Off the wagon... Need advice

[32sparks]

Morning all. Newbie here but sure I'll keep a finger on the pulse now I've joined the forum.

I was a self employed sparky for about 8 years. I sold all my test gear and packed in 5 years ago to pursue my passion of music... Sadly though, I've fallen off the wagon due to a new house purchase and just bought an old MFT on ebay for peanuts. Not calibrated mind you, but I aren't too bothered.

Anyway waffling done,
As stated above, I've just bought my first house and am looking to have a wonderful festive break of rewiring and replastering the 90yr old beauty of a deathtrap I am going to be calling home for the next few decades. I'm a bit out of the game these days with what's new and fancy and what's the next s*** fad that won't last.

So lads and ladies... I am here simply to ask you (still suffering) sages of the sparky world what is worth spending my money on. It's a 3 bed semi, with garden and a separate garage.

I'm going to be fully rewiring the lot so throw in any suggestions to add to my list.

Thanks in avance

- a reluctantly dragged out of retirement sparky (masquerading as a musician)

 

[Deleted member 9648]

LED lighting...Collingwood, Integral, Aurora are good. Avoid cheap Screwfix etc, false economy. Crabtree starbreaker amd 3 DB with RCBO's. Nothing much has changed in 5 yrs mate. Just avoid cheap stuff same as then, and don't forget the amd 3 requirements for non combustible DB's.
How are you planning register the job with BC?

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

And you absolutely must get your test kit calibrated or your tests will be invalid.

Have fun

 

[Octopus]

RCBO board is a must

 

[Midwest]

Smoke alarms. Specific requirements for the kitchen if you have no current plans, perhaps pull in separate cables for use later. As your rewiring, think about the positioning of the CU.

Echo those thoughts on calibration & compliance

 

[FatAlan]

Don’t forget your network cabling and any other AV hard wire techie stuff you may or may not be into.

 

[Octopus]

2 way switching for hall and landing...

 

[SJD]

If I was rewiring my house, I'd put in cabling for some emergency lighting plus test key switches, since a power cut or two a year has been the norm here.

 

[Octopus]

Fridge and / or freezer on dedicated radials - on MCB's - no RCD protection

 

[32sparks]

Don’t forget your network cabling and any other AV hard wire techie stuff you may or may not be into.

This is more the vein of what I was asking about. What's hot new tech that I won't have heard of?

Thanks for the heads up on the non combustible DBs too. Hadn't read the ammendments yet. I was 17th edition last I worked with no ammendments up to that point. Seems to have mixed reactions from what I've read this morning. What do you guys feel about it? I wouldn't mind myself if I were still working. Can see the problems with wholesalers getting stiffed on stock though.

As a stickler for compliance, I still have many contacts within the industry. All my work will be compliant with regs and certified by a competent person. Yes I will get the mft calibrated. Just amazed that I've managed to get a functional (if not a little dated) tester for the price.

Thanks for all your input so far all.

 

[32sparks]

Smoke alarms. Specific requirements for the kitchen if you have no current plans, perhaps pull in separate cables for use later. As your rewiring, think about the positioning of the CU.

Echo those thoughts on calibration & compliance

Yes thanks. I already have a handful of extra cables to run in mind for future use. Additional lighting on landing and stairs for night use. Potential underfloor heating upgrades if I ever renovate the bathroom. Some circuits for the attic when I eventually board that out. Hadn't thought about it until now but just added emergency lighting to that list and the things I haven't thought about yet etc. The consumer unit is currently in the kitchen which is OK so I'll probably leave it there as moving it to where I would ideally like it means paying for about 20km of tails I'd rather not run via the crawl space under the house.

 

[Squid]

As above and heat detector for kitchen, network cabling to a central point where the Internet hardware is to be located and space for a NAS, patch panel and anything else.

You like your music so maybe Sonos or something similar maybe ceiling speakers etc etc also don't forget about the man cave ANA "The Garage" power for beer fridge and pin ball table a must.

Newer stuff, trimless LED fitting, stair lights etc

What did you do music wise out of interest.

Trimless and stair lights,

 

[Squid]

And another one PIR low level lighting for bathrooms for the night time visits,

 

[32sparks]

As above and heat detector for kitchen, network cabling to a central point where the Internet hardware is to be located and space for a NAS, patch panel and anything else.

