Tim S wrote in
news
On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 22:14:58 +0000, Pedge wrote:

Thanks for all your responses. I'm astounded to say the least. My
property is a 1930's council block with surface wiring throughout.
The wiring itself is loose - loose being strands of 2.5mm black + red
+ yellow/green cables running through surface conduit. Nothing in
white sheathing.

More of an "industrial" style of installation. Nothing wrong with that
in itself.


What I have is a black and red cable running from the socket to the
fusebox and then the earth cable on its own connecting to the copper
pipe (bonding). This is a radial circuit and not ring.

Ah. Metal conduit by any chance? It's not impossible that the earth
could have been provisioned via the conduit, in which case you *might*
be OK, *provided* the stuff is still good.

That electrical test mentioned would measure that.

These days, metal conduit is usually the heavy thick wall stuff, with
threaded screw joints to ensure solid connectivity.

The other (old) thin-wall push-fit stuff is difficult to maintain an
earth on (let alone through). I don't think trying to reuse thin wall
conduit would be permissable (never get a consistent earth on it),
thick wall might be useable but shouldn't be rusty (damage cables) and
needs to able to maintain a good earth for it's own benefit.


I am strongly thinking of rewiring this keeping it radial and run an
earth back to the fusebox.

I own the property so getting the local authority contractors back to
rectify it would be difficult.

As an unqualified DIYer myself, I would recommend a few things (mostly
being cautious):

1) Contract out what you don't feel 100% confident with - it's no
great shame.

2) With what's left, I strongly recommend these books:

http://tinyurl.com/6mgmb
IEE Wiring regs (latest, brown cover, don't be cheap and buy an out of
date one off ebay)

http://tinyurl.com/6tqd3
Electricians Guide to IEE Regs by John Whitfield

The latter is excellent - examples of typical circuits, calculations
etc. Well worth it.

If you rewire, put 200 quid or so aside up front and promise yourself
that you will have an inspection done when you finish. If you followed
Part P then you're going to be inspected anyway. Installation
inspections are quite fussy (but no more than they should be) so it's
something to aspire to, to have one's work passed without comment.

Cheers

Tim


Tim, the conduit is plastic running horizontally & vertically along the
walls - bloody eyesore!

Will definately look into those books. Cheers again