Planning a kitchen refit and looking at socket positions. I will be
keeping some existing sockets and moving/adding a few more. One of the
sockets I definitely want to keep is within arms reach of the sink. This
is very handy for the kettle.

From previous posts I have found that you cannot, according to the elec
regs, have a socket at arms length from a sink. But this socket is
already there and has been since I moved in.

Obviously I am not required to constantly update my house to comply with
any new regs. But what if I do work in the vicinity, e.g. add new
sockets, I am required to move this un-complying socket at the same time?

Also what happens if I wanted to simply change the face plate of this
socket e.g. to a nice chrome one? Is this allowed?


Thanks,

John

On Fri, 21 May 2004 12:22:23 +0100, in uk.d-i-y John Smith
strung together this:

From previous posts I have found that you cannot, according to the elec
regs, have a socket at arms length from a sink. But this socket is
already there and has been since I moved in.

No, the regs say you can't have a socket actually in the sink. It
doesn't mention distance from the sink. NICEIC guidelines are 500mm
from the sink. My personal choice is 300mm from a draining board and
600mm from a sink where preferable.

Obviously I am not required to constantly update my house to comply with
any new regs. But what if I do work in the vicinity, e.g. add new
sockets, I am required to move this un-complying socket at the same time?

Nope, just make yourself aware of it! I, as an electrical contractor,
can't force customers to upgrade their electrical installation, only
advise them of the problems.

Also what happens if I wanted to simply change the face plate of this
socket e.g. to a nice chrome one? Is this allowed?

Yes.
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.

No, the regs say you can't have a socket actually in the sink. It
doesn't mention distance from the sink. NICEIC guidelines are 500mm
from the sink. My personal choice is 300mm from a draining board and
600mm from a sink where preferable.

A socket IN the sink? As in a hole cut in the sink and a socket stuck
through this hole!

The regs actually think someone would do this !!!

I don't believe it!


John

A socket IN the sink? As in a hole cut in the sink and a socket stuck
through this hole!

Actually, I'd have thought it would be permitted if the socket is IPx8. I
may be wrong and don't have them in front of me.

The regs actually think someone would do this !!!

I think they just don't particularly anticipate it and don't specifically
ban it. All equipment has to be suitable for the installed location because
of a general catch-all, which would require IPx8 (possibly IPx7). Again, I
may be wrong. I very much doubt the situation has arisen in practice!

Christian.

In article ,
John Smith wrote:
A socket IN the sink? As in a hole cut in the sink and a socket stuck
through this hole!

The regs actually think someone would do this !!!

I don't believe it!

How else do you feed a waste disposal unit?

It's more of a problem cutting the hole in the toilet for the saniflow
socket, though.

--
*Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

"Dave Plowman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
John Smith wrote:
A socket IN the sink? As in a hole cut in the sink and a socket stuck
through this hole!

The regs actually think someone would do this !!!

I don't believe it!

How else do you feed a waste disposal unit?

It's more of a problem cutting the hole in the toilet for the saniflow
socket, though.



ROFL !!! Daft bugger. :-))


---
http://www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 18/05/04

On Fri, 21 May 2004 12:48:08 +0100, John Smith wrote:

Hi,

How far from the sink is it? Would a longer kettle from the next
nearest kettle lead do the trick? The main concern might be a kettle
lead or base falling in the sink.

cheers,
Pete.

From previous posts I have found that you cannot, according to the
elec regs, have a socket at arms length from a sink.

No. The regulations just state that accessories must be suitable for the
area in which they are installed. This is somewhat open to interpretation
with respect to sink proximity. If it is located so that it is unlikely to
get wet, there is no problem. If it really is close and could easily be
splashed, then you could always go for IP rated accessories, although they
would look very odd in a kitchen!

Christian.

In article ,
(John Smith) wrote:

Planning a kitchen refit and looking at socket positions. I will be
keeping some existing sockets and moving/adding a few more. One of the
sockets I definitely want to keep is within arms reach of the sink.
This is very handy for the kettle.

From previous posts I have found that you cannot, according to the
elec regs, have a socket at arms length from a sink. But this socket is
already there and has been since I moved in.

Obviously I am not required to constantly update my house to comply
with any new regs. But what if I do work in the vicinity, e.g. add new
sockets, I am required to move this un-complying socket at the same
time?

Also what happens if I wanted to simply change the face plate of this
socket e.g. to a nice chrome one? Is this allowed?


Thanks,

John

Others have already answered your query, but if you're too bothered about
it you could convert it to a RCD protected socket, although it would cost
you an arm and a leg.

Roger
(my reader sometimes loses mail/newsgroup messages
- if you think you should have had a reply/comment,
please e-mail me again. Ta!)

Roger wrote
| Others have already answered your query, but if you're too bothered
| about it you could convert it to a RCD protected socket, although
| it would cost you an arm and a leg.

An RCD socket costs £20.99
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM4906.html

A prosthetic arm on ebay.com costs from $66 to $895
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=4168908968
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3724019409

The nationwide average for an above knee prosthesis is $16,500 and the below
knee prosthesis is $7,000. At the foundation an above knee prosthesis cost
$2,000 and a below knee costs $1,500.
http://www.limbsforlife.org/programs.htm

So, an RCD socket costs considerably less than an arm and a leg.

Owain

"Owain" wrote in message ...
Roger wrote

| Others have already answered your query, but if you're too bothered
| about it you could convert it to a RCD protected socket, although
| it would cost you an arm and a leg.

An RCD socket costs £20.99
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM4906.html

A prosthetic arm on ebay.com costs from $66 to $895
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=4168908968
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3724019409

The nationwide average for an above knee prosthesis is $16,500 and the below
knee prosthesis is $7,000. At the foundation an above knee prosthesis cost
$2,000 and a below knee costs $1,500.
http://www.limbsforlife.org/programs.htm

So, an RCD socket costs considerably less than an arm and a leg.

Owain

lol! I remember seeing floor sockets with just a flat metal flap over
the front: would they make suitable replacements for something overly
close?

Regards, NT

"N. Thornton" wrote
| I remember seeing floor sockets with just a flat metal flap over
| the front: would they make suitable replacements for something overly
| close?

I think not; they're not IP rated against water ingress.

Owain

In article ,
N. Thornton wrote:
lol! I remember seeing floor sockets with just a flat metal flap over
the front: would they make suitable replacements for something overly
close?

Yup - you have to use two hands to use those, so if they're wet from the
sink you get the full effect across your chest.

--
*Great groups from little icons grow *

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

In message ,
Dave Plowman wrote:

In article ,
N. Thornton wrote:
lol! I remember seeing floor sockets with just a flat metal flap over
the front: would they make suitable replacements for something overly
close?

Yup - you have to use two hands to use those, so if they're wet from the
sink you get the full effect across your chest.


I've never really understood these flappy floor-socket things. In
several places I've seen them installed, I've also seen the cleaners
wet-mopping the floor and using those big floor polishing machines.

Brings the brass flappy bits up nicely, until they fall off or the
wiring catches fire :-)

Hwyl!

M.

--
Martin Angove: http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/
Two free issues: http://www.livtech.co.uk/ Living With Technology
.... I'll have what the guy on the floor is having...