I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in the
North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in the
North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

As far as gas pipework to a boiler goes, you are on more of a sticky
wicket, as the gas fitter would not sign off the boiler if he/she didn't
fit it. OK to do all the wet work though and just get the gas fitter to
install/commission the boiler.

As to what you should pay, it depends on how much work there is to do
and what materials are required and you haven't given enough information
on that front. Also, you do tend to find that any electrician proposing
to work on your house may require you to do upgrade work, such as
bringing main equipotential bonding and supplementary bonding up to a
satisfactory standard (although you should be doing this as a matter of
course).

Best advice as always is to try and find a tradesman who comes
recommended by a relative, friend or neighbour. Otherwise, draw up a
simple clear written scope of works and ask three or four contractors to
quote against it.

On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Doubt it.

On 12/05/2010 15:44, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Doubt it.

The main problem here is that if I need a dedicated fuse/distribtion box
(likely I guess) that has to be connected to mains where the power comes
into the house.

Well, that big 80A fuse that feeds my current distribution box is not
accesible, unless I snip some wire so that I can access the fuse.

Now, when an electrician comes what does he do? does he snip that wire
the leads to access to the fuse, or does he do live-working on those two
very thick cables that lead in and out of the electric meter?

I'm not keen on live-working, so that is why I feel the need for an
electrician.

I have two options:

- snip that wire so I can take the big fuse out and then wire in the new
fuse/distribution boxes for the heater, or:

- get an electrician to take care of the matter of the new distribtion
box and connection to the mains.

I think some would likely do the first. :c)

Perhaps I would, but would I get into bother?

Richard wrote:
snip stuff

The main problem here is that if I need a dedicated fuse/distribtion box
(likely I guess) that has to be connected to mains where the power comes
into the house.

You haven't provided enough info/pictures, so we're all guessing ;-)


Well, that big 80A fuse that feeds my current distribution box is not
accesible, unless I snip some wire so that I can access the fuse.

Now, when an electrician comes what does he do? does he snip that wire
the leads to access to the fuse,

Maybe. Or he calls the DNO[1] and gets them to snip it.

or does he do live-working on those two
very thick cables that lead in and out of the electric meter?


Not unless he's looking for a Darwin Award.

I'm not keen on live-working,

Good.


so that is why I feel the need for an
electrician.

Or call the DNO and get them to disconnect the supply.


I have two options:

- snip that wire so I can take the big fuse out and then wire in the new
fuse/distribution boxes for the heater, or:

Yes


- get an electrician to take care of the matter of the new distribtion
box and connection to the mains.

Yes

or 3. Call the DNO and get them to temporarily disconnect the supply.


I think some would likely do the first. :c)

Yes

Perhaps I would, but would I get into bother?

Why *would* you get into bother?


Let me just say the nobody in their right mind would work on the system
live.



[1] DNO Disribution Network Operator. The company responsible for the
hardware, not the company responsible for your meter and often not the
comapny you pay for electricity useage.

http://www.energylinx.co.uk/distribu..._operators.htm

On 12/05/2010 16:08, Dave Osborne wrote:

Perhaps I would, but would I get into bother?

Why *would* you get into bother?

Well, would I be breaking some legal rule about having access to that fuse?

Let me just say the nobody in their right mind would work on the system
live.

Okay

I somehow thought that it was done, when required. :c)

Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 16:08, Dave Osborne wrote:

Perhaps I would, but would I get into bother?

Why *would* you get into bother?

Well, would I be breaking some legal rule about having access to that fuse?

It's there mainly to discourage you from stealing electricity.


Let me just say the nobody in their right mind would work on the system
live.

Okay

I somehow thought that it was done, when required. :c)


Generally only in the street by cable joiners with special tools and
specific training.

See: - http://www.whsalisbury.com/tools/index.htm

Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Doubt it.
Not for £20. Its several hours.

Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 15:44, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Doubt it.

The main problem here is that if I need a dedicated fuse/distribtion box
(likely I guess) that has to be connected to mains where the power comes
into the house.

Well, that big 80A fuse that feeds my current distribution box is not
accesible, unless I snip some wire so that I can access the fuse.

Now, when an electrician comes what does he do? does he snip that wire
the leads to access to the fuse, or does he do live-working on those two
very thick cables that lead in and out of the electric meter?

I'm not keen on live-working, so that is why I feel the need for an
electrician.

I have two options:

- snip that wire so I can take the big fuse out and then wire in the new
fuse/distribution boxes for the heater, or:


Yes. Then solder it all back together like it was always that way.

Actually, what I did was exactly that, but I asked the electricity oard
t replace the seal. They didn't mind.

- get an electrician to take care of the matter of the new distribtion
box and connection to the mains.

