Help installing electric heater

Mr_BOOMBASTIC

Hi,

I was wondering if there are any electric wiz kidz who could assist me. I need to install two new 2kw electric convection heaters and assume these need to be hard wired. Would it be o.k to run a spur from a near by socket to supply the new switch that i would need as i dont think it's a case of putting a plug on the end of the wire and plugging it into a stander 3 pin socket.

Also what kind of switch would i need i have seen a (13A Fused Switched Spur With Neon) on the wickes website would this be o.k or would i need something else as i'm lost completely any advise on the correct socket/switch to use would be great.


Thanks

latecomer

In my first flat I had panel heaters with standard 3pin plugs going into standard sockets. If you use a fused spur you are still going to need to get the cable through the wall.

Might be worth asking on here:

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=8

as the guys there are pretty good but be warned they can be a bit touchy!

Mutton_Geoff

2kW is just over 8 amps. Perfectly OK on a 13A socket.

You'll have problems running two of them at the same time on the same ring circuit though as they'll trip the 16A MCB or fuse protecting the ring.

I can't help feeling that if you need to ask the question, you shouldn't be attempting the work?

Mr_BOOMBASTIC

Thanks for the responses.


But the heaters will be spurred from different sockets one downstairs and one upstairs

madjay

Mutton_Geoff wrote: »

2kW is just over 8 amps. Perfectly OK on a 13A socket.

You'll have problems running two of them at the same time on the same ring circuit though as they'll trip the 16A MCB or fuse protecting the ring.

I can't help feeling that if you need to ask the question, you shouldn't be attempting the work?

I can't help saying that a little bit of information is dangerous...... Mutton Geoff..... you can run both heaters at the same time on a ring circuit because it is protected by a 32amp MCB or fuse, a radial circuit would be protected by a 20amp Fuse or MCB. He could spur of a 2.5mm² T&E cable from a local socket outlet to the new socket outlet.

27col

If the fire is 3kw then it should be hard wired, as a 13amp plug passing 12.5 amp will get warm. If it is 2kw then it will be o.k. to use a 13amp plug.

madjay

27col wrote: »

If the fire is 3kw then it should be hard wired, as a 13amp plug passing 12.5 amp will get warm. If it is 2kw then it will be o.k. to use a 13amp plug.

No it does Not because if this was true a spur unit "rated at 13amp" would get hot and it does not , and 3KW heater would not be supplied with a 13amp plug if this was true!!

A "13amp" amp plug is not rated at 13amp.... it is the fuse inside that can be this rate, the plug itself has to be rate higher than this!!!

robby-01

27col wrote: »

If the fire is 3kw then it should be hard wired, as a 13amp plug passing 12.5 amp will get warm. If it is 2kw then it will be o.k. to use a 13amp plug.

It might get warm but it wont catch fire.It can pass 13amp safely that is what it is designed to do.It cant pass anymore than that as the fuse will pop.

livia

The new electical laws came into opertion recentley as my husband well knows,he did a college course fo a year to get the right qualification and knows the pitfalls of someone doing it themselves with electrics - death. Even he does not contravene the laws ( he cannot practice without having his work checked as he could not afford to pay for his certificate-costs thousands) , if you wish to wire up your heaters do so BUT get the wiring checked and signed off..If you ever want to sell your property youwill needconfirmation of corectly wired sockets lights etc

adaze

livia wrote: »

The new electical laws came into opertion recentley as my husband well knows,he did a college course fo a year to get the right qualification and knows the pitfalls of someone doing it themselves with electrics - death. Even he does not contravene the laws ( he cannot practice without having his work checked as he could not afford to pay for his certificate-costs thousands) , if you wish to wire up your heaters do so BUT get the wiring checked and signed off..If you ever want to sell your property youwill needconfirmation of corectly wired sockets lights etc

If you mean Part P, it is my understanding you can still add a socket, or a spur to an existing ring main, therefore wiring in a 13 amp heater wouldn't need to be "signed off". For domestic appliances (<13A) there is little difference between wiring into a FCU and a using a standard plug. That said if you are not confident that you are competent then you shouldn't be doing it.

I don't beleive that it is necessarily a problem when you sell the house, unless you have undertaken work that would require Building Control, in which case, problems would be, well, problems. Doing this does not require BC, therefore you can do it yourself.

If your interested... Part P

27col

The UK was supposed to harmonise its supply voltage with the rest of the EU at 230v. It has not yet reduced it from 240v. If and when, it does so, then a 3kw load will take 13.04 amps at 230v. At the moment a 3kw load takes 12.5amps at 240v.
I quote from the "Electrician's Guide to the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations." Chapter 6.2.2

It says, and I quote. "BS1363 plugs will overheat when carrying 13amp(a 3kw load at 230v) and direct connection via fused spur box should be considered.

They could decide to alter the voltage to 230v, any time that they like. In fact the minimum voltage allowed is as little as 207v.

I never said that the plug would catch fire. I only said that it would get warm.