rewiring

[AJAY198887]

Hi, I have just bought a ground floor massinette, and asked my electrician for an electrician certificate. He went into the property and opened a few sockets to have a look at the wiring behind. The wiring looks in extremely good condition but is only black and red separate single wires (not 2 wires in an outer casing). There is no earth wire. The sockets have a wooden box behind them instead of the more modern metal ones. My electrician has stated that I have to have the full rewiring redone in the whole flat. I just wanted to check if there was any way around having to get the full rewiring done as the massionette is fully decorated to a high spec.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Pete999]

Steel conduit is a cpc so why would you add another one inside it?

I agree wooden boxes is a bit suspect, but saying that stranger things have been found, if it is indeen serviced by wooden boxes the conduit could not be used as the cpc as it wouldn't be continuous. But as others have inquired a picture and proof of the wooden box statement would put the debate to rest.

 

[Dave the spark]

It's in steel conduit, therefore there must be a cpc at every point already

I realise it's in steel conduit. How is the continuity met if they terminate in wooden boxes?

 

[Dave OCD]

It'll be that special treated low resistance wood they used in the old days.

 

[Pete999]

It'll be that special treated low resistance wood they used in the old days.

Now you are just being plain silly aren't you Dave? go and stand on the naughty step for the rest of the evening.

 

[Dave OCD]

Yes Pete, I think a little bit of silliness is needed every now and then.

 

[Dave the spark]

It'll be that special treated low resistance wood they used in the old days.

Nah mate, you're barking up the wrong tree...

 

[Dave OCD]

Not sure, they stocked them years ago in my local branch.

 

[Pete999]

Yes Pete, I think a little bit of silliness is needed every now and then.

I agree with that

 

[Des 56]

I suspect the wood is easily identified,it must come from the trees they use to catch those lightning bolts

 

[davesparks]

I agree wooden boxes is a bit suspect, but saying that stranger things have been found, if it is indeen serviced by wooden boxes the conduit could not be used as the cpc as it wouldn't be continuous. But as others have inquired a picture and proof of the wooden box statement would put the debate to rest.

The conduit can still be used as the CPC as long a suitable flylead is connected. There were, and still are suitable conduit fittings for connecting a fly lead to a conduit.

I realise they weren't available in the past but these days I use the piranha nuts on the end of steel conduit if I'm running it in to an insulated enclosure .

 

[davesparks]

I realise it's in steel conduit. How is the continuity met if they terminate in wooden boxes?

I do know without seeing it, but there are a few different ways. There is such a thing as a coupler with a terminal fixed to the outside which is used to connect a flylead to the conduit.

 

[bigspark17]

I have no problem running a cpc withing steel conduit as well as fly leads. Belt & braces imo

 

[Pete999]

The conduit can still be used as the CPC as long a suitable flylead is connected. There were, and still are suitable conduit fittings for connecting a fly lead to a conduit.

I realise they weren't available in the past but these days I use the piranha nuts on the end of steel conduit if I'm running it in to an insulated enclosure .

Sorry Dave you are saying that if the conduit is not connected into the box (if it's wooden) then use a connection via a flying lead connected to the conduit, that would be a tad difficult with the tube being buried in the plaster, don't you think? good idea though.

 

[Dave the spark]

Also, you would need to know if there is a CPC serving the length of the ring final circuit, which as there's no earth conductor and wooden boxes I would highly doubt it. Again though, this needs to be ascertained through the correct test procedures.

It's in steel conduit, therefore there must be a cpc at every point already

I do know without seeing it, but there are a few different ways. There is such a thing as a coupler with a terminal fixed to the outside which is used to connect a flylead to the conduit.

You've told me that because it's in a steel conduit it must have a CPC at every point. Then you've told ne, when I asked how continuity was achieved that you don't know without seeing it.

So which is it?

 

[GMES]

Battle of the Dave sparks, who will win, only one way to find out....FIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHTTTT

 

[David M]

Its all pointless! Until we have more detail there is no right or wrong advise to give regarding the condition of the installation.

To the O.P

As already mentioned - get a reputable electrician in to do a proper inspection and test. Then come back to us with his/her detailed report.

 

[Dave the spark]

Also, you would need to know if there is a CPC serving the length of the ring final circuit, which as there's no earth conductor and wooden boxes I would highly doubt it. Again though, this needs to be ascertained through the correct test procedures.

It's in steel conduit, therefore there must be a cpc at every point already

@GMES I win

 

[Hellmooth]

Davesparks is never wrong so he wins.........

 

[Pete999]

I have no problem running a cpc withing steel conduit as well as fly leads. Belt & braces imo

No that's by far the best solution if what we are being told

Davesparks is never wrong so he wins.........

Crawler

 

[Hellmooth]

No that's by far the best solution if what we are being told

Crawler

Sarcasm over ones head Pete

 

[davesparks]

Sorry Dave you are saying that if the conduit is not connected into the box (if it's wooden) then use a connection via a flying lead connected to the conduit, that would be a tad difficult with the tube being buried in the plaster, don't you think? good idea though.

No, I'm saying that there are ways the original installers could have made the connections to a fly lead