Punch

The actual decision will be forthcoming soon after the next ECOFIN meeting of EU member states which is on the 6th December and not the 15th. Apparently, there has to be a unanimous acceptance by the other member states before France is (legally) allowed to continue with the lower rate. Apparently There are two countries who seem to be very much against France, from memory they are Austria and Germany. I think the UK are protesting somewhat too ! As Val2 said , all businesses including ours are campaigning via our local CAPEB branches for the rate to remain, otherwise this will spell disaster for the construction industry in France. I will keep you posted as soon as I have further info. Steph -  good luck with your hubby's registration - the problem is that France would love to continue the rate for the reasons you have stated , but the decision is not in their hands. Paul  

No problem Tony, I have sent you an email with the info you require, Regards, Paul  

[quote]I found myself a freelance consultant. He was incredibly proffessional and didn't cost the earth. He charged me £295.00 for the set up and domain creation ( he even gave me a choice of domain names ba...[/quote] This posting has been voluntarily deleted by Punch.

Have a look at this site. They offer a complete service including hosting and have what seems an excellent free programme for website building. http://www.bluevoda.com/ Paul

[quote]QUESTION, NOT EXPLANATION – DON’T DO WHAT THIS POST SAYS AS I’M ASKING IF IT IS CORRECT AND NOT SAYING HOW TO DO IT.Interesting. Never thought it possible before but my logic makes me think that the ...[/quote] My post is correct. I connected one of these switches up yesterday. The only thing is that I called it a commutator - It is actually called a permutateur in my Alombard catalogue. The reference of the switch is ALOMBARD 82054 . They have four sets of terminals diagonally linked (just like an intermediate switch does in the UK). I'm sure if i looked in my legrand catalogue I would find a simlilar type of switch. As I said, they are not commonly used but are a good alternative to the other poussoir method of wiring multi -position switching. I've been working with the French regs for nearly 16 years now, so do know what I am talking about Paul

Three, four five ..... or as many switching as you like is perfectly possible in France. There are two ways to do it; 1. Using an intermediate  (uk terms) switch, (called a commutator in France). You need to have four wires at any intermediate switch, which are efectively the 2 way strapper wires that you would normally get between a va et vient . Even some French electricians I have met do not know how to wire these properly, and therfore use the method of telerupteur and spring loaded push switches (see below); 2. Using a telerupteur and spring loaded push switches. This method is more popular in France but the poussoir switches often jam up and telerupteur contacts often fail too. Advantages are that you only need two wires at each switch. Switches are parellel wired. Both methods have their pros and cons, for instance one of my clients didn't want to hear the telerupteur click at night so we changed the wiring for two way and intermediate, without a telerupteur. For a domestic situation with three switches, I would suggest method 1, and for staircase lighting in an HLM , I would use method 2. I am not sure what Anton means that these are outside of the wiring regulations. My understanding is that all wiring using basse tension ie; up to 1000 volts comes under the NF C 15-100 ? Perhaps he could expalin further Paul      

It's a common misconception that the French health care system is free or "cheap". It is certainly better in some respects but worse in others, than the UK.  My annual cotisations into the French healthcare scheme are more than double the cost of the best BUPA scheme that I could have in the UK. Some people pay less some people pay more of course, but the French system has to be paid for and I wonder how many people here pay 8% of their earnings into the healthcare. Paul 

[quote]Hi Gary,We are currently in the middle of a massive renovation project and we are doing most of it our selves. I can't answer many of your questions, but I do know that in France the electrics must h...[/quote] We are currently in the middle of a massive renovation project and we are doing most of it our selves. I can't answer many of your questions, but I do know that in France the electrics must have an EDF certificate. ths means that the work either has to be carried out by a EDF registered electrician or by yourself and then checked by an EDF eletrician to be given the appropriate certificate. I think the same hing applies with plumbing but not roofing. Not quite...........May I offer a few corrections? The EDF may ask for a certificate issued by the Consuel who are a seperate inspectorate body. Often this certificate is required on some renovation works and all new works. The EDF will often not connect you unless you have this "attestation de conformité" The work does not have to be carried out by an "EDF registered eclectrician" (Whatever one of those is!" ) I am often recommened by the EDF but not registered with them. There is no requirement of this sort for plumbing works. However, gas works require a certificate. Paul Mayenne Renovations (53)      

[quote]Hi Gary,We are currently in the middle of a massive renovation project and we are doing most of it our selves. I can't answer many of your questions, but I do know that in France the electrics must h...[/quote] We are currently in the middle of a massive renovation project and we are doing most of it our selves. I can't answer many of your questions, but I do know that in France the electrics must have an EDF certificate. ths means that the work either has to be carried out by a EDF registered electrician or by yourself and then checked by an EDF eletrician to be given the appropriate certificate. I think the same hing applies with plumbing but not roofing. Not quite...........May I offer a few corrections? The EDF may ask for a certificate issued by the Consuel who are a seperate inspectorate body. Often this certificate is required on some renovation works and all new works. The EDF will often not connect you unless you have this "attestation de conformité" The work does not have to be carried out by an "EDF registered eclectrician" (Whatever one of those is!" ) I am often recommened by the EDF but not registered with them. There is no requirement of this sort for plumbing works. However, gas works require a certificate. Paul Mayenne Renovations (53)      

