Lounge Fireplace
 

Hi all,

Strange question - in our living room we have an electric switch on the wall - it's a simple on/off job with a fuse - and about 2 ft from the floor. I originally thought this was for an an electric fire.

Now - we've just bought an electric fireplace but it came with a plug - so all good.

My question is - what's with the on/off switch /fuse for? I can't find another blanking plate where you'd wire in a electric fire, and when I opened the said on/off/fuse, there was nowhere to wire in an appliance.

So - what are these used for?

:dunce:

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

I own a number of properties, and quite a few of them have these seemingly random switches dotted about the walls, I can only presume they were added for storage heaters, or other heating/dehumidifier devices used over the years

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Yeah - but ours is new build - well it was when we moved in about 5 years ago...

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

got 2 of these in my kitchen and 1 in the living room .They dont seem to turn anything on or off when I switch them.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Do your neighbours ever complain of their appliances randomly switching on and off? :D

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

How many wires in and out of it?

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

In the kitchen they are generally for washing machine and dishwasher - we have two and that's what they are for. Actually we have four - another for the fridge and cooker.

---------- Post added at 10:47 ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 ----------


On ours? Standard 3 mains - L, E, N wires...

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

One of each, or doubled up?

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Are you referring to the comment about the 4 switches or the wires in the plastic box?

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

God knows, one of my properties has a switch next to every socket in the house, but it doesn't turn any of the sockets off!?! Its got an electrical safety certificate so who knows. Maybe its a practical joke among electricians? :D

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

To the wires themselves. If there are only one of each, it sounds like a spur to which you can attach an external item like a fire. If the wires are doubled (2 in each connection point) it would probably be a ring main, but if the red wires are on 2 separate connectors it would be a switch point feeding something elsewhere.

---------- Post added at 13:12 ---------- Previous post was at 13:06 ----------

This is typical installation for an electric fire cabled output.

http://www.diyfixit.co.uk/electrics/...tion-unit.html

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Check this about half way down, looks similar? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_heater

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Wouldn't there be a separate circuit on the consumer unit if it were a ring main? Maybe there's a clue on one of the breakers.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

If it is on the ring, it would be protected by a circuit typically called "downstairs sockets" which would, of course, protect all downstairs sockets.

The same circuit breaker would also protect any spurs off that ring.

There should be many "rings" in modern builds (upstairs sockets, downstairs sockets, upstairs lighting, downstairs lighting, etc., with specific circuit breakers for showers, cookers, etc.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

I love playing Cable Forum Bingo!

House!


That's EXACTLY what we have. When I originally opened it up, I didn't spot the extra three terminals to connect the appliance too.

I guess we need an electrician to cut of the plug off and then wire it up into this socket?

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Lee, it's a simple enough job for DIY, just turn off the power, cut the plug off your fire and wire up to the empty terminals

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Yeah - I know - but there's only so much you can do regarding electrical regulations now. I think you only thing Joe Public could do was wire a plug.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Personally I would do it myself, not much can go wrong.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

The regs don't prevent you doing the job yourself, they just say that if you do it, you have to do it to the same standard as a qualified electrician.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

I really want to fish the cable through the wall into the back plate to make it all nice and neat. I could do it - the wife wants an electrician to do it!

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Using a qualified electrician has one advantage: insurance cover might not be negated in the event of an electrical fire.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

IIRC even where the work is notifiable you can do it yourself but it has to be checked and signed off by a certified electrician. So you could do the work and get someone round to check it but I'm not sure you'd save much money.

Re: Lounge Fireplace
 

Under IET regulations, you are allowed to do it