Integrated appliances and spurs

dave82_2

Hi,

Getting a new kitchen from B&Q (yes I know)

Having all the tiling, plumbing and electrics done independently.

The surveyor came round from b&q and told me I would need to move the points for the washer dryer and the dishwasher as the integrated units won't have room to plug them in behind the unit.

I explained that these points were on switched spurs and that the machines would be hard wired into back plates.

He said this is a no no and I can't remove the plug and must move the point :-(

Is he taking rubbish? I ahve just had the room plastered so don't want to move them :-(

Cheers D

latecomer

Are you sure there isn't room behind the integrated appliances for a standard plug? There normally is.

dave82_2

I don't know the surveryor was like the prophit of doom he was telling me everything was in the wriong place. I checked once he was gone an most of it was right! I just had on bad day at the house yesterday with the plaster and the surveyor it made me very sad :-(

jennifernil

I don't see why you cannot remove the plugs and wire into your fused spurs.

Are B&Q fitting the units? And the appliances? Of so, then they want to be able to just stick the plugs into sockets, I expect wiring into a plate would require them to send an electrician (?)

There can be a problem if using an ordinary socket and plug, depending on exactly where the socket is, what the back of the appliance looks like, and how chunky the fitted plug is.

We once had an oven which came fitted with a really "thick" plug, it was just too thick to allow the oven to be pushed in properly. We found a "slimmer" style plug, and fitted that instead.

We had asked the electrician to fit just an outlet (to avoid this problem) but he had ignored this. If the plug method had not worked we would have had him revert to the original plan.

dave82_2

Thanks. I don't see what the guys issue was to be honest! Surely it is better to have the fuse at a spur where I can change it anyway rather than behind the appliance!

Think they are sending a sparky to wire the cooker in. But as it has all been set up by my sparky with back plates and switched spurs his job should take all of 3 seconds!

I wanted to cry when the guy started telling me I would have to hack my lovely new plastered walls to bits and move the sockets!

fluffpot

It's your kitchen! What he's saying is wrong as you can't have 2 x 13A fuses one after the other (it's called lack of discrimination). What your electrician has done it is correct otherwise if a fuse blows in the plug you have to rip apart the kitchen to change it. I think as someone suggested they're lazy and just want to plug things in. If he won't budge, then get your electrician round at the same time to chop off the plugs and hard wire the appliances in.

Fluff

Homersimpson

You can have two 13A fuses in series in this situation as they only serve one item of equipment. Lack of discrimination in a domestic situation such as this would not pose a problem for IEE regulations compliance.

I would advise against hardwiring appliances into outlet plates (other than electric hobs) as it makes it harder and more problematic to change the appliances in future.

You could move the socket outlet to a position behind and adjacent unit (mine are under the sink).

baldelectrician

The B&Q guy is in 'kitchen blinkers' mode

Ask your electrician if he can install a fused connection unit at high level and a flex outlet plate behind the appliance.

There should be no space issues

Different site HERE and HERE

You should use a competent person for the work, links below
In Scotland:
Individuals registered;
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/ListAC.asp
Companies
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/SearchRegCo.asp?T=Construction
In England and Wales:
http://www.competentperson.co.uk

molerat

I believe that is what the OP is doing. The B&Q rep wants single socket outlets and says there is no room for them behind the appliance so wants them moved to elsewhere and also says that you cannot remove the plugs from the appliance.

fluffpot

OK Homer, fair point about the fuses, but it's a PITA to have to take out an integrated dishwasher just to change the fuse! FCU above worktop and hard wired flex outlet is the correct way to go - there may not be anywhere suitable to locate an accessible socket outlet for integrated appliances. Some kitchens I've rewired have 10+ such items!

I can't see how cutting off the plug makes it any harder to change the appliance in the future?

baldelectrician

it only makes it harder to change the appliance if you don't really know what you are doing