Haven't a clue - want to learn - TRUNKING

Marc25

Hi all,

just after a bit of advice on 'how to' install electricial trunking in my kitchen.

I want to install the galvanised steel trunking to replace the plastic type with the industrial type look.

I want to learn how to do it, if poss for a average diyer!!
Junction boxes etc.
disconnecting electricity.

etc etc!

Any tips???

thank you.

Marc

phill99

I have always had the belief that if you stick to what you are good at in life you will never go wrong. The fact that you are confessing that you know nothing about it is concerning. There are certain projects for wannabe DIYers to cut there teeth on. I really don't think this is the right one though. There is an equation that never fails: electricity + incompetence = death.

Marc25

well i am very good at being creative and coming up with cool ideas.
I also believe that i am resourceful and thats my best strength.
I want to do but don't know = i will find out.
Your comments are not helpful at all.
Did your parents never teach you the following:
If you can't say anything nice don't say anything!!!

Also sticking to what you know and you'll never go wrong = your'll never learn anything or better yourself.
!!!!

Canucklehead

Hi

As you asked about disconnecting electricity I assume you are going to alter the wiring in the kitchen.If you have no intention of doing the wiring then it would have been worth mentioning in the OP.
What Phill99 is concerned about is the safety of your efforts.Can you test after ?
You might consider yourself creative, cool and resourceful, but if you can't test and prove safety you might also be dead.Worse still if , after you have sold up and moved on , the new owner finds a problem with your work and is electrocuted.
Please get it tested after you have finished .
You might have heard of Part P?

You will need to invest in dies and a pipe vice for starters.

Corgi Guy.

maninthestreet

Marc25 wrote: »

well i am very good at being creative and coming up with cool ideas.
I also believe that i am resourceful and thats my best strength.
I want to do but don't know = i will find out.
Your comments are not helpful at all.
Did your parents never teach you the following:
If you can't say anything nice don't say anything!!!

Also sticking to what you know and you'll never go wrong = your'll never learn anything or better yourself.
!!!!

Ignorance really is bliss to you. Electrical work that you are considering doing is beyond the scope of a self-confessed electrical novice. Whilst learning from your mistakes maybe possible, it's difficult to do this with electricity if you have received a fatal electric shock and are pushing up the daisies as a consequence. Get this work done by a competent, Part P qualified, electrician... but Im puzzled why you would want galvanised trunking in your kitchen instead of plastic - galvanised trunking is designed for exterior use and would look far more out of place in a kitchen than plastic trunking.

Steel_2

I thought doing your own electrics has been made illegal because of the sheer number of people injuries and fatalities that used to result every year?

Marc25, my husband is extremely good at DIY and can do just about anything in the house. I am constantly surprised by just how capable he is.

However, he will not do electrical rewiring - especially the ones that are going into our new kitchen and conservatory - for two reasons, even though he can do them:

a) one mistake could cost either him or me our lives. If he does something wrong, one us of will be catapaulted across the room by 240v. If we're lucky we might not hit anything on the way.

b) if we ever come to sell the house, we will need to demonstrate both the kitchen and conservatory electrics have certificates from a trained electrician proving their safety.

Anything else Marc25 I'd say get stuck in, it's all doable. Electrics? Don't touch. Just not worth it.

wallbash

Go for it Marc25

Sorry I cant give you any practical advice, I perfer plastic BUT if you want
to try the galvanised steel trunking look DO IT .

Take all reasonable precautions

quote
Also sticking to what you know and you'll never go wrong = your'll never learn anything or better yourself.

Very true

Bungarm2001

You are breaking the regulations set out in part P of the Building Regulations by altering the wiring in your kitchen. You might well come a cropper when you come to sell as you won't have the appropriate sign-off and you never know, a prospective buyer might well ask to see one...and believe me, sometimes they do.

Part of me wants to tell you to go for it, 'cos I probably would, but at least read up on the regs and above all, BE SAFE!!!

yorksguy11

Sorry but i have to dissagree with the suggestions that you are breaking the regs. Part P is for new installations not Add ons or alterations.
If you really want to do this the smallest Galv Trunking is 2" square and if you are putting Metal Clad Sockets and switches straight up to the trunking you will get away with 20mm Couplings, Male Brass Bushes and Locknuts. Dont try and fit them flush to the trunking as you wont get the tops on the sockets.
As for the trunking you will need a Square a Hacksaw and file to make a neat square cut. When you want a angle, you have a choice of 45 and 90 degrees. Also work out where the lid will be when you go round a corner as angles have a choice of lid at top or side, If you buy the wrong angle peice you will end up having a lid on the front going down the wall and when you fit the a wrong angle piece you will end up with the lid on the side.(hope this is not too confusing).
Make sure each You have a good earth and that you link all the pieces of trunking.
If your doing small lengths of trunking you might have a problem fixing the lids as the fixings are well apart, about four per length. So you may need a 4mm tap and some short 4mm set screws to make some more lid fixings.

benjus

yorksguy11 wrote: »

Sorry but i have to dissagree with the suggestions that you are breaking the regs. Part P is for new installations not Add ons or alterations.

From the Part P description online: http://www.theiet.org/publishing/wiring-regulations/part-p/

Notifiable work includes new installations, house re-wires, and the installation of new circuits. Notifiable work also includes additions to existing circuits in kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors and in other special locations. (See below ).

On the other hand, there is also the following quote:

The following types of work are non-notifiable:
...
Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components - If the circuit's protective measures are unaffected
Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations - If the circuit's protective measures and current-carrying capacity of conductors are unaffected by increased thermal insulation

So depending on exactly what you intend to do you may or may not be breaking the regulations.

Marc25

Ok cool, buy the sounds of all your comments it's a bit of a big job for me to do.
That was the intital point to me asking the question, so i gauge weather it was doable or not.

I think i will ask a builder friend to recommend someone qualified to do this.

I always like to learn new things and obviously this saves money.
And you get

Which is why i wanted to find this out.

I am truely greatful to all your comments as you have answered my questions and made my decision for me.

Enjoy the sun everyone!!!!

Marc!