aAsk a Tradesman

I want to put in lights in my garden but we don't have an external electrical socket. Wondering if it's acceptable to run outdoor lighting from an internal electricity source. What are the regulations for outdoor lighting?

Hi - can someone please clarify for me the "regulations" about putting downlighters in kitchens and bathrooms because I am totally confused getting conflicting information that there is some kind of "special" more highly rated downlighter which we should now be using ! I am sure we have nothing "extra ordinary" in both our kitchen and bathroom but as I want to instal new downlighters in my mother's property in Kent I would appreciate the definitive view ! Also do I need a "registered electrician" to do this work now or is it still a DIY job ? There are currently no downlighters in my mother's house so I guess it would need new wiring - hence I may need a qualified electrician perhaps ? Very grateful for any info you can pass on. I don't want to fall foul of any legislation or regulations as the property is going to be rented out. Thank you.

Our old shower is a Mira 8.78 advance ATL (I'd assume 8.78kw but the label doesn't actually say). We're looking for a new replacement electric shower and hope to replace it with a 9kw as we don't want the hassle (and extra cost) of fitting a 10mm cable. (This one we think http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/9kw-white-chrome-3298-16348.)

As this is the first time I've had to buy a shower I have no idea what is or how to check a fuse rating... how do I do this and how do I know if the new shower can just be put in without any other problems? Is there anything else I need to consider?

Thanks for your help!

I should add to recent answers that no I am not intending to do the work myself, however I need enough information to first buy the replacement shower. I do not want to purchase it only then to realise that I can't afford to install it!

Also if the old shower is an 8.78kw then surely I should already have a 10mm cable and RCD fitted? We have a separate switch in the old boiler room (next to the bsthroom) that turns the power to the shower off completely. The wire to which is over 1cm wide. Is that then a 10mm cable?

I need some extra ceiling lighting, maybe wall lights and one or two extra sockets in a bedroom. I have asked for quotes for this, combined with re-plastering. I have had responses from people experienced in electrical work, but without qualifications/registration. Is it important that the person doing this is qualified/registered? What should I be looking for?

Hi guys

I recently had my house completely re-wired but after the same tradesmen bodged up on other work around the house, we went our separate ways and i never received an electric certifcate for the work they carried out.

What are my options now in order to obtain one and how much would this cost. I am in a 2 bedroom masionette.

Thanks

I am about to leave the Royal Navy and have done some electrical courses as part of retraining package.

ECS Health & Safety
EAl Domestic Installer
C&G 2382 17th Edition
C&G 2391 Testing and Inspection

I am after some work experience, coming along to help out on jobs and happy for unpaid work as I am still getting paid by the navy.

I am in Liverpool City Centre and happy to travel up to about 10 miles.

I just need to consolidate my learning and gain experience.

I am a quick, diligent, and trustworthy and am hoping someone can help out.

Thank you

We had a range cooker, new trip box by a company I found through Rated People, the electrican has never supplied any paperwork or certificates.
I dont have the name of the electrical as he was sent to do the work by the contractor.
We have tried many times to contact the contractor and have reported them to the company, Rated People but still no certificate or contact.
The work was done in May 2011 and we have been trying ever since to get the paperwork.
Is there anything we can do about it without paying another electrical to certify the work?
Thank you
Regards
Lynne

I would just like to say a big thank you to all the tradesperson who replied to my problem! You have all been most helpful.

About 12 months ago I had a new domestic fuse box installed. This does have a trip switch as an electric shower was fitted at the same time. Recently I have had a new kitchen installed and that required some extra sockets. When their electrician came to sign off the job he said that I had no RCD protection and that the 'tails' were smaller than they should be. I went back to my original electrician and explained all this who says that given that I only have a 2 bedroom house that the tails are quite sufficient - 16mll instead of 25 and earth 10ml instead of 16ml. Is this a fact? I don't want to have to spend out another lot of money if what I have is more that up to standard.

The extractor fan in our bathroom (1st floor flat) drips in cold weather. So far we have tried:

1) Fitting a new extractor. It died within 4 weeks due to the water coming through it.
2) Lagging the duct pipe up in the loft.
3) Investigating the duct pipe up in the loft to ensure it's not blocked.
4) Replacing the grille at the end of the vent on the outside wall (this had fallen off).

None of this has worked. Every person that comes to look at the problem suggests something different, and I'm now at the point where I feel I'm just throwing good money after bad as nothing's worked.

The point at which the fan exits the bathroom ceiling is lower than where the duct exits the building, so there has to be a rise on the duct pipe somewhere in order to reach the exit - it currently goes up from the fan diagonally about 4 feet before then travelling horizontally alongexiting the building.

It's now been suggested that we should consider f removing all the existing plastic ducting in the loft , replacing it with flexible ducting and an in-line fan, so that we can create a rise in the ducting down towards the exit. But I am concerned that we are still going to have to raise the ducting at some point to reach up to the exit , and therefore we will still get condensation coming back down towards the bathroom.

The thing that's really throwing me about all this is that about 5-6 years ago, we never had any drip problem. The only thing that's changed in that time is that we've had 2 new extractor fans fitted!

Can anyone possibly shed any light on this? I'm beginning to think this is an unsolvable problem!!

Thanks