Quick help needed! - New Fuse Box???

Ainsley1

I cannot fault the idea of a third quote!

Also nothing wrong with being retired or even semi retired......but not if that affects competence!!!!

Post the area where you live and you may get some recommendations of good electricians, qualified, insured, competent and members of a trade body. The electrician right to give you a formal quote, best based upon an inspection and test for a fixed price and detailing exactly what is to be done for it.......and definitely not a back of fag packet estimate where to don't know what is included.

dominoman

Before you do anything get an Electrical Installation Condition Report. It will cost you £150-200 and will tell you everything you need to know about the state of your electrics.

Don't even consider getting a new fusebox or wiring until you have it.

A NICEIC electrical report will also be very useful for getting new quotes. It means all the unknowns are now known.

Risteard

dominoman wrote: »

Before you do anything get an Electrical Installation Condition Report. It will cost you £150-200 and will tell you everything you need to know about the state of your electrics.

Don't even consider getting a new fusebox or wiring until you have it.

A NICEIC electrical report will also be very useful for getting new quotes. It means all the unknowns are now known.

Indeed. I made this very point in post #2.

tonyh66

you can't run a double oven off the original circuit, you will need the appropriate sized cable and a 30A fuse, I doubt a double can run off a plug socket.

Ectophile

nuttymummy wrote: »

Yes, but I read the RCD's are very sensitive, and you HAVE to have it split at LEAST to an upstairs/downstairs circuit instead of all in one otherwise it would constantly trip? The first electrician was putting a new box in.....but never said a dickybird about needing to make extra circuits...so don't know if he was planning to shove them all in one box with the potential of tripping them all.

He never said it would need new circuits which is why I'm confused!
I don't know what he was planning to do as the second electrician said new box is useless due to only needing the 3 switches on it (The smallest boxes come with 8 he said)

Its one of those times you just wish you had enough knowledge to make a decision LOL

"Have to" split them is wording it a bit strongly. It's good practice to do so. because then if an RCD trips the entire house doesn't go dark. But there are still houses around with only one RCD protecting everything.

You can get 6-way dual-RCD consumer units (from Hager, for instance). Though with the two RCDs it would be the size of an old 8-way one.

stator

You don't HAVE to split the ringmain to have an RCD. Most of my house is on one ringmain and it doesn't trip. Only the kitchen is on it's own circuit, which is where most of the high power devices are anyway.

It's definitely worth getting a new box put in with double RCD, that way if the ringmain trips you will still have some lights. Even if you don't split the ringmain you can always do that later. It might not be that difficult dependig on the layout of your house. Make sure you get a box with a good few spare slots, they might come in handy later if you want a new shower or bathroom heater or whatever.

I wouldn't use the electrician who didn't recommend an RCD.

Smodlet

dominoman wrote: »

Before you do anything get an Electrical Installation Condition Report. It will cost you £150-200 and will tell you everything you need to know about the state of your electrics.

Don't even consider getting a new fusebox or wiring until you have it.

A NICEIC electrical report will also be very useful for getting new quotes. It means all the unknowns are now known.

Personally, I think this ^ ^ ^ ^ is a complete waste of money. Your wiring is 40 - 41 years old. If it does not need replacing now, the chances are it soon will. I would (and did, twice) bite the bullet and just get the whole place rewired, then you would have nothing to worry about and modern wiring lasts for fifty years plus. Back in the seventies, it was only ever designed to last for half that time. I agree with those who said don't touch either of these so-called electricians with a barge pole. Ask around and get personal recommendations.

Risteard

Smodlet wrote: »

modern wiring lasts for fifty years plus.

The typical lifespan is considered to be around 40 years.

nuttymummy

Thanks everyone! Had another electrician around, he said to get RCBO's,
also said there is already a possible 6mm+ cable to the oven - just needs to pull it out and find it.

Sounded much more knowledgeable than the last two! Awaiting his quote.
Mentioned the new unit could possibly trip....and if it does he would need to find it (big job!)

BTW the 2nd electricians quote was £360

Smodlet

Risteard wrote: »

The typical lifespan is considered to be around 40 years.

Not by my fully qualified electrician, but what difference does it make? 1970s wiring is living on borrowed time, no?