no earth in fuse box

Debs2009

Hi
macman and cyclonebri1

I think you are both right.

I think he has done alot or tried to do alot of work in the house himself. It's not till you move in and realise all the faults. We have a double socket in our bedroom that even if the switch is off the appliance still works. In the kitchen some thing (not sure what it's called) behind the dimmer switch was burnt out as it was seemnigly the wrong voltage???????
so the light switch is running off a normal switch just now.

I should probably get everything checked.

Thanks Debbie

ic

Earth bonding is where a green and yellow striped cable is run between your gas, water, central heating pipes and the fuse box (consumer unit). This means anything metal in the house is linked together and is done for safety from electric shock. This is "recent" (last ten/15 years at a guess) in terms of safety and many many houses don't have it - a lack of it wouldn't indicate imminent danger, but this may have been what the electrician was flagging up. Few houses will ever be up to the latest standards, as they keep changing and improving.

A lack of earth on the other hand is far more serious.

It sounds like you might want to get a PIR (periodic inspection report) done by an electrician, for your own peace of mind. Depending on the size of the house the cost will generally come in somewhere in the region of £150 to £250 to complete. The final report produced will tell you about anything that is immediately dangerous and needs resolving, and where the electrics are lacking and could be improved, or in the best case just ticks everything off as safe.

As for the double socket, that just sounds like a broken switch on the socket itself - you can't wire up a faceplate in order to bypass the switch. That's a very cheap and an easy DIY job to replace, or can be completed quickly by an electrician.

cyclonebri1

Debs2009 wrote: »

Hi
macman and cyclonebri1

I think you are both right.

I think he has done alot or tried to do alot of work in the house himself. It's not till you move in and realise all the faults. We have a double socket in our bedroom that even if the switch is off the appliance still works. In the kitchen some thing (not sure what it's called) behind the dimmer switch was burnt out as it was seemnigly the wrong voltage???????
so the light switch is running off a normal switch just now.

I should probably get everything checked.

Thanks Debbie

I think you are right Deb, seriously, get someone qualified to take a look at all the outlets/switches/fittings and test the system for earth continuity and correct polarity

DVardysShadow

ic wrote: »

Earth bonding is where a green and yellow striped cable is run between your gas, water, central heating pipes and the fuse box (consumer unit). This means anything metal in the house is linked together and is done for safety from electric shock. This is "recent" (last ten/15 years at a guess) in terms of safety and many many houses don't have it - a lack of it wouldn't indicate imminent danger, but this may have been what the electrician was flagging up. Few houses will ever be up to the latest standards, as they keep changing and improving.

"recent" is since 1975 or before, ie nearly 40 years. There was a change between 1980 and 1990 which required larger bonding cables.

cyclonebri1

DVardysShadow wrote: »

"recent" is since 1975 or before, ie nearly 40 years. There was a change between 1980 and 1990 which required larger bonding cables.

Did it go from 6 to 10 mm sqed ? Working from an aged memory;)

ic

DVardysShadow wrote: »

"recent" is since 1975 or before, ie nearly 40 years. There was a change between 1980 and 1990 which required larger bonding cables.

I did say at a guess.

fluffpot

keystone wrote: »

Oh I think they are under ESQC 2002. CLICKY

Cheers

Hi Keystone

I'd love that it were true but EDF (now UK Power Networks) will not provide an earth to an existing unearthed installation unless you pay them - around £300 to clamp on the sheath for TNS if this is available and £1,500 + for a new PME supply. I've put in earth rods on a number of occasions even in London

Fluff

ormus

installing an earth rod is certainly the easiest and cheapest way to go.
about 3 quid from screwfix.

keystone

Hi Fluff

I think we might be at cross purposes. I said obliged to provide it not that they can't charge for it. As I said - a law unto themselves...................

Cheers

fluffpot

Keystone

Ah, I see. I did wonder if you had the magic touch or something! Even when you grease their palms its still like getting blood out of a stone.....

Fluff