Is electrics something I can do myself?

[Maker]

I think I may have asked this before but I can't remember.
I'm finally getting round to sorting out some power in the garage as right now I've got everything running off one 4 way trailing socket wired straight into the mains.
I want to put in more lights (florescent tubes), a light switch, some sockets, a spur for the mill and the lathe and maybe some 16 amp sockets.
I think I might need a small consumer unit to replace the ancient metal thing (I'll take a picture later).

I'm wondering if this is something I (probably with my dad helping) can do safely or if I need to get an electrician to do it?

 

[rikrobson]

That really depends. If you are competent and understand what you are doing then it will be fine. If you really need to ask then probably not, i'm afraid.

You'll need to run a feed out to the garage from your house consumer unit. That will need a new MCB and preferably an RCD taking into consideration the cable, and length of run. and a small consumer unit in the garage to handle the power distribution there.

but to be honest a bit of common sense and you'll probably be Ok. certainly better than :

4 way trailing socket wired straight into the mains.

When it all goes wrong the number you need is 999 and ask for the fire brigade

You'll probably better off asking a tame local sparky than us numptys on the forum though. If you can find one that is to do that new fangled electrickery in suffolkshire that is

 

[Rocketman]

Simple answer you can but you shouldn't. House/garage burns down from your endeavours the insurance wouldn't pay out.

You could do it and get an electrician to check/pass it off but you will find it hard to get a electrician to do that.

 

[Paulbarrett]

I'm a spark, run my own business.

As above you can do what you like in your own home but, when something does go wrong your insurance will not be interested, and if any gets hurt you'll be to blame.

I get calls quite often for me to 'sign off' other people's or home owners work, it simply isn't an option in my eyes.
Get a Part-P registered spark in and your covered if anything goes wrong etc and distribution is correctly fused down to your requirements. I've seen too many disasters waiting to happen.

Please don't take any offence to my comments, I hear it all the time, my mate wires our house years ago and nothing has ever happened, then you find the house has no earthing at all! It happens believe me.

 

[Kayos]

I'm in the stupid situation of being qualified to do pretty much what I want but as I'm employed I can't "technically" do stuff in my own house, as I can't issue a certificate

I want to fit an upgraded board so I got a sparky I know to fit me an inline rcd, but on the cert he wrote new rcd board.......

 

[Gareth J]

If you know what you want but want to keep costs down, you could get an electrician over and chat about it then get all the bits, wire, sockets and lights and do all the boring fixing stuff yourself getting the electrician to plumb it all together.

Finding an electrician that wants to do this might not be easy though

 

[Coo]

Am I correct in thinking you can do up to main fuse board - but need qualified person to connect last bit ?

 

[Paulbarrett]

Have a look at elecsa site, that's who I'm registered with these days.

www.elecsa.co.uk

 

[mike os]

Am I correct in thinking you can do up to main fuse board - but need qualified person to connect last bit ?

no, the whole job needs certifying and inspecting

 

[dobbslc]

As Paul says above, I wouldn't sign off work I didn't install.
I've also seen some things that make me wonder how someone hasn't killed themselves or somebody else!
I was round my wife's cousins house and went to get a beer from the fridge when I saw the main 25mm earth cable for the dist board just hanging out and it turns out it was never connected!
If you're sensible and know what you are doing then you'll be ok.
But people do a proper 4 year apprenticeship is for a reason, there's a lot more to It than you thInk.
PS we're on the 3rd amendment of the 17th edition regs now, it's just come out.

 

[Paulbarrett]

3rd ammendment indeed, quite a few distinct changes across the board.

 

[Maker]

Thanks for the advice, I'll get someone in. I definitely wouldn't be able to put a new feed in from the house CU so I'll need someone to do that. While he's here he may as well do the lot instead of me risking it myself.

Do I need to choose what rings and fuses I want or is that all down to the electrician?

 

[dobbslc]

If you need 16 amp sockets let him know and put them on some C type MCB'S or you'll be tripping them out with the compressor, welder etc.
Make sure he fits a similar type mcb in your house d/b too.
The ring main and lights will be a standard installation. You can't have enough lights in there if your working though so the standard single strip light won't be much good.
I've got 4 x double 5 foot fittings on the ceiling plus one each over the lathe and bench, and a few on leads to carry about if I need it.
Plus some anglepoise lamps.....

 

[J.F]

Has anyones house insurance company ever actually asked for a copy of the certificate at the start of the policy??? If not and your house burns down with the certificate inside, what do they do?

 

[rikrobson]

Has anyones house insurance company ever actually asked for a copy of the certificate at the start of the policy??? If not and your house burns down with the certificate inside, what do they do?

I suspect that they would follow the fire investigation. They can tell alot about how the fire started and how it progressed. If it was an electrical fault then further investigation would ensue. Was it original wiring or additional. I suspect and the sparkies in here may confirm, that there are copies or records of certificates that are issued by them held with the certifying authority. If there were no record then I suspect the onus would be on you to at least supply the name of person doing the work.

 

[Paulbarrett]

We have to keep records of installations for 5 years. If anything happens due to electrical faults questions/investigations are asked if any recent work has been carried out etc. they will do anything not to pay up! I have had to do reports for domestic fire damage on possible causes etc.

 

[Paulbarrett]

Notifiable Work is also registered with building control.

 

[rikrobson]

Notifiable Work is also registered with building control.

Am I right in thinking that includes a change of consumer unit?

 

[Paulbarrett]

Most definitely

 

[dobbslc]

A change of consumer unit is notifiable, you also have to have a full test done on the installation.