Mains Cable

tippgod · 31-01-2016 8:26am #1

Hi All
Trying to get an electrican to call out but while im waiting i have a question

i bought a house that was built in 1987. the house is 1300 sqft ( 3 bed semi detached). The main trip switch is a 63a fuse. how do i know if i need to get the cable from the meter to the consumer unit upgraded.

thanks

31-01-2016 9:38am

tippgod wrote: »

Hi All
Trying to get an electrican to call out but while im waiting i have a question

i bought a house that was built in 1987. the house is 1300 sqft ( 3 bed semi detached). The main trip switch is a 63a fuse. how do i know if i need to get the cable from the meter to the consumer unit upgraded.

thanks

Check the size of this cable. At a minimum it should be a 16 sq. T & E. It would be unusual to require a larger cable for a house this size.

tippgod · 31-01-2016 9:42am

Hi. thanks for the replay. There is two thick individual cables coming from the meter. roughly about 10mm thick, i will get a calipers and measure them later

31-01-2016 10:05am

tippgod wrote: »

Hi. thanks for the replay. There is two thick individual cables coming from the meter. roughly about 10mm thick, i will get a calipers and measure them later

Can you post a picture?

iwillhtfu · 31-01-2016 10:17am

They more than likely are 10sqmm. Is the cable Black/Red or Brown/Blue

Why do you feel the need to call and electrician/replace the cable?

Is their signs of charing or melting on the cable insulation? I've seen this before it usually only becomes apparent when an electric shower is installed putting a larger load on the main incomer.

kurtainsider · 31-01-2016 10:21am

It's unusual that this cable would need to be replaced. Why do you think it may need replacing?

31-01-2016 10:30am

If it was my house and the cable was a 10 sq. I would replace it with a minimum of a 16 sq.

tippgod · 31-01-2016 10:31am

I cant post a picture at the moment. I bought the house and am replacing the ceilings at the moment so it would be a good time , if I needed it ,to get the wires upgraded. there are no signs of heat damage or anything. There is an electric shower that the previous owner installed using 10sq twin and eath cable. That job was done by an electrican by the looks of it. is 10mm enough for the size of house?

iwillhtfu · 31-01-2016 10:33am

tippgod wrote: »

I cant post a picture at the moment. I bought the house and am replacing the ceilings at the moment so it would be a good time , if I needed it ,to get the wires upgraded. there are no signs of heat damage or anything. There is an electric shower that the previous owner installed using 10sq twin and eath cable. That job was done by an electrican by the looks of it. is 10mm enough for the size of house?

10sqmm is more than enough for the shower but if the main incomer is only 10sq I'd upgrade it myself. Especially while you're doing work.

tippgod · 31-01-2016 10:33am

How much would an electrican charge to upgrade to 16mm cable. Roughly. The ceilings are down so straight forward enough run from the esb meter

iwillhtfu · 31-01-2016 10:36am

tippgod wrote: »

How much would an electrican charge to upgrade to 16mm cable. Roughly. The ceilings are down so straight forward enough run from the esb meter

It probably wouldn't be very expensive for the electrician and you could save a few quid by running the cable from point to point yourself but agree this with the electrician in advance.

The ESB will also have to call out to disconnect/reconnect the meter and may require a test cert.

tippgod · 31-01-2016 10:41am

if I ran it myself , would the esb connect it at point and point when they disconnect it?

iwillhtfu · 31-01-2016 10:43am

tippgod wrote: »

if I ran it myself , would the esb connect it at point and point when they disconnect it?

No the ESB will connect their end but only when a cert is provided. They don't accept any responsibility for work carried out passed their meter.

You will need a fully registered electrician at some point.

31-01-2016 12:28pm

tippgod wrote: »

if I ran it myself , would the esb connect it at point and point when they disconnect it?

There are important regulations relating to how cables are run as well as best practice. I would strongly suggest that you engage with an electrician ASAP as you have the ceilings down providing access that is unlikely to be available again for a very long time. This could save you money in the long run as an experienced electrician may spot issues that are easy to resolve now.

31-01-2016 12:35pm

As stated above you will require the services of a Registered Electrical Contractor. If you don't do this you will not be in possession of a completion certificate and the ESB will not reconnect.

Remember also that regulations have changed considerably since this house was wired. For example this is the ideal opportunity to install the required number of some detectors. The addition of carbon monoxide detectors would be highly recommend too.

tippgod · 31-01-2016 12:41pm

its only a section of the ceiling by the porch as we are moving the front door outwards. I will be getting an electrician but the builders are putting back up the ceiling in the next day or two. I hadn't thought about electrics at all until a friend said it to me in work. The ESB charge €168 to connect the wire to the meter. Hopefully I can get an electrican out in the next day or two and if not I will run a cable and leave him connect it to the consumer unit and then get the esb to connect it then. Hopefully the power will over be off for a few days in between

Mains Cable

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