You like your music so maybe Sonos or something similar maybe ceiling speakers etc etc also don't forget about the man cave ANA "The Garage" power for beer fridge and pin ball table a must.

Newer stuff, trimless LED fitting, stair lights etc

What did you do music wise out of interest.

Trimless and stair lights,View attachment 39629View attachment 39630

Lovely install. I am looking at low light stair lights but going to have to fit them on the stair uprights rather than the sides which might cause some mild annoyance when walking up them. So need to investigate that. My other thoughts were a dim LED strip along the sides but I don't want it to look like a landing strip at MEN.

I quit sparking to teach. I'm a well graded Muso so I make my coin these days by private tuition through an established local music school and a bit of private work. I teach mostly Guitar and Bass. However I also do Piano, Mandolin, Banjo, Ukulele and a handful of other strings. Subsidised by a few cover bands here and there too. I do have an original band that net's us a whopping £6.50 on average a year through Spotify. Bet you feel star-struck now eh...
The money isn't as good as sparking was, but it is still a solid wage and I have a lot less sleepless nights future proofing my income. I also don't miss having to chase invoices from all over the country. It's a career I do miss though. The fault finding when you nail a tricky issue, or when you power up a huge install for the first time after tests and bask in the glory of being a god of electricity. Honestly though, I miss opening a nightmare board, stripping it to component parts, moving the main breakers and RCDs and then leaving a job with a lovely, tidy, well marked distribution board that you want to photograph and frame above the fireplace. Ah the joys.

Again thanks all for the input so far all.

I think the emergency lighting is the one I have overlooked. Never even considered it, but I'll probably run at least 2 or 3 now just for the sake of it.
And indeed, the speakers were on my list. Not sure whether to use sonos (my friend has one and I love it) or to run some other Bluetooth setup or WiFi speakers.

Either way I'm excited to get designing a cool rewire. Found one of the sockets with old tin alloy cables and cracked annealed rubber cable sheathing. Lovely jubbley.

 

[Squid]

To be honest I wouldn't bother about emergency lighting as houses have enough ambient light to see your way around.

My install was done by another electrician as if was a flat rebuild that I did, you can integrate an LED strip to the underside of a handrail on the stairs or there are other options.

Led's for under cupboard lighting, multiple sockets in comms/office lots to think about, the design part is the fun part.

I like you also quit sparking but back in the late 80's early 90's when the UK building trade nose dived and went into data cabling then IT, I have an interest in music as well after spending a good few years at EMI and then Virgin, the free beer, parties, VIP passes and loose women can become addictive.

 

[32sparks]

To be honest I wouldn't bother about emergency lighting as houses have enough ambient light to see your way around.

My install was done by another electrician as if was a flat rebuild that I did, you can integrate an LED strip to the underside of a handrail on the stairs or there are other options.

Led's for under cupboard lighting, multiple sockets in comms/office lots to think about, the design part is the fun part.

I like you also quit sparking but back in the late 80's early 90's when the UK building trade nose dived and went into data cabling then IT, I have an interest in music as well after spending a good few years at EMI and then Virgin, the free beer, parties, VIP passes and loose women can become addictive.

Haha yeah. I've worked through MTV a fair bit in my time too. Wrap parties and launch parties we're always terrible. Ending up in a producers flat until 8am the next day along with a load of terrible characters. Fun times indeed. Glad I've grown up though now haha.

What was your role at the labels then?

 

[DPG]

Fridge and / or freezer on dedicated radials - on MCB's - no RCD protection

Assuming the wiring doesn't need RCD protection.

 

[Squid]

What was your role at the labels then?

Number 1 blagger.

I worked in IT so circulated in all departments, my boss was majorly annoyed when I bounded up the stairs of the Astoria at the "private" Radiohead gig as the A+R's PA sorted me out a ticket at the last minute.

My finest moment was getting 6 free tickets for Glastonbury 1999 and back stage camping, if you have the poster you can see my tent lol......

Oh apart from shagging Van Morrisons PA on a bean bag..........

 

[32sparks]

Number 1 blagger.

I worked in IT so circulated in all departments, my boss was majorly annoyed when I bounded up the stairs of the Astoria at the "private" Radiohead gig as the A+R's PA sorted me out a ticket at the last minute.

My finest moment was getting 6 free tickets for Glastonbury 1999 and back stage camping, if you have the poster you can see my tent lol......

Oh apart from shagging Van Morrisons PA on a bean bag..........

