Questions tagged [uk]
Questions specific to DIY projects in the United Kingdom. Use with any relevant project tags (i.e. [electrical])
171
questions
2
votes
3answers
62 views
What are the safety concerns in running low voltage wire to LEDs behind a wall?
I've been using some fairly cheap 22AWG wire for running between flexible LED strips and their transformers. Some 24V some 12V, but all well below the amperage rating for this gauge.
The wire says it'...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Wiring in false chimney breast
I am installing a wood burner with a false chimney breast around a double skinned flue. The chimney breast will be metal stud (or do you only call it a stud if it's wood?) with fire board as per regs ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Consolidating two electricity meters?
Today, we got the keys to our new house. I was taking meter readings, when I spotted a note directing me to a second meter. This is located at the other end of the house, in it's own cupboard, with it'...
13
votes
7answers
2k views
Outdoor burst pipe best practice for the winter
We had an outdoor tap (faucet) fitted in the summer last year here in Edinburgh UK. The temperature here often dips to just below freezing over the winter. Outside, at least. The plumber suggested we ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
How long does paving slab sealing last?
Context: House in Edinburgh (Scotland) with standard UK 60cm x 60cm paving slabs (like these).
if I get a company in to clean and seal those, how long should I expect that to last?
The sales people ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Socket for UK bathroom
I want to add a USB socket to the bathroom but when I was checking it said that I could only add a shaver-supply unit.
Since I was adding these to use with my shavers/toothbrush and they are low ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
burying 3 core cable in metal conduit
what is the BS7671 code for running 3core flexible cable in metal conduit that is buried underground. because the environment that i am in is sand. i know in the US they run PVC conduit when running a ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
How to fill in bonding at the bottom of a wall before skimming?
I'm skimming some old plaster walls and in the process found that the original bonding stops too far up the wall for the new (shorter) skirting board. Also it's coming away a little so I've gone back ...
2
votes
0answers
63 views
What's the term for a rotatable plumbing pipe “union” in the UK?
I've been searching for a specific plumbing fitting for UK BSPP threaded pipes / devices but I don't know what to call it. I'm not looking for a specific product recommendation, just the terminology.
...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
How easy is it to cut down a timber external door frame for use in a small door?
I have a small, weird side door with a rotten frame that needs replacing. The rough openening is around 680 x 1830mm. The wall is brick. The door opens into a garage with a concrete floor.
I was ...
0
votes
1answer
120 views
How to reduce the size of a door opening to fit smaller door?
I have a 1930s internal door frame which measures 810x2020mm. The door is missing so I'm looking to match it to other doors in the house which are 800x2010.
The closest commonly available door sizes ...
3
votes
2answers
68 views
How should I prepare a wooden mould for casting plaster of paris?
I'm referring to a flat sided mould, not intricate detail. It is the reverse (wall) side of a piece of coving.
I'm using "Formula" Fine Casting Plaster. The wood is planed softwood scraps I ...
2
votes
2answers
117 views
Do I need to add a fuse for a lamp circuit off a ring main?
In my flat I have a spur from the ring main to two double plug sockets either side of the bed. There is a 13amp fused spur switch between the ring main and the spur. I want to extend the spur to go ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
How can I reduce temperature of a hot water tap without adjusting the boiler?
I'm probably asking for trouble with this question, but here goes....
I had tenants complaining of a luke warm shower and discovered that their boiler hot water temperature was set to about 50º.
The ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
How to fix leak from flat roof under lead flashing
I live in a terraced house, built 1935, with a relatively new roof. As the picture shows, there is a bay with a gabled roof over beside another bay with flat felt roof. I have water damage to the part ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Adding sockets to a ring circuit in the UK
I have recently moved into a house that has had very little work done on it since it was built in the early 60's. There are a total of 3 plug sockets downstairs and 4 upstairs. This may have been ...
3
votes
3answers
105 views
What is this coving profile?
This coving is all around my house, but some needs repair and I can't match it.
It's a "C" profile with a lip at the bottom. I thought perhaps the lip was a separate picture rail or ...
