Hi All,
I'm currently viewing a number potential properies to buy. One in
particular looks good but I've got doubts about the wiring. Hopefuly a
suryvey would pick up any major issues but I thought I'd air my feelings
with you guys.
The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners about 3-4
years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage, they've strung a wire
at about 8 foot height between the property and the detached garage which
carries mains power rather than laying one under the ground. To me this
seems a bit of a bodge. However, what is your view?. Is this appropriate/ok
and what are propects running something like a tumble dryer from it (which I
assume will pull a few amps)?.

Also, how do the new regulations on 'do it yourself' wiring effect the
purchasing of properties?. Should I be lookiong for some form of certificate
or paperwork associated with the work previously done on the property?.

Ta in adnavce,
Dave

"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
I'm currently viewing a number potential properies to buy. One in
particular looks good but I've got doubts about the wiring. Hopefuly a
suryvey would pick up any major issues but I thought I'd air my feelings
with you guys.
The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners about
3-4 years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage, they've strung
a wire at about 8 foot height between the property and the detached garage
which carries mains power rather than laying one under the ground. To me
this seems a bit of a bodge. However, what is your view?. Is this
appropriate/ok and what are propects running something like a tumble dryer
from it (which I assume will pull a few amps)?.

Also, how do the new regulations on 'do it yourself' wiring effect the
purchasing of properties?. Should I be lookiong for some form of
certificate or paperwork associated with the work previously done on the
property?.

Ta in adnavce,
Dave

It was probably quicker and easier than digging a garden or path up.
Nothing to stop you putting it underground. The regulations you quote were
not in force years ago and do not apply to "old work" otherwise every single
house in the UK would be affected and loads would be in prison. If you want
to change anything how are people going to know unless you take a full page
advert in the local papers?
Leave it to the survey. If you want to pay someone to go in and check
electrical wiring then do so. If the house is still standing then that is a
good sign.

I'm not qualified - but here's my layman's view:

David wrote:

Hi All,
I'm currently viewing a number potential properies to buy. One in
particular looks good but I've got doubts about the wiring. Hopefuly a
suryvey would pick up any major issues but I thought I'd air my feelings
with you guys.

If you've spotted issues, I wouldn't trust a general surveyor to pick up on
much more. You could spend 100-200 to commission a PIR (Periodic Inspection
Report) done by an inspector (usually a practising electrician) holding a
current C&G 2391. For that you will get a much more detailed analysis,
electrical circuit checks (continuity, earthing and insulation, RCD if
applicable (and it should be) and more detailed (but still sampled based)
lifting of covers.

The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners about
3-4 years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage, they've strung
a wire at about 8 foot height between the property and the detached garage
which carries mains power rather than laying one under the ground. To me
this seems a bit of a bodge.

Key question is: is it correctly supported by a catenary wire - the cable
should not be just dangling between buildings by itself. There are height
regs, but to be honest, 8' is good enough in a domestic property most of
the time. Does the cable hang over a path taken by vehicles - in which case
it's more dodgey as there's a chance of fouling it (big car with roofrack,
bikes on roof, skip delivery and so on).

Is the cable suitable for hanging in direct sunlight (UV).

However, what is your view?. Is this
appropriate/ok and what are propects running something like a tumble dryer
from it (which I assume will pull a few amps)?.

Depends - how much is the circuit rated at? Is it fed from a 13A fused spur
off the house ring, or on it's own circuit - in which case whats the
breaker/fuse rating? RCDs should be involved - either on the whole circuit
or protecting the sockets in the garage.

Check your tumble dryer rating plate and make sure the garage isn't hanging
of a bit of flex fused at 5A - otherwise you will probably be alright if
it's been done properly, but you need to check it out further. Time for
another visit...

Also, how do the new regulations on 'do it yourself' wiring effect the
purchasing of properties?. Should I be lookiong for some form of
certificate or paperwork associated with the work previously done on the
property?.

3-4 years ago predates Part P building regs - so there does not need to be
any building regs paperwork, but you could ask if the current owners posses
and EIC (Electrical Installation Cert) given to them by the electrician who
did the installation. That should have been done in principal - but they
probably lost it, never got it etc - no harm to ask.

Nowadays (for work done since Jan 2005), all *notifiable* work done DIY
should be notified to the Building Control people and a cert issued - but
don't hold your breath...

HTH

Tim

On 2006-11-04 21:14:05 +0000, "David" said:

Hi All,
I'm currently viewing a number potential properies to buy. One in
particular looks good but I've got doubts about the wiring. Hopefuly a
suryvey would pick up any major issues but I thought I'd air my
feelings with you guys.
The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners
about 3-4 years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage,
they've strung a wire at about 8 foot height between the property and
the detached garage which carries mains power rather than laying one
under the ground. To me this seems a bit of a bodge. However, what is
your view?. Is this appropriate/ok and what are propects running
something like a tumble dryer from it (which I assume will pull a few
amps)?.

