Boiler Wiring Query

Danny30

grumbler said:

There is some wire coming to the boiler from the existing switch, isn't there?

There is some space in the boiler housing cupboard for a new switch, isn't there?

I don't understand, why on earth a new wire is needed - tell me, what exactly I am missing.

Yes, there is a wire going from the consumer unit to the fused box in the picture above the toilet and then a separate wire from the fused box connecting to the boiler.

I want them to use the existing wire. If they remove the fused box above the toilet then they will presumably have to connect the wire from the boiler to the fused box to the one from the fused box to the consumer unit?

Would the wire in the picture going to the boiler be okay to be used now as it is over 10 years old? 

grumbler

There is no need to remove anything. The fused box can remain and a new switch can be added near the boiler. E.g. on the side wall of the cabinet.

Yes, the existing wire can be used - why not?

Danny30

grumbler said:

There is no need to remove anything. The fused box can remain and a new switch can be added near the boiler. E.g. on the side wall of the cabinet.

Yes, the existing wire can be used - why not?

I just thought maybe they might have change the wiring after 10 years. 

grumbler

No wire needs replacement after just 10 years.

FreeBear

grumbler said: No wire needs replacement after just 10 years.

Unless it has been damaged in some way - Either from heat or physical damage to the insulation.

Jeepers_Creepers

Built in wireless, Danny - perfect.

No, I don't think you are missing anything, Grumb.

It may simply not have occurred to them that they could just add an extra isolator inside the cupboard. If that broke any rule about not having two isolators in series - and I am not aware of any - then all they'd have to do is replace the existing chrome one with a connector inside, and put a plain faceplate over it. But I doubt that's necessary. Daft scenario - boiler goes faulty and up in flames - phew, thanks goodness for the extra isolator...

I suspect the surveyor just checked the wiring, saw that the isolator was in a different room and not adjacent to the boiler, noted that there was a wall socket nearby, and put 1 and 1 together to come up with 'trunking'!

If Danny had been paying for this out of his own pocket, then there's every chance that his installer's sparky would have come up with an alternative like this, because a visible flexi cable, trunked or not, going to - and permanently taking up - a wall socket is just poor, poor, poor.

Danny30

This is the current boiler wire. It trails from the fused switch above the toilet, behind the kitchen units and directly up to the boiler.

Jeepers_Creepers

Will the new boiler be larger than the old one? That's the only spanner I can see - if there just ain't enough room in there for this isolator.

Anyhoo, put your request to them, and see what they say. If they are adamant that they won't entertain it; "It's that wall socket or now't", then just make sure they don't damage anything.

Removable trunking, and no holes in the cupboard. Then you can sort it yourself afterwards.

With the cupboard door off - as I'm sure it will be - you could even say just dangle the flex to the socket - no trunking needed...

Jeepers_Creepers

What's to the left of that boiler cupboard - are there more wall units, or is there a gap?

If the latter, then this isolating switch could even be mounted on the outside of that LF unit side, either flush or surface - that would ensure enough room inside the unit.

Neat, unobtrusive.

Danny30

Jeepers_Creepers said:

What's to the left of that boiler cupboard - are there more wall units, or is there a gap?

If the latter, then this isolating switch could even be mounted on the outside of that LF unit side, either flush or surface - that would ensure enough room inside the unit.

Neat, unobtrusive.

The gas cooker is to be the left so would be no good there. The boiler is similar size wise and is a 30kw instead of a 26kw I think.