3
votes
0answers
45 views
Replacing my Honeywell thermostat with a Nest heatlink in the UK
Can someone help with this.
Trying to pick the C wire and the NO wire from here.
Please note I am in the UK
[![enter image description here][1]][1]
[1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/EPkJh.jpg![enter ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Light switch won't turn off after fitting a new light bulb [duplicate]
Thought installing a cheap "smart" light bulb would be a harmless operation. Here's what I did:
With the light switch off, removed the old light bulb
Installed a new light bulb and flick ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Cavity wall above solid wall? UK
I have a solid wall full width rear extension and am looking to add a half width second story. The existing extension has a flat roof and solid brick walls. The current extension houses a kitchen ...
0
votes
2answers
119 views
Why are British “shaver sockets” limited to using a single plug at at a time, and given this, how are you supposed to use two appliances?
Is the only option either for everyone who needs another socket to get an adapter and charge things in their own rooms or constantly swap which appliance is plugged in? I live in a shared rental where ...
5
votes
1answer
288 views
Motion Sensing Light Switch Requires Minimum Load of 60W - can I use with LEDs?
I've just bought a Luxomat 2-wire Indoor 180-N-R Motion sensing light switch.
Manual here: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/BEG/BE180R2W_User%20Instructions.pdf
I was fitting the ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
How to merge extractor fan ducting
I have an kitchen extractor hood that vents air through a 5-inch flexible ducting to a louvred cover in the outside wall.
I'd like to add a similar piece of ducting to vent the tumble dryer outside, ...
0
votes
2answers
59 views
How to restore a curtain pole where the rawl plugs have torn themselves out of the wall
My curtain pole has fallen down tearing the rawl plugs out with it and leaving two messy holes.
How can I get the curtain pole back up securely? Ideally in the same holes so that it covers the damage ...
1
vote
2answers
59 views
How can a circuit be designed with a switched live connected to multiple PIR motion sensors? [UK]
If you want a light or generic circuit to be switched by multiple PIR sensors, how is this best achieved? For instance you might have 4 sensors on the corners of your house and if any of them detect ...
3
votes
2answers
33 views
Identifying plaster type and how to best remove wallpaper and prepare for painting?
We are renovating our new house at the moment in the UK which is circa 120 years old. One room has wallpaper on it which we want to remove and then prep and paint the wall.
Upon peeling some wallpaper ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
ACE900 KBD prepaid electricity meter - no power on second circuit
I just bought a flat in Scotland, which has ACE900 KBD electric meter. Naturally, the mains power into the flat goes into the meter, from which there are two live outputs feeding two consumer units - ...
0
votes
2answers
106 views
Why are their no cheap wifi thermostats? [closed]
We have a simple analogue dial-based room thermostat. The sort of thing that costs about £15. I'm considering replacing it with a programmable one - which would cost maybe £30.
When I recently went to ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Garden building (UK) 2.5m rule where measured?
Please see the image below. I have dug down 250mm from both fences.
In order to comply with the 2.5m height limit for a flat roof structure within 2m of a boundary.
Question: Is that 2.5m measured ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
How to avoid drilling wires when boxing in
(UK) We have an ugly fuse box and electricity meter in our hall we want to box in. It's on the wall as you enter, the wall that separates mine and my neighbour's terraced houses. They're 1950 ex ...
2
votes
1answer
190 views
Extend direct burial electrical cable
There is a direct burial electrical cable running from my house to the shed in the back of my garden. This had been put in years ago, was inspected by a certificate electrician and confirmed as ...
3
votes
1answer
170 views
Loft board orientation for best loading
I recently purchased a kit to enable me to put in some raised flooring into my loft (as my house has double-thickness insulation). This kit contains some supports which screw onto the wooden joists ...
1
vote
1answer
397 views
Why might we have 3 twin wires in our doorbell chime?
We're currently looking to replace our wired doorbell, but before doing so I wanted to understand the existing wiring - unfortunately I don't!
We have a transformer next to our consumer unit supplying ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
How to recess a recessed socket even deeper into drywall?