I think some would likely do the first. :c)

Perhaps I would, but would I get into bother?


Phioen up your electricity supplier and ask what te standard charge wil
be for repalcing a seal after a new consumer unit has been fittedd. I
bet its something tey just do all the tiime.

If the wiring is done to spec, you can self certify I think..and anyway,
if its your house, its your risk. Just don't mention it when you sell
the house. Mind yiu, I would imagine most of this bureaucratic bull****
will fall by the wayside in the New Cleggeron Britain. You want a house?
you get it surveyed. Caveat Emptor, and its not the guvmints problem.

Richard wrote:
On 12/05/2010 16:08, Dave Osborne wrote:

Perhaps I would, but would I get into bother?

Why *would* you get into bother?

Well, would I be breaking some legal rule about having access to that fuse?

Let me just say the nobody in their right mind would work on the system
live.

Okay

I somehow thought that it was done, when required. :c)

Its been known. Its safe enough if you are bloody careful and mindful of
what you are doing.

I personally don't like it though. I like the security of a totally dead
system

So just pull the main fuse.

On 12/05/2010 17:43, John Rumm wrote:
On 12/05/2010 15:37, Richard wrote:

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Fat chance. You have probably exceeded that amount just having him come
out to the job!

I'm right skin flint ain't I. :c)

You need to get the DNO to fit an isolator.
This involves the DNO pulling their fuse (hint) and updating anything
w.r.t. safety - for example old ceramic cutouts and cotton covered
meter cables or cast iron cutouts or old earthing or tar leaking lead
covered cables which are most definately not armoured.

You then need to decide if an instant mains pressure water heater or
stored water heater is more appropriate.
The latter can be a simple combi-cylinder - a CW tank stuck on top of
a HW tank in one foam insulated zeppelin, not mains pressure, but runs
off 2.5mm Flat Twin & Earth 3kW immersion heater.
If you want an instant water heater, you need a dedicated final
circuit with RCD protection (possible CU upgrade or second CU
fitting), plus consideration of expansion vessel or whether the
pipework can act as same if your water pressure is not sky high (ie,
preventing the pipework acting as the pressure vessel).

None of these are cheap, as in a few hundred pounds on materials alone
whatever you do.

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher writes:

Actually, what I did was exactly that, but I asked the electricity oard
t replace the seal. They didn't mind.

I asked them to replace a seal after I replaced a CU about 11 years ago.
They have a flag in the customer record to ask the meter reader to do it
on next visit. A couple of years later I reminded them, and this flag was
still set, even though the meter had been read several times. 11 years
later, and they've never bothered. Actually, another electrician has
just added a second CU and pulled the fuse in the process, so it is
quite handy it has never been resealed, in spite of asking them more
than once. I guess they don't much care.

11 years ago there was no charge for resealing, or even for upgrading
a main fuse (providing wiring and accessories already rated sufficiently).
Haven't needed to ask more recently.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Andrew Gabriel wrote:

I asked them to replace a seal after I replaced a CU about 11 years ago.
They have a flag in the customer record to ask the meter reader to do it
on next visit. A couple of years later I reminded them, and this flag was
still set, even though the meter had been read several times. 11 years
later, and they've never bothered. Actually, another electrician has
just added a second CU and pulled the fuse in the process, so it is
quite handy it has never been resealed, in spite of asking them more
than once. I guess they don't much care.

They seem even less fussy here. Our meter was recently replaced and the
fitter just snapped off the plastic lugs for the seals on the fuse and
terminals so now there's no way of fitting any seals.

--
Mike Clarke

"Richard" wrote in message
...
On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Try £30 per hour. But yes professionals can help you in this way.

Adam

On 13/05/2010 18:53, ARWadsworth wrote:
wrote in message
...
On 12/05/2010 15:06, Dave Osborne wrote:
Richard wrote:
I'm thinking of doing most of the work putting in instantaneous water
heaters, but I'd feel a lot happier if an electrician would put in any
necessary distribution box associated with the heaters.

Do elecricians or other professionals mind doing part jobs, such as
doing the final wiring to the distribtion box, or any gas pipework
associated with say a boiler?

And in my case with the heaters, what should I expect to pay here in
the North for an electrician simply to put in the distribution box for
instantaneous heaters?

No problem asking an electrician to do the electrical part of fitting a
water heater. Plumbers often would have to sub this out anyway.

Aaah, but here it's part, of a part. :c)

Inasmuch as on the electrics, I'm just saying to the electrician, come
over and wire up the distribution box (that I've fixed to the wall and
which is connected to the heater)- to the mains.

Would an elecrician do that, and for say £20 -ish.

Try £30 per hour. But yes professionals can help you in this way.

Adam

Okay, thanks.