Can I install an 2kw electric fire to this switch?

housebuyer143

I currently have a gas fire which I plan to take out and replace with electric. It already has a built in switch in the wall for the sparker and fan on the gas fire so I wanted to know if I can just take this out and use the same switch to wire in the electric fire. **When I say I, I mean a qualified person**

Will it be able to draw enough power without causing it to trip? 

ThisIsWeird

Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

If that FSU is from the 'ring' mains - very likely - then it'll be served by adequate cables and an MCB in the CU.

Your sparky will confirm this very quickly.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said: Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

No. It will be "may be..." If the spur is on a length of 1.5mm², then NO. If it is a short length of 2.5mm², then it should be OK. The switch (FSU) needs to be popped off to see what size cable has been used, then a decision made from there. To blindly say "yes" is courting trouble.

Section62

housebuyer143 said:

Will it be able to draw enough power without causing it to trip? 

You'll need to get the qualified person to check the cable is adequate and is on a circuit with the appropriate protection (fuse/MCB type and rating).

If all it served originally was something like the fire igniter then there's a risk someone has wired it in using a lighting circuit and/or cable which isn't sufficiently highly rated. (people do very odd things with electrics)

grumbler

Section62 said:

housebuyer143 said:

Will it be able to draw enough power without causing it to trip? 

You'll need to get the qualified person to check the cable is adequate and is on a circuit with the appropriate protection (fuse/MCB type and rating).

For this the OP has just to check the MCB (visually) and the copper core diameter (with a calliper).

housebuyer143 said:

I currently have a gas fire which I plan to take out and replace with electric. It already has a built in switch in the wall for the sparker and fan on the gas fire so I wanted to know if I can just take this out and use the same switch to wire in the electric fire.

It doesn't look like the fire was connected directly to the switch. What was it connected to?

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

No. It will be "may be..." If the spur is on a length of 1.5mm², then NO. If it is a short length of 2.5mm², then it should be OK. The switch (FSU) needs to be popped off to see what size cable has been used, then a decision made from there. To blindly say "yes" is courting trouble.

Why do you think the FSU is a spur?

Anyhoo, I'd be happy to bet a sizeable sum - say £5 - that the sparky will find it ok.

bris

1.5mm may very well be ok for 2kw, its not just a firm no.

However if that switch only controls the sparker then I doubt it will be ok

The electrician will work it out

housebuyer143

ThisIsWeird said:

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

No. It will be "may be..." If the spur is on a length of 1.5mm², then NO. If it is a short length of 2.5mm², then it should be OK. The switch (FSU) needs to be popped off to see what size cable has been used, then a decision made from there. To blindly say "yes" is courting trouble.

Why do you think the FSU is a spur?

Anyhoo, I'd be happy to bet a sizeable sum - say £5 - that the sparky will find it ok.

Is it worth me unscrewing the face plate and posting a photo of the wires for sizing? It's the original socket for the original fire so it was built that way with the socket in the wall to control the fire.

The only other electrics on that wall (it's the external wall) are sockets so potentially they cable has come from there? 

35har1old

housebuyer143 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

No. It will be "may be..." If the spur is on a length of 1.5mm², then NO. If it is a short length of 2.5mm², then it should be OK. The switch (FSU) needs to be popped off to see what size cable has been used, then a decision made from there. To blindly say "yes" is courting trouble.

Why do you think the FSU is a spur?

Anyhoo, I'd be happy to bet a sizeable sum - say £5 - that the sparky will find it ok.

Is it worth me unscrewing the face plate and posting a photo of the wires for sizing? It's the original socket for the original fire so it was built that way with the socket in the wall to control the fire.

The only other electrics on that wall (it's the external wall) are sockets so potentially they cable has come from there? 

What Kw was the fire

ThisIsWeird

housebuyer143 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

No. It will be "may be..." If the spur is on a length of 1.5mm², then NO. If it is a short length of 2.5mm², then it should be OK. The switch (FSU) needs to be popped off to see what size cable has been used, then a decision made from there. To blindly say "yes" is courting trouble.

Why do you think the FSU is a spur?

Anyhoo, I'd be happy to bet a sizeable sum - say £5 - that the sparky will find it ok.

Is it worth me unscrewing the face plate and posting a photo of the wires for sizing? It's the original socket for the original fire so it was built that way with the socket in the wall to control the fire.

The only other electrics on that wall (it's the external wall) are sockets so potentially they cable has come from there? 

You wish to know if this FSU's supply is likely to be ok for your new fire before you call out a sparkly? If so, and if you can do so safely, then by all means loosen the plate and post a photo of what's behind. 

As you surmise, tho', it's very likely that it has been wired in to your sitting room's socket circuit just like every other outlet, and these are all designed for 13A or around 3kW loads. It would be strange if the FSU didn't have 2.5mm cable going to it (or, more likely, two of them), just like the other sockets, but it cannot be assumed. 

There will also be a cable going from that FSU to what I presume is an outlet plate where the actual gas fire is connected, and to where the new leccy fire will ditto. So, you may find three cables behind that FSU :-)

But, be sure you know what you are doing, and are safe - Ie, turn off the associated MCB, and check the gas fire isn't receiving power. And still take care...

ThisIsWeird

35har1old said:

housebuyer143 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said: Almost certainly 'yes'. But the fuse - presumably currently a 3A jobbie - will need upping to 13A.

No. It will be "may be..." If the spur is on a length of 1.5mm², then NO. If it is a short length of 2.5mm², then it should be OK. The switch (FSU) needs to be popped off to see what size cable has been used, then a decision made from there. To blindly say "yes" is courting trouble.

Why do you think the FSU is a spur?

Anyhoo, I'd be happy to bet a sizeable sum - say £5 - that the sparky will find it ok.

Is it worth me unscrewing the face plate and posting a photo of the wires for sizing? It's the original socket for the original fire so it was built that way with the socket in the wall to control the fire.

The only other electrics on that wall (it's the external wall) are sockets so potentially they cable has come from there? 

What Kw was the fire

The current fire is gas, so this supplies only the flue fan and sparks. The new fire will be leccy, and rated at 2kW.