House Re-wire?

PMurphy

Hi,

I know people will tell me to get it tested, and I will, but quickly poll of opinions, my wife and I are looking to buy a property which has a rather old electrics board. - although well kept. I've had a look at the cable, (cant upload a photo) and they look to be grey, rather than black.

I want to replace the entire circuit board with a new metal consumer unit, is a full rewire required? Or can I just get a leccy to replace the old board with a new unit?

Thanks

rob7475

Are there enough sockets etc in the house for you? If so, you may get away with just changing the consumer unit.

Personally, on a house I haven't bought yet, I'd budget for having a full rewire and if it's not needed, that's a bonus. I'd get it checked though before you start any decorating as you don't want to decorate then decide you need a rewire.

kwikbreaks

Not an expert on this but I think if the electrician is asked to change the consumer unit he may well be required to ensure that the wiring is up to current standards. If the board is old then there is every chance you'll need a full rewire anyway.

So - leave as is or budget for a full rewire.

On the wiring grey suggests that it is at least PVC and not the ancient, lethal, and surely replaced everywhere by now rubber cable.

stator

You don't HAVE to have a rewire, but if the consumer unit is that old then it might be worth considering.
When you replace one part of a system you don't have to make the whole house up to building regulations. But if something was dangerous or faulty he would not connect it up to the new consumer unit.
Most houses aren't up to the current building regulations when it comes to electrics.

PMurphy

Here we go, had to host the image on one of my blogs, but it may help. and as I am a new user i can't post a link on here yet, even if it is an image.

But, if you put http:// and then this link - businessofbodies.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/test.html you'll see the sucker.

If I'm honest we simply can't afford a full re-wire. That's why i'm asking. I am considering asking for a full electric survey to be carried out. And offer subject to the findings of that. The house needs an electric shower putting in, and i'm not sure how suitable/capable the old system is with dealing with it.

I've read that they cost about £150. It's a shame i'm not local to the area as I have a few friends who would have come along with me to the property to have a look and would have been able to give me an answer there and then.

brightontraveller

One CU (one with cable showing) possibly storage heaters ? The other bigger one main cu, Two smaller , cooker, shower, emersion tank ?
With new board RCD, RCBO etc I,d say 30- 40% decrease in certain electrical dangers fire / less so electrocution but general safety possibly an increase in risk over conventional rewirable fuse also could be a constant headache going by installation age

From pic board, location, age etc I’d look at rewire when you have funds otherwise leave alone you could get it tested it would not pass but other than that impossible to say if installation good or bad it has had additions but from pics not terribly done...

stator

stator

Looks like just fuses, no RCD.
So I would replace that lot with a modern consumer unit with multiple RCDs.

Where's the meter?

PMurphy

Thanks very much for posting the image. There is a porch at the front of the property. The meter is behind an old white panel in there. That may also need replacing, but the electricity board does that FOC don't they? At least they have in two of my previously (rented) properties.

Ideally we'd have a digital one put in,and all be in one place, but we'll be pretty skint if we get this so have to keep the costings low.

PMurphy

In response to "brightontraveller". There did use to be a NSH and an emersion tank but they have been replaced by a combi boiler fitted about 10(ish) years ago. All the associated pipes and wires have been capped off. Although there switches for the heater are still on the wall outside the cupboard that they use to be fitted in. A chap I work with said there is a possibility that when that work was done, all the wiring may have been replaced then as taking the tank out and heater wouldn't have been a small job. Which is what we have asked the vendor to confirm (if possible). Failing that we make and offer subject to an EIRC (among other things).

There is only partial heating upstairs, so we're looking at getting 1 or 2 new rads fitted too, but that's another story.

flashg67

I've just had a similar arrangement replaced with a metal CU by the electrician and the wiring was tested after wards and passed/certified ok so budget for the worst, but unless you need more sockets etc, I'd expect you'll be ok