Time for a complete rewire?

cannyshopper_2

House build around 1970, still has original electricity meter, fuse boxes, etc.

As part of a general upgrade, we are installing an electric shower & also having extra plug sockets installed in a couple of rooms. The kitchen is also due a refit.

Just wondered (given the age of the house) whether we should be thinking about a complete rewire, so we can get all the messy stuff out of the way at the same time.

Have not experienced any problems with fuses tripping or what-have-you.

How long should the wiring last these days?

kaya

Depends who you ask, I'm no electrician but I wouldn't rewire that, mine was rewired sometime in the 70's (it's a 1930's house) and aside from updating the consumer unit to cope with the new extension I have no intention of rewiring at all

zax47

Nope, wouldn't just re-wire any 70s build for the fun of it yet. PVC insulated cable good still, unless you have green goo in sockets & switches (there was an issue with poor quality plasticizer in the PVC at one point). Safe then, safe now. If having new work done to the installation then definitely have a new Consumer Unit ("fuse box") fitted, with RCD protection.

Get an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) done to highlight any deficiencies in what you currently have and stuff not up to current spec, cost £150-200, and then act on those recommendations - bet you £20 that a re-wire isn't on the list (speaking as an electrician).

impvan

I would only rewire it if I found that the wires were aluminium cores instead of copper; it was widely used in some areas of the country in the 70's.
Otherwise leave it be.

Gloomendoom

zax47 wrote: »

Nope, wouldn't just re-wire any 70s build for the fun of it yet. PVC insulated cable good still, unless you have green goo in sockets & switches (there was an issue with poor quality plasticizer in the PVC at one point). Safe then, safe now. If having new work done to the installation then definitely have a new Consumer Unit ("fuse box") fitted, with RCD protection.

The Electrical Safety Office has investigated the possible safety issues of a green oily substance exuded by some thermoplastic insulated and sheathed cables. The results were that:
- The affected cables are V60 and V75 type PVC insulated and sheathed cables.

- The substance is a plasticiser used in the manufacture of the cable.

-The release of the substance is initiated and exacerbated by high ambient temperatures such as can be found in ceiling spaces and in hotter climates.

- The substance is not conductive and therefore not liable to electrical tracking.

- The presence of the substance will not alter the flame propagation characteristics of the cable.

- The presence of the substance does not necessitate replacement of the cable.

-Cables should be assessed for replacement only when insulation tests reveal failure or when cracking of the insulation becomes apparent.

- The green exudate is mildly toxic and can cause burning and irritation, especially to mucous membranes such as in the eyes, nose and mouth.

- There has been no epidemiological link established with cancer in humans.

rich13348

Gloomendoom wrote: »

The Electrical Safety Office has investigated the possible safety issues of a green oily substance exuded by some thermoplastic insulated and sheathed cables. The results were that:
- The affected cables are V60 and V75 type PVC insulated and sheathed cables.

- The substance is a plasticiser used in the manufacture of the cable.

-The release of the substance is initiated and exacerbated by high ambient temperatures such as can be found in ceiling spaces and in hotter climates.

- The substance is not conductive and therefore not liable to electrical tracking.

- The presence of the substance will not alter the flame propagation characteristics of the cable.

- The presence of the substance does not necessitate replacement of the cable.

-Cables should be assessed for replacement only when insulation tests reveal failure or when cracking of the insulation becomes apparent.

- The green exudate is mildly toxic and can cause burning and irritation, especially to mucous membranes such as in the eyes, nose and mouth.

- There has been no epidemiological link established with cancer in humans.

I'm always happy to have toxic substances oozing from my sockets that are at a child friendly height!

casper_g

rich13348 wrote: »

I'm always happy to have toxic substances oozing from my sockets that are at a child friendly height!

Sockets and switches tend to be carefully designed to prevent people coming into contact with the cables without removing the faceplate first!

I've not seen the phenomenon myself, but surely you'd only get a small amount oozing from the cable insulation inside the sockets/switches? It would have to be very bad indeed before any of it got onto the outside.

Dan-Dan

Ahhh , Green Goo , the fall back " you need a full rewire me ole mate" !!!!!!!! from cowboy sparks

zax47

The goo is an irritant on your skin but the real problem is that the leaching of the plasticiser leaves the insulation very brittle - like porcelain or chalk. Fine if you leave well alone, but as soon as you do any work and move any cable even a tiny bit then the insulation suffers multiple fractures for, sometimes, many inches if not feet and as soon as you IR test, it fails.

Worst is if you're in a loft or cellar then you can't help but move cables sometimes and you get fractures in more than the one you're working on. Bl00dy nightmare!

Sammydog

Our current house is 1972 build and we had an electrician in recently to replace the original 'wired fuse' type consumer unit and check it all out prior to us putting it up for sale (wanted to avoid any last minute bad news when the survey was done).


He replaced the unit, did a thorough check of the 'visible' wiring when he changed all the face plates and put a couple of new earths in to bring it up to standard but the wiring itself was, in his opinion, fine.

Mankysteve

Agree with above sentiments, but may ask do you have shower atm, if you have mixer one at the moh you will be awfully disappointed by and electric one.