[quote]Hi Gary,We are currently in the middle of a massive renovation project and we are doing most of it our selves. I can't answer many of your questions, but I do know that in France the electrics must h...[/quote]   Not quite...........May I offer a few corrections? The EDF may ask for a certificate issued by the Consuel who are a seperate inspectorate body. Often this certificate is required on some renovation works and all new works. The EDF will often not connect you unless you have this "attestation de conformité" The work does not have to be carried out by an "EDF registered eclectrician" (Whatever one of those is!" ) I am often recommened by the EDF but not registered with them. There is no requirement of this sort for plumbing works. However, gas works require a certificate. Paul Mayenne Renovations (53)      

Val Have you not recently seen the new contract employment laws CNE (contrat nouvelles embauches) which have been made much more favourable for employers. Before the new laws it was difficult to lay off workers, but now I believe you can do so quite easily with standard notice. They have only been in for a month or so I believe and were, brought in to help companies who had taken on employees and then through no fault of their own had problems due to recession, loss of clients etc. They will also boost employent as companies (including mine) will be less afraid to take on new employees for the very reasons you state. The government said they would rather give more freedom to employers rather than see more companies go bust through reasons beyond their control. There is also more good news with the new cheque emploi system for very small businesses with maximum five employees such as ours. The new CNE contrats are CDI for two years and are simple for both employee and employer to terminate fairly. By the way, did you get my PM the other day in reply to yours? Paul  

Nick and VJ;  I may be wrong, but I am sure I seem to remember seeing this regulation about only one set of wires leaving a disjoncteur or fuse. I've had a brief look through my regs but have yet to find it, so it could have been a Promotolec recommendation. I know tghat it definetely applies to the outgoing consumers terminals on the EDF disjonteur differentielle, where only one set of wires are allowed. In practise, when I have brought two feeds on the same circuit back to the tableau electrique, I always make any connections in the back of the fuseboard itself rather than in the disjoncteur terminals so that it is clear what wires are the primary feeds leaving the duisjonteur. I alwys think it is bad practise when I see bunches of lives or neutrals in the same disjonteur, especially sometimes when there maybe three neutrals in one side and two lives inn the other; you never know if someone has borrowed a neutral. I have recently been to a Promotelec meeting with other French sparkies and am due to go to a Consuel soiree soon so will try to find out for good. Paul  

3)      Each interrupteur protects a single circuit Broadly speaking, yes, although there is nothing stopping you connecting (eg.) 2 lighting feeds to a single ID, provided you don't exceed the maximum number of fittings for the circuit.   Not quite I'm afraid  Nick. There should ever only be one set of wires (ie; phase and neutral) leaving an individual Disjoncteur, or fuse.   )      If it’s for prise confort (power sockets). It may supply 5 sockets if it’s 1.5 mm2 wire and 8 sockets if it is 2.5mm2 wire, (with a 16 A and 20 A interrupteur, respectively). Again, yes, although I would not bother with 1.5mm wire for power and limit the number of sockets on 2.5mm to 6. Doubles count as singles, so you can still have 12 sockets.   I would disagree here. In practise, this new regulation using 1.5 mm , can be a very a very useful one if the correct fuse/disjoncteur size is adhered to. A recent installation we carride out had seperate feeds to electric heaters in the bedrooms and they wanted sockets for bedside lamps and telephone points etc. By running a 1.5mm circuit for a few sockets in a bedroom , enabled us to use smaller gaine (16mm ) which just passed between some beams, and was easier to conceal in wall chasing. Anyone who has connected up French sockets using 2.5mm cables will appreciate it is much easier using 1.5mm cable!   For your last question no.7. Just to clarify. Lighting circuits can be daisy chained but only via the junction box mounted in the ceiling, often a DCL type connection box,  and not at the light fitting itself .   There is nothing to stop you connecting the sockets up via junction boxes, but this is not usual practice. sockets are usually looped directly. Any junctiion box for any circuit in France must be always easily accesible and enclosed in an appropriate NF type box.   Paul

The groupe de securité will not only "let by" or drip when it is heating the water, but will also drip continously if the water pressure is too high. There are no benefits to having water pressure higher than 3 bar in a normal domestic situation. A good idea is to fit a water pressure reducer. The Groupe de securité's often sold in brico's and or fitted by amateurs are mass produced and not always good quality. I always buy and fit a GDS with "siege inox" (stainless steel) type. If you look for these words on the box, these are more proffessionel, last longer and are less likely to fail early through scale or corrosion build up. It is also worth mentioning that di-electric connectrors should be used at the connections to the Chauffe eau to stop chemical reactions to dissimilar metals. these are readily available off the shelf. The drain valve on the GDS should be actioned once every three months or so to stop it clogging and will also help free up the calcaire. This is often written in the instructions. very few people do it, but it could prolong the life of the valve. Paul      

