Nick Trollope

I've done a few (including my own place). But, as Albert says, the cost depends on any number of factors. Get some devis from local Electricians. That apart, if your oil system is working and even with oil at $150/barrel, it willl take a long time to recover the cost of changing - despite the fact that electric heating is bound to be cheaper (per KwH) than oil soon (if it isn't already) and the price of electricity doesn't rise as quickly... Another point (that I always make to my customers) - before you think about installing any heating; Insulate, insulate, insulate....

[quote user="Helen"] The stoptap has been checked too so it isn't that either.  I agree it's probably a blockage - though am not sure how we would set about finding and fixing it. I guess the first thing is to call Veolia and check that the pressure is OK going into the meter.  [/quote] As the water companies interest ends at he meter, wouldn't you be better calling a plumber? He can check the pressure, which is likely to be alright if your neighbours water is OK.

I'd say 5.5%. But the final arbiters are your local Hotel des Impots - take his devis to them and get a descision in writing.

[quote user="J.Rs gone native"][quote user="geoff"][quote user="J.Rs gone native"] No real surprises there, as expected just a hollow menu structure with no real usefull information.[/quote]  But then again   Horses for courses but as the plumber said  (i am only a joiner) [/quote]   Quoi? [/quote] Yes, keep up and stick to the subject and no I didn't think you were referring to me.

[quote user="powerdesal"]What is an acceptable reading of earth resistance?  A site electrical engineer here told me that 0.5 ohms is ok but I want to confirm it as it seems a bit high to me. [/quote] Oh, I dunno, anything more than a fortnight?

[quote user="Le Plombier"]I have said this before and I will say it again I am glad that I am just a plumber Le Plombier [/quote] Perhaps we all are? No, sorry - I'll 'fess up to something - I registered as a plumber 'cos the girl at the Ch de M said I could (despite having no quals & little/no experience) - soon deregistered when I realised that whilst electricity hurts, water is cold and is much more destructive... And quite alot of it smells. Good luck to yer LP!

[quote user="J.Rs gone native"]26 replies (including this one) on the trollometer, will it get to 50?[/quote] Some of us should know better ........

[quote user="Anton Redman"] Now would one of you sanctimonious people like to post in detail about how you test the quality an earth with or without a MEGGAR [/quote] I doubt if a MEGGER would be much use in measuring earth resistance. I'd use (indeed I do use) an earth resistance tester, a specialist bit of kit, used for measuring earth resistance... Sanctimonious enough?

[quote user="tj"]Funnily enough i have just updated two fuse boards, and any electrician will tell you, is the devils job, not to drop a wire, put one in the place etc etc, its much easier to do a new installation, so I might advise you give it a miss unless your 100% sure you can complete it,,,,,,,,can imagine how an electrician will charge to put it right if you make mess of it. [/quote] Quite so. Get a neutral in the wrong place and nothing will happen until you plug something in, then the breaker goes. Nightmare to find. BTW, I've always reckoned that faulty plumbing is alot more destructive than faulty electrics; Electricty doesn't leak out of a (untouched) broken wire, water does! Then again, I hate plumbing, leaks always occur on the cold side...

To answer your questions, in order...... I have contacted EDF for an appointment for them to come out and give me a devis to have this changed to (hopefully) underground with the meter outside, as now seems to be the norm. If the meter is placed outside, is it then our responsibility to supply the connection from the house to the outside meter box. Yes. Your electrician, typically Yes thanks! Yes EDF are fairly quick to respond to most requests If it involves crossing a road, alot. Quite alot in any circumstances. The trend is towards buried cables, but don't assume that EDF will want to do the work. Discuss the problem with the guy who comes to see you, there may be (cheaper) alternatives. Why is the overhead a problem?

[quote user="sheldonrobbo"]and as long as they carry the CE mark they are ok for anywhere in EU [/quote] That is too sweeping a generalisation to be of any use, I'm afraid. The CE mark covers a whole range of things and applies only to the standards that are listed on the certificate that must accompany the goods. For example, a CE-marked cuddly toy is not covered by the low-voltage directive, but it will be to the appropriate toy standard - as stated on the certificate. Just because a UK socket (or light) is CE marked doesn't mean it can be used in France - the CE marking cannot apply to the French standard, because the pins (eg.) are wrong.... It would conform to the emissions limits however. The lamp probably would be legal to use in France, but you must check on the certificate. Been here before, haven't we?

[quote user="BIG MAC"]The bath waste running at full bore is effectively trying to syphon the water seal from the bottom of the toilet bowl as water runs away down one pipe it is creating a vacuum in the soil pipe which when the pressure has decreased sufficiently will suck a pocket of air through the water seal. Happens cost the French dont have soil vent pipes like we do.[/quote] Yes they do - they just ain't 100mm. As LeP will confirm, they are part of the norems.

[quote user="timc17"]If this is correct it will have a major impact on the construction industry (for renovations etc) and make non-residents and second homers think twice about purchasing old houses requiring work when they know they'll have to pay CGT on any value they add to their property. [/quote] Exactly the point my Notaire made. She says she has seen a significant decrease in the sale of properties for renovation & sale. The law is (I gather) a reinterperatation of the law that came into effect in 2006. It would appear that the law has always said that new work only is covered, our local Impots are redefining "new".

I had an interesting (and long) conversation with my Notaire yesterday. The jist of it was that the "new" law on CGT allowances - only invoices from registered Artisans were permitted to be offset against CGT liability - has been reinvented; Now only invoices for NEW building work can be used. She used the example of replacing single glazing with double. The building had windows before, so the new ones did not qualify. Likewise a rewire, where the property had electricity. And I've been telling my clients that a good reason to use a registered Artisan is the CGT benefits.... Anyone else know better?

[quote user="La Guerriere"]when I did our roof internals I went distinctly wobbly and fell off the stepladder. [/quote] So you were using a Vibrophone, Jim?

[quote user="strebor"]Nick, I suspect that you will have a 'deselecter' as part of the TR section of the GTL, this will cut of the supply to the water heater UFH and typically the washing machine if your consumption approaches 12KW. [/quote] I presume that this was meant for the OP, not me. This is, of course what I was alluding to in my posting above. Without the abreviations, of course....

[quote user="belu"]Hi Nick Our electricity is not yet connected to the house (new build) but the application form says 12 KVA - we do have all electric heating so should we be OK with the 6Kw hob?  Also, there is a 32A wall socket.  Thanks for your advice. [/quote] Probably. The maths is quite easy. Add up everything you are using (at one time) - 6Kw for the hob. 2.5Kw for the oven 1-2Kw for each heater etc