Electrical requlations question.

[ThunderPants73]

I'm looking to fit an immersion heater timer. The timer would fit in the airing cupboard in the bathroom where the heater is. The timer would be replacing the current on/off switch. Do I need an electrician to do this, or am I allowed to do it myself? I don't understand all the rules and regulations.

Thanks

You don't have to use an electrician, but you do have to do the job to regulation standards.

[ThunderPants73]

Originally Posted by Chris

You don't have to use an electrician, but you do have to do the job to regulation standards.

Which means what, exactly?

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by ThunderPants73

Which means what, exactly?

The electrical regulations are at :-

http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/hse.htm

^ This. You need to use to wiring rated for the load, you have to use appropriate colours for Live and Neutral, sleeving on the earth wire, and more. Have a look at Ken's link.

[heero_yuy]

And be very very sure that you've isolated the circuit in question, ideally by setting the master switch on the distribution board (fuse box) to off.

[Taf]

Part P of the Building Regulations and BS7671 (the "Wiring Regulations").
Later revisions of part P (latest is 2013) retain the requirement to work to an appropriate standard, but have relaxed the requirements on both certification and notification for many more types of minor works, and crucially also permit a member of an approved body to inspect and 'sign off' notifiable aspects of any work of a third party such as DIYer whose work is of a suitable standard. This is intended to free up local authorities, who often do not have suitably qualified building control staff themselves. Due to uncertainty about who then becomes be responsible for any hidden wiring, very few electricians are happy to sign off an installation that they have not been party to from the outset, and been able to agree stages to inspect and test before any covering in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electri...United_Kingdom

[LondonRoad]

Are you using the existing cabling. If so it should already conform to all necessary regulations and requirements. Basically all you are doing is replacing one type of switch (manual) with another kind (timer).

Connections on the timer should be clearly labelled so should be no more difficult than changing a plug

[ThunderPants73]

I'm using the existing cables that are wired into the on/off switch. I shall be cutting the power at the fuse box, and as a double precaution, also switching off the power switch located in the kitchen.

Thanks guys.

[raging bull]

I used to make a habit of placing removed fuses into my overall pockets.
Why not disconnect/remove existing isolation switch and reuse wiring for timer?
Most timers have a selection switch marked timed/continuous even an off position.

[LondonRoad]

Originally Posted by ThunderPants73

I'm using the existing cables that are wired into the on/off switch. I shall be cutting the power at the fuse box, and as a double precaution, also switching off the power switch located in the kitchen.

Thanks guys.

Should be straightforward. Immerser switch should be double poled (i.e. both the live and neutral are broken by the switch) so just ensure you mark the existing cables when you remove them. (A little bit of masking tape, easy to mark and easy to remove).

Connect the cables into the corresponding connections on the timer switch.

[ThunderPants73]

Should be okay with the wire markings, the supply cable is gray with black neutral, red live, bare earth, immersion wiring is blue neutral, brown live and green earth.

[rhyds]

One thing to remember is that there must be a local means of isolation (i.e. an actual "off" switch), or so I was told when I put a "one button" immersion heater timer in, so I left the original fused connection unit in place.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by rhyds

One thing to remember is that there must be a local means of isolation (i.e. an actual "off" switch), or so I was told when I put a "one button" immersion heater timer in, so I left the original fused connection unit in place.

^^ Yes, keep the original fused switched outlet in place as it may be a spur off the local ringmain rather than a dedicated circuit and needs local protection.