[quote]The poor artisans in France are on a hiding to nothing. The blxxdy government bleeds them and when they try and earn a decent wage they are told by clients that they are too expensive. I have fel...[/quote] I'm glad you've posted this TD, because it come at a time where we are wondering if it's really worth running a business here. After nearly eights years in operation I am finding the charges increasingly difficult, and with the competition from unregistered and black labour also increasing, and the amount of gardeners doing building works...........well; There is no incentive to expand a business here, as you are clobbered by increased social charges especially as I am an employer. Anyone thinking of starting up - here is a list of "Caisses" you might find you have to contribute to; URSSAF twice par trimestre for social payments and healthcare, AVA monthly, for obligatory pension and life cover, CCBO chaque trimestre, for holiday pay if you have employees, PROBTP for social charges:healthcover, ASSEDIC chaque trimestre, CRAM once a year, TAX d'apprentissage, Regime Obligatoire for healthcover, Regime complementaire for healthcover, OBLIGATORY 10 year DECENELLE insurance, TAX professionelle, IMPOTS sur la Revenue. Then there are something like 16 or so employers and employee deductions sur le bulletion de paies. I'm sure there are some I've missed out but all the above are on top of all the other charges or running a business, like vehicles, tools materials , office and telephone.  Thank goodness we have a full order book and it looks like TVA will remain at 5,5% for renovation next year! Paul      

[quote]We are now actual on the list to get ADSL this century - might only be a few months late but coming it is. Wanadoo only of course. Now, is it better to buy or pay monthly for the livebox and is it wo...[/quote] My first Livebox was temperamental and was changed by FT without a quibble. The new Livebox has changed slightly and the Wifi adapter and performance is much better. I prefer to rent (which was the only option when they first came out), as 3 euros a month is affordable. I Know you can buy them now, but if you know what the SAV is like in some stores, I wouldn't hedge your bets on getting a replacement - they would probably send it away for repair . I found FT do not even quibble and just give you a new one if it goes wrong. I have three Pc's connected via wifi , usb and ethernet - all work fine. As you probably know the Livebox can also be used for telephone and TV. Paul  

Yes Gay I agree. I also learnt and was surprised at how to pronounce "Noilly Prat"  (sp?)  Paul

Yes at the moment I see quite a few red ones as I drive to work most mornings. I'd never seen a red one in the wild until I moved to France. Conversely, I  took 66 French school children to the Uk 18 months ago, and whilst having our picnic in the Royal Obversatory Park grounds, we were surrounded by grey squirrels as you would imagine, looking for rich pickings from our lunch boxes. The French teachers and the kids were all amazed as they had never seen GREY squirrels and some didn't know they even existed !! Almost on par with the astonishment of the "Hot Jacket potato" sellers at Covent garden Paul        

Funny enough Emma, my "Outiror" catalogue ( Camion in village square), arrived this morning and it has "La presse a briquette" in it. Price is 13,99 euros. You wet them,then press them, allow them to dry and hey presto?? You can order by phone also; 0825 305 315 With the amount of logs we get through each winter I'd like to know what these are like,if anyone has ever bought one? Paul    

This free programme has been recommended to me. You can design and build a  site and play around with the software all for free, and you only need to pay to publish the site. http://www.bluevoda.com/ Paul  

Yes of course it is, as it is on any chauffe eau installation. It may be worth mentioning that dielectric connectors to stop corrosion and also a pressure reduction valve are recommended oftens. Paul

[quote]Couple of problems with installations that I am trying to do; I am trying to install a C-E in a location that prevents the use of a drain for the GdS "overflow". Can I use an expansion tank (in the c...[/quote] Forget all the long drills and big boys tools You have been led up the garden path a bit with well meant (but misguided) info. Plumbers have been installing expansion vessels in France for yonks where there is no possibility of draining off the groupe de securité; http://www.castorama.fr/boutique/sku/sku.jhtml?elementId=Casto551554&productId=CastoSA1104&_requestid=85434 Paul  

sorry, mistaken post!

Merci beacoup (thank you very much) is more formal if you like. Merci bien is more like "thanks a lot". That's how I have always seen it here. Paul  

My daughter has just started college in a Lycee way out of her catchment area. We looked at several colleges and have been accepted in the one of our choice which is a private college linked to a Lycée. They do "expect" children to attend the local colleges, public or otherwise, but I was told we have freedom of choice. Private and public are not the same as the definitions in the Uk of the same establishments. When we stated that she was going to a different college than her classmates from her école primaire it was given raised eyebrows all round. The Conseil General were involved regarding the prise en charge of the transport fees , which were refused by the way. I always thought that the schools made the decisons on who they accept and not the C.G, but obviously not in the public schools. Paul