She wasn't called GLORIA by any chance? Haha. Sounds like a fun chapter of life.

 

[Octopus]

Assuming the wiring doesn't need RCD protection.

My house, who cares ..

 

[Squid]

Being wasted on the way back from the pub watching England in the World Cup (2 in the afternoon) I met the the PA of the Boss of Virgin on the bridge over the GU canal and got introduced to some bloke and after I shook his hand and had a chat, as I was walking away I was just about to ask "who are you" then I realised it was David Bowie, funny as I ended up working with him on a webchat a few weeks later.

 

[Squid]

She wasn't called GLORIA by any chance? Haha. Sounds like a fun chapter of life.

Who gives a ---- naked on a bean bag in a flat in Clapham...........

Massive Attack party in South London was fun.........

 

[Squid]

She wasn't called GLORIA by any chance? Haha. Sounds like a fun chapter of life.

We all have have chapters in our lives but I have seriously ended up in some classic moments and many won't believe me but the people that know me just say, oh well thats Stefan for you.

Don't ask me about William Orbits birthday party at China Whites...........

 

[Squid]

Oh and lets get back to re wiring your house.............

 

[Squid]

Another one, security if you have any expensive instruments or fancy a classic car in the garage.......

 

[Dave Rudderham]

And you absolutely must get your test kit calibrated or your tests will be invalid.

Have fun

Yup, if you test meter isn't calibrated you may as well just guess the results

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

The latest fad is wireless switching and smart stuff where the switches are placed where ever takes your fancy but the are receivers linked to lights with a permanent live feed. The MK echo range is about the only decent thing MK seem to make these days. you can control via the switches or remotes. I think they are making a app for the echo range too.

 

[Des 56]

Where are you going to site your recording studio ?
The electrics in there can be sorted whilst your at it

 

[32sparks]

The latest fad is wireless switching and smart stuff where the switches are placed where ever takes your fancy but the are receivers linked to lights with a permanent live feed. The MK echo range is about the only decent thing MK seem to make these days. you can control via the switches or remotes. I think they are making a app for the echo range too.

I'll have a look into this. Wasn't sure about wireless. I know it will be common place, I'm just a sucker for a sturdy hard wired job. Reviews seem to be good mind you. Thanks for the input.
I'm really pleased with the forum experience so far. Thanks all

 

[32sparks]

Where are you going to site your recording studio ?
The electrics in there can be sorted whilst your at it

Not too sure yet. I fancy the garage obviously. The drive is big enough for both cars without needing it and it was always going to be a viable teaching space for me anyway to work from home. Looking at the reality though, I suspect it has asbestos concrete roofing so my initial thoughts are to hang fire on that for now until I can get my mate and his team to come demolish it for a hefty fee and then build me a new one.
As I keep stating, thanks for the replies all. You're a good bunch

 

[marconi]

Plan and fit pairs of double/triples sockets so that you always have one outlet free for use. If you or family members are older think about higher sockets to avoid bending down too much. Outside sockets front and back. Security lighting and its control - eg: remote wirelessly switched? Leave plenty of spare ways in CU. Electric towel rails for drying towels in summer when CH is off. Internal night lights for low-level safety lighting.

 

[jcs8215248]

What about provision for external or internal CCTV? I am looking into that at the moment.

Either CAT5 network cable or coax. Both seem to have advantages but I will probably go for CAT5 with power over Ethernet.

 

[Squid]

What about provision for external or internal CCTV? I am looking into that at the moment.

Either CAT5 network cable or coax. Both seem to have advantages but I will probably go for CAT5 with power over Ethernet.

CAT 5 will do and just add a POE switch or a 4 or 8 channel NVR/DVR with POE included but to be honest I'd rather a separate POE switch and a networked recorded hidden away.

 

[JustLooking]

Suggest any Electric Towel Rails are all wired on a dedicated radial circuit from the CU and incorporate a timer & contactor in the CU to control them (e.g. avoids wasting energy overnight). Also suggest any outside sockets have a dedicated RCBO in the CU (outside sockets + water ingress = avoids losing any inside services). Agree with each fridge and/or freezer on dedicated radials with individual RCD/RCBO protection for each one. Try to source timers / programmable thermostats that will automatically adjust when the clocks go forward/back (some do, some don't). If you're putting electrics in the loft space, consider putting a smoke alarm up there with remote test & remote silence facility.