Hiding new wiring

the_matrix

Hi

I want to build an extension and keep the brick effect. I do not want to plaster or skim. I'm using quality bricks so it should look special once finished.

What's the best way to cover the wiring. I was thinking to use small plastic tubes and put them in the cavity. How do I go about hiding the junction boxes?

What are MSEs thoughts?

Thanks

macman

So if you do that and need to access the wiring, how are you going to do that without demolishing the inner wall first? JB's need to be accessible.
Conduit is the usual method.

Jonesya

Yeah I'd go for a proper conduit installation, solvent welded and fixed to the inner side of the cavity, bringing the cable out at conduit boxes.

There's a few things to consider through:
- Conduit/cavity insulation may/will de-rate the cable so you need to check cable sizes for you application against load current.
- For conduit you normally use single core cables rather than twin and earth, for the flexibility when pulling them in, but you need to ensure the cable is entirely within a proper conduit installation, you can't run exposed singles around like twin and earth as they don't have a sheath.
- If it's a dead straight run between boxes you could get away with twin and earth in conduit but you won't pull it around bends!
- Not sure what you mean about junction boxes, you can probably wire it so you don't need any - looping at fittings or making connections in the back boxes.

You'd probably be best to run your job past an electrician if you're not confident.

the_matrix

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not doing it myself and will be getting a proper electrician to do the work.

I want your excellent ideas so I know what to say. I don't want to be left just with their own opinion to go on.

The conduit, does it need to be metal or plastic? Can I use any conduit pipe of do they need to be special electrical conduit pipe? If they don't need to be special conduit electrical pipes then will normal water pipes be OK? Also how fat should the pipe be?

Thanks in advance.

Jonesya

You want proper conduit, PVC would probably be sufficient. You can get it off the shelf, it's pretty cheap to buy and you can get all the various accessories for it. Have a look at Toolstation or Screwfix.

Common diameters are 20mm and 25mm, what you need depends on how many cables you're running through it. There's conduit capacity tables so you can assess the size required.

Forget about using plumbing pipe - it's not the correct stuff for the job and if you mean copper pipe forget it, copper pipe costs a fortune compared to pvc conduit.

muckybutt

You could go surface with conduit and use metal boxes for sockets and switches, go for the Industrial look !

lstar337

muckybutt wrote: »

You could go surface with conduit and use metal boxes for sockets and switches, go for the Industrial look !

That's what I was thinking. Could be a really nice look if done properly and with high quality fittings.

the_matrix

muckybutt wrote: »

You could go surface with conduit and use metal boxes for sockets and switches, go for the Industrial look !

lstar337 wrote: »

That's what I was thinking. Could be a really nice look if done properly and with high quality fittings.

Idea +1.

Got any pics so I can see what exactly you mean?

goodmorningsunshine

Not sure if this is the same thing your talking about, but I have been told you can buy skirting that the wires go behind to hide them.

Owain_Moneysaver

You could surface wire in mineral insulated cable, which can be very neat if well done, or it can be chased into the mortar line horizontally between sockets.
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/wires/wires.htm
This doesn't work so well for vertical drops to switches as the mortar isn't in a continuous vertical line. However, you can get wireless switches that don't need cabling.

lstar337

the_matrix wrote: »

Idea +1.

Got any pics so I can see what exactly you mean?

Hard to find in google, not sure what to type in!

On the back wall (nice exposed brick) you can see how they have used round metal conduit and metal socket fronts/boxes.





That's the kind of look I was thinking of.

Hard to see in those images though, it's so small in the background!