By Chris Chambers
Hot
dimmer switch! Somebody asked me today why a particular dimmer switch in
their house gets very hot. The IET wiring regulations allow
non-metallic parts that are intended to be touched (but not hand-held)
to be no hotter than 80deg C - so the hot dimmer switch could be normal.
However, any appliance cannot withstand infinite energy passing through
it thus a dimmer is rated to a maximum wattage eg
250W. So 8 x 40W GU10 lamps (in an array of downlighters for example)
would exceed the capacity of a 250W switch. Prolonged heat in electrical
parts can, over time, break down the insulation and ultimately cause
dangerous shorting and potential fires. Check that you're not
overloading your dimmer switches. Incidentally modern dimmers work in a
very clever way - more about that some other time!
For more electrical information visit: www.wigglies.co.uk
Chris Chambers is the owner of Proudhouse Property LLP and Wigglies - Electrical Services. Creating and developing innovative homes in Somerset and South West England.
www.proudhouseproperty.co.uk
Showing posts with label RCD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RCD. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Sunday, 10 March 2013
The devil is in the detail.
By Chris Chambers
An acquaintance of mine recently bought a property in Dorset - a nice 1950's semi in a nice market town. It needs a bit of love but it is what I would regard as a fairly standard refurb (get a skip, get a crowbar, remove everything, plaster, install new electrics/boiler/kitchen/bathroom, decorate, paint the front door, neaten up the garden... Done). Sounds straightforward but of course it isn't - the real skill is being able to co-ordinate tradesman, timescales, stay on budget and create a home at the same time. As a Part P registered business, Proudhouse Property and Wigglies Electrical Services have been employed as the electrical contractor and this project highlights the need for good project management - it is really important to have a firm grip on what needs to be done and when - are you happy to have new surface mounted electrical sockets installed in a utility room before the plasterers have visited? Similarly, if you have a plasterer visiting to skim a room then be careful with your preparation and arrange for who is going to do what - and plasterers will plaster around (and not behind) any obstacles so make sure that absolutely everything is off the walls - sockets, curtain rails, cupboards, architrave, skirting etc. The boiler fitter will want to make his life easy and fit the boiler where he can easily get a gas supply, vent, and electrical supply to the boiler as well as water pipes - so if that location is in the kitchen then will that work with the kitchen design? Would a bit more effort and time (and a bit more money probably) get the boiler to another location (such as the utility room) and be a worthwhile endeavour? Afterall, you'll use the kitchen many times a day - the boiler will hardly ever get interacted with so why locate it in your most used room if you don't have to? There are many more examples of little details that need to be thought through but won't be considered by the tradesman; it is a sad fact that the majority of tradesman are simply interested in completing what they've been asked to do and then getting paid - so good communication is key to getting it right! The tradesman, although arguably in a very experienced position to do so, will not do a lot of the thinking for you. My advice, having been in the clients shoes on many occasions, is to not congratulate yourself on rapid progress until you're 100% confident that the order of work is logical and the outcome is going to be something you're happy to live with - and if it's not then stop and rethink! The tradesman work for you, not the other way round. A good project manager, whether that's the home-owner or an employed professional, should help create a home, not merely manage a process of refurbishment.
I recently went back to the house concerned and my client has done a great job! A few headaches along the way but patience and a few re-visits from some of the not-so-helpful tradesman have all paid off.
Chris Chambers is the owner of Proudhouse Property Management and Wigglies Electrical Services. Creating exciting and innovative homes.
www.wigglies.co.uk
www.proudhouseproperty.co.uk
www.facebook.com/wigglies
An acquaintance of mine recently bought a property in Dorset - a nice 1950's semi in a nice market town. It needs a bit of love but it is what I would regard as a fairly standard refurb (get a skip, get a crowbar, remove everything, plaster, install new electrics/boiler/kitchen/bathroom, decorate, paint the front door, neaten up the garden... Done). Sounds straightforward but of course it isn't - the real skill is being able to co-ordinate tradesman, timescales, stay on budget and create a home at the same time. As a Part P registered business, Proudhouse Property and Wigglies Electrical Services have been employed as the electrical contractor and this project highlights the need for good project management - it is really important to have a firm grip on what needs to be done and when - are you happy to have new surface mounted electrical sockets installed in a utility room before the plasterers have visited? Similarly, if you have a plasterer visiting to skim a room then be careful with your preparation and arrange for who is going to do what - and plasterers will plaster around (and not behind) any obstacles so make sure that absolutely everything is off the walls - sockets, curtain rails, cupboards, architrave, skirting etc. The boiler fitter will want to make his life easy and fit the boiler where he can easily get a gas supply, vent, and electrical supply to the boiler as well as water pipes - so if that location is in the kitchen then will that work with the kitchen design? Would a bit more effort and time (and a bit more money probably) get the boiler to another location (such as the utility room) and be a worthwhile endeavour? Afterall, you'll use the kitchen many times a day - the boiler will hardly ever get interacted with so why locate it in your most used room if you don't have to? There are many more examples of little details that need to be thought through but won't be considered by the tradesman; it is a sad fact that the majority of tradesman are simply interested in completing what they've been asked to do and then getting paid - so good communication is key to getting it right! The tradesman, although arguably in a very experienced position to do so, will not do a lot of the thinking for you. My advice, having been in the clients shoes on many occasions, is to not congratulate yourself on rapid progress until you're 100% confident that the order of work is logical and the outcome is going to be something you're happy to live with - and if it's not then stop and rethink! The tradesman work for you, not the other way round. A good project manager, whether that's the home-owner or an employed professional, should help create a home, not merely manage a process of refurbishment.
I recently went back to the house concerned and my client has done a great job! A few headaches along the way but patience and a few re-visits from some of the not-so-helpful tradesman have all paid off.
Chris Chambers is the owner of Proudhouse Property Management and Wigglies Electrical Services. Creating exciting and innovative homes.
www.wigglies.co.uk
www.proudhouseproperty.co.uk
www.facebook.com/wigglies
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