Mains upgrade query (yes, another one!)
Posted by: KRM on 11 December 2015
The electrician came round last night and was very patient with my bizarre questions and had a few of his own,
I asked for a hi fi ring (not spur) with minimum 4mm cable on a separate consumer unit. The cable would need to go up the external wall, through the loft, down the external wall and through the wall into the living room.
The cable would be internal grade cable inside trunking to avoid breaks where the cable goes inside, although he initially assumed external cable would be needed.
He wondered if there might be sonic issues with running both cables of the ring (the "out" and the "return") alongside each other in the trunking. Can I ask if others here have done this and whether it's an issue? I know some prefer a spur, but a ring is often recommended.
Also, does it matter if the cables on the external walls get cold? Apparently, the cold increases impedance (or was it resistance?).
I thought it was very nice of him to get in the spirit and I suggested I would ask his questions here so thanks in advance for your thoughts.
By the way, I'm thinking of getting the Russ Andrews consumer unit and using unstitched MK sockets.
Keith
A standard good quality consumer unit is all you need. Memera was the standard recommendation, but the company has been bought out by somebody else.
The wire that leaves the meter (the tails) is really thick, and probably 25mm. This goes into a Henley block (a square black plastic thing) and two separate tails come out, to the house CU and the Hifi CU. Am earth lead is then run from each CU back to the meter, bypassing the block. A further upgrade is to earth the Hifi direct to an earth spike, but I've not done that.
I thought I'd try to get a picture so I've just been out to the garage - the light is not very good and it's only taken with my iPad but hopefully you can see how it's done. This meets all the latest regulations.
Hungryhalibut posted:A standard good quality consumer unit is all you need. Memera was the standard recommendation, but the company has been bought out by somebody else.
The wire that leaves the meter (the tails) is really thick, and probably 25mm. This goes into a Henley block (a square black plastic thing) and two separate tails come out, to the house CU and the Hifi CU. Am earth lead is then run from each CU back to the meter, bypassing the block. A further upgrade is to earth the Hifi direct to an earth spike, but I've not done that.
I thought I'd try to get a picture so I've just been out to the garage - the light is not very good and it's only taken with my iPad but hopefully you can see how it's done. This meets all the latest regulations.
I have to ask because it has been half a lifetime since I lived in the UK. Does you electricity bill get charged only based on the meter or also based on the number and amperage of the CUs?
The reason I ask is that many places have a base charge determined by the CU which cannot be fitted by your sparky but by only the electricity utility supplier. I am trying to figure out if you are very lucky being able to specify this how you like or is there an ongoing cost associated with this?