107 | 2010-07-12 09:04:00 | First you need to find a sparky to agree to fit off your cables. Most companies don't do this, either because of the loss of profit (. Yes. I would just get one to do the work. DIY is fine when it doesn't involve something you have no idea about and would need certification. Unless you personally know an electrician who is happy to check it for you. Husband did a garage once, but then he knew how - properly, and his mate was happy to check and then certify it. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1118108 | 2010-07-12 09:24:00 | ok, we run on PNE, Phase Neutral and earth. all wires are colour coded. Phase is brown and carries the current. Blue is the neutral lead and the green and yellow lead is the earth. on switches there will be a metal bracket, the earth wire should screw into this to "earth" it. Lights and sockets will be labled P N E as in phase neutral and earth respectively. get this right as a mistake can be deadly Use an RCD (residual current device) for safety sake. its saved my ass before many a time! There are different circuits for lighting, heating and extractors. they run off different fuses. As far as I can remember the neutral lead goes to the light, the Phase goes to the switch and then continues to the light. The earth goes to the switch's metal case (and sometimes the light if it requires earthing, see wiring diagram attached for more detail) the circle with a cross is the symbol for a light bulb. the brown line off on an angle is a switch Keep your wiring tidy and organised. electrical fires are dangerous and common. if in doubt check with the sparky Electricity involves physics and therefore maths. Ohms law and a lot of resistance etc. Ill stress this again, if unsure or in doubt check with you electrician. i'd also recommend him checking your wiring job for safety. if you don't know what you are doing don't do it Good luck. PS, Underfloor heating should probably be done by sparkie. it involves adding extra fuses and using higher quality wire specially for higher currents. We run an M.E.N system in NZ The colours you have given for TPS - what you would run in your walls are wrong, they are phase red, neutral black and green/yellow stripe for earth. 2.5mm for plugs, 1/1.5mm for lighting, maybe 2.5mm for heatlamps. 3 core is actually known as twin + earth, 3 core is blue/white/red(same as phase colours) and used for other things like twin switching. From memory an earth is not mandatory on lighting unless it is a metal light fitting, standards may have changed all the same. As for an RCD, they are mandatory in a bathroom, and depending on how much is being chanced on switch board, you may need one there too. But from that, you are right about checking with a sparkie, as I'm not one. But you know that Chris :P |
Alex B (15479) | ||
| 1118109 | 2010-07-12 09:56:00 | You still need alimited electrical cert or no one will sign it off unless you get a sparky to lie for you. if you do that and get caught you will never be able to insure a house again = you will loose your mortgage and never be able to get another one. no insurance = no new mortgage. |
angry (15305) | ||
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