Also, how do the new regulations on 'do it yourself' wiring effect the
purchasing of properties?. Should I be lookiong for some form of
certificate or paperwork associated with the work previously done on
the property?.

Ta in adnavce,
Dave

It would be allowable if done properly. Even if it is a bodge,
it's not that expensive to get a length of underground armoured cable
run in.

I would tend to go for an electrical inspection as a matter of course.
If there are bodges, then probably there would be more than one and
you could form a view of the property from that.

Unless it's horrendous, I don't see that it's a reason to walk away.
Just negotiate remedial work out of the price.

It is perfectly permissible to do electrical wiring on a DIY basis.
Limited things such as replacing fittings and adding sockets etc. do
not have to involve bureaucracy. A full house rewire does and there
should be a completion certificate. If there isn't, then deduction of
an inspection fee would be negotiable.

As I recall, the wiring regulations do permit overhead cabling between
domestic buildings if it is of an appropriate type and appropriately
supported.

I doubt a general building surveyor will tellyou anything of value
about the electrical installation (or much else for that matter).

If the wiring is significantly below current standards, use it as a
point of price negotiation.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
David wrote:

Hi All,
I'm currently viewing a number potential properies to buy. One in
particular looks good but I've got doubts about the wiring. Hopefuly a
suryvey would pick up any major issues but I thought I'd air my
feelings with you guys.
The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners
about 3-4 years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage,
they've strung a wire at about 8 foot height between the property and
the detached garage which carries mains power rather than laying one
under the ground. To me this seems a bit of a bodge. However, what is
your view?. Is this appropriate/ok and what are propects running
something like a tumble dryer from it (which I assume will pull a few
amps)?.
Also, how do the new regulations on 'do it yourself' wiring effect the
purchasing of properties?. Should I be lookiong for some form of
certificate or paperwork associated with the work previously done on
the property?.
Ta in adnavce,
Dave

A lot depends on what type and size of cable it is, how it is supported, and
what it's connected to at the house end.

If it's 6mm or greater SWA cable, properly supported and connected into its
own dedicated way in the house consumer unit, it's probably ok. Is there a
separate consumer unit in the garage? Is it RCD protected?

If it was a DIY job done prior to Part P, there's no requirement for any
paperwork as far as I'm aware.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 21:14:05 -0000 someone who may be "David"
wrote this:-

The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners about 3-4
years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage, they've strung a wire
at about 8 foot height between the property and the detached garage which
carries mains power rather than laying one under the ground.

Nothing wrong with running electric wiring overhead.

Whether this particular installation is acceptable or not depends on
the answers to a lot of questions. What sort of cable is used, how
is it supported, what is the span and what is underneath the cable
being just a few of these questions.

To me this seems a bit of a bodge.

Out in the countryside overhead wiring is rather common. If I was to
move to a suitable house I might construct an old-fashioned overhead
line to an outbuilding, just for the fun of doing things the old
way.

and what are propects running something like a tumble dryer from it

Depends on the current carrying capacity of the circuit. Assuming
that it has a capacity of at least 15A then there should be no
problem.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

David wrote:

The property was rewired under instruction from the current owners about 3-4
years ago. In attempting to put power into the garage, they've strung a wire
at about 8 foot height [...]

An alarm bell rings at that point because the recommended minimum height
for an overhead cable like this is 3.5 metres (approx. 11' 6") - or 5.8
metres where there will be vehicular traffic. [Ref. OSG Table 4B]

Is this appropriate/ok and what are propects running something like a
tumble dryer from it (which I assume will pull a few amps)?.

That depends entirely on the cable size and feed arrangements, etc.

Also, how do the new regulations on 'do it yourself' wiring effect the
purchasing of properties?. Should I be lookiong for some form of certificate
or paperwork associated with the work previously done on the property?.

You should be looking for an "Electrical Installation Certificate" to
which should be attached a "Schedule of Test Results" and a "Schedule of
Inspections." For a rewire done as recently as 3-4 years ago these
really should exist, but if they don't it would be worth trying to track
down the firm that did the work and request copies.

If such a modest request is met with any resistance then your cowboy
alarm will be ringing and in that case a full Periodic Inspection is
advisable. This will be money well spent, and the report will give you
documentation that to a large extent replaces what appears to be missing.
http://www.niceic.org.uk/consumers/pir.html provides some explanation,
although the NICEIC is not the only fruit. Just make sure that the
person actually doing the testing has the C&G 2391 qualification.

--
Andy