Electric Regs:- length of cables...

MrTyo

For all you sparkies out there.

Long story short, quite a few years ago i moved into my flat. It had 2 storage heaters in it both in the same room on opposite sides. Due to the bloody stupid positioning of them i removed them, leaving the main switches in but disabling the cables etc.

Since then i have been using plug in electric heaters which are in a much better position. However with that use comes increase in leccy bills.

Could i run some cable from the original sockets round the wall and wire the old heaters in a different more sensible position, taking advantage of the economy 7, or are you not allowed to have a length of cable visible, extended more than Xmetres from an appliance. Apart from the unsightly issues of a cable or trunking are you allowed to do this?

Thanks in advance

Gloomendoom

As far as I am aware, there is nothing to prevent you having surface mounted cabling.

The regs may have changed since it was done, but I have a fair bit of it in my house.

macman

Assuming that you are still on E7, you do realise that all your plug-in electric heaters are running on peak rate, at about 400% more than cheap rate?

MrTyo

Thanks gloom, and macman yes am aware hence why wanting to re install a old heater to save cash, have only really started using the heating recently hence why i thought about installing at least one again as i have re arranged room which gives a space to use it

newbie1980

im a electrician and id say as long as you have the correct protection a 5m run of 2.5mm flex around the wall aint gonna harm anyone.
They do 10m extension leads after all

lstar337

We have storage heaters in our flat and they have a few sections of visible cabling that run along the top of skirting.

I can't say it's within regs, but it is done.

cyclonebri1

MrTyo wrote: »

For all you sparkies out there.

Long story short, quite a few years ago i moved into my flat. It had 2 storage heaters in it both in the same room on opposite sides. Due to the bloody stupid positioning of them i removed them, leaving the main switches in but disabling the cables etc.

Since then i have been using plug in electric heaters which are in a much better position. However with that use comes increase in leccy bills.

Could i run some cable from the original sockets round the wall and wire the old heaters in a different more sensible position, taking advantage of the economy 7, or are you not allowed to have a length of cable visible, extended more than Xmetres from an appliance. Apart from the unsightly issues of a cable or trunking are you allowed to do this?

Thanks in advance

Mini trunking my boy, mused ia all industrial premises so should be good in a less arduous home situation;);)

Ectophile

Nothing wrong with surface run cable if you use a bit of common sense. Try to position it so it won't get bashed (for instance by the head of the vacuum cleaner).

Surface run cable can be safer, since you'd have to be pretty stupid to bang a nail into it. Plastered-in cables aren't visible and can easily be damaged by accident.