1ph mains supply query

[Matchless]

[QUOTE="addjunkie, post:
My father had a shop selling tvs, washers etc, also sold electrical bits and bobs. So this day I was asked to help with some stuff. In came a woman, asking for bell wire. No problem, how much do you want. While makeing small talk it was for her neighbour to wire in wall lights from a socket, because he could easily hide the wire. Apparently hed done it for others in the same block too. I explained to her the correct way and that it should be approved by the landlord (council).

Quite scary really what some folk think is ok.

I've seen that a few times wall lights wired in to the back of sockets with bell wire [/QUOTE]

I heard about a house completely wired in BT telephone wire, doubled or even tripled up, old boy was ex BT engineer, I am sure he had sort of calculated the load etc. BUT phone wire!

 

[Hopefuldave]

I've seen that a few times wall lights wired in to the back of sockets with bell wire

I heard about a house completely wired in BT telephone wire, doubled or even tripled up, old boy was ex BT engineer, I am sure he had sort of calculated the load etc. BUT phone wire![/QUOTE]

Dropwire number 8 would probably work - it's about 2.5 mm^2 and insulated for a couple of kV - the grey figure-8 - BUT it's a copper-clad steel wire, used where an overhead drop passes under/over a mains overhead. A right bugler to terminate and good exercise running a few spans across a field, dragging the cable reel behind you with a 3-section ladder over your shoulder... I must have been fit, once!

Dave H. (the other one)

 

[dobbslc]

some? iv yet to find a sparky that will test anyone else's work, ever. even if they've had the opportunity of seeing it at first fix.

ive given up trying and just don't bother to get it signed off, the leave it a while and get a periodical safety check done. never been pulled up on a fault yet.... it isnt rocket science, this house wiring lark... even of i do have to google how to wire a 2 way... every time.....

edit: to be clear, i only do work in my own house.

You should just get one of the Part P jokers in! They obviously know what's to regs and what's not, after all they've been on a 5 week/day/hour course that tells them they're compitant......

 

[James1979]

I heard about a house completely wired in BT telephone wire, doubled or even tripled up, old boy was ex BT engineer, I am sure he had sort of calculated the load etc. BUT phone wire!

Dropwire number 8 would probably work - it's about 2.5 mm^2 and insulated for a couple of kV - the grey figure-8 - BUT it's a copper-clad steel wire, used where an overhead drop passes under/over a mains overhead. A right bugler to terminate and good exercise running a few spans across a field, dragging the cable reel behind you with a 3-section ladder over your shoulder... I must have been fit, once!

Dave H. (the other one)[/QUOTE]
Whole house and outbuildings were built during the war and wired by the army. It was all in use when I bought it. Gradually renewed it as I work my way through. I wanted to gut the place but it was a massive job all in one go. I suppose if it’s been used for 70 years it’ll be fine for another few months! All academic as it’s virtually all decommissioned now and done to modern spec. Just a few bits left that aren’t used much in sheds.