I have a standard UK double socket recessed into 15mm drywall. Currently the frame protrudes by approximately 5mm from the wall, and the switches protrude from the frame by a further 5mm.
I wish for ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Should feather-edge lap siding be installed directly on sheathing or on furring strips?
I'm building a shed this summer. The plan is to use a stud frame construction. Cover it in 12mm OSB3 and a breather membrane to keep the interior dry and use feather edge as the cladding. The thing I ...
3
votes
2answers
182 views
Transformer won't work for US plug
I live in the UK but have a few US appliances in my possession which I would like to use here in the UK. To avoid having to rewire all the plugs, I bought a transformer to step down the voltage from ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
How do I disconnect and reconnect this?
How do I safely undo and re-attach this connector? it connects an armoured cable to the power outlet in the shed. I'll turn off the mains obviously. And then do I just undo it with a spanner and pull ...
1
vote
1answer
195 views
Is the electrical setup of my (rental) house safe?
I’ve recently moved into a partially refurbished rental house in Nottinghamshire, England. I’m mostly just wanting to check that it’s generally safe.
The meter is a new (smart) meter, installed in ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Can harmonised and non-harmonised (H and HY) cable be used interchangeably for lighting circuits?
If I have been using 6242Y twin and earth cable for regular lighting, can I use 6243YH three core and earth for two-way lighting? I know the H is for harmonised, but I don't know if there are any ...
3
votes
3answers
805 views
Replacing a ceiling rose with a led light without using wire connectors
I have two ceiling rose lights in my corridor, I have managed to replace one without the need of any wiring connector. I achieved this because it had one Live, one neutral and one earth connector.
So ...
4
votes
1answer
170 views
In the UK, how do I run wiring from indoors onto a balcony for a light?
I am trying to install a light onto a balcony and would like to do so according to the UK electrical code. I have a power socket on the other side of the wall, so I would like take power from that, ...
2
votes
3answers
167 views
Is this the transformer for my door chime?
I'm looking to install Ring Pro doorbell. I have looked around the junction box for a transformer and couldn't seem to find one this is the inside of the chime.
If this isn't it where could it be ?
3
votes
1answer
178 views
Diagnosing faulty kitchen appliances
I have a waffle iron that trips the RCD breaker (the rightmost breaker inside the red box below) after I've made a couple of waffles.
I'm fairly sure that I don't have a problem with the kitchen ...
22
votes
10answers
30k views
My inflatable hot tub says “don't use with an extension cord”… but can I?
Sadly they don't explain WHY not to use it with an extension cord. I wonder if it's to do with the risk of having such connections outside in the elements?
The cord it comes with is 7m long, and ...
24
votes
16answers
12k views
How to dig a trench for a cable for a garden office
I'm trying to dig a trench for the electrical cable for a shed/office I'm building in my back garden. This is about 7 m long and should be 0.5 m deep. My soil seems to be about 5 cm of ...
1
vote
1answer
143 views
How do I connect this hot plate
This is in Germany, brand new flat.
The wall socket is:
The device has the following sticker:
But the blue and grey wires are linked:
Should I:
separate the blue and grey and connect them with ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Can somebody help me understand this door chime wiring?
I have this inside an old door chime which seems redundant. (UK)
I plan to decommission this door chime, but would like to understand the wiring first. Particularly if it is connected to the mains ...
0
votes
2answers
2k views
Changing light fixture with red/black UK wiring using only black wires
I am planning to change a ceiling light fixture in my 1980s-built home in the UK.
I had a look at the box and was surprised to see 3 red wires nutted (?) together and 3 black wires feeding the light. ...
1
vote
5answers
413 views
How could I attach a face plate to a broken Appleby dry lining box?
An electrician has installed a dry lining box for a cat6 network terminal. These boxes are supposed to have a metal insert inside each of the yellow parts, which accepts the type of screw that is ...
0
votes
2answers
82 views
Is my dimmable LED tape compatible with any 12V/2A driver?
I bought a fairly cheap LED tape kit that comes with a driver and dimmer. The dimmer is a small inline module that sits between the driver and the LED tape.
The driver has 12V/2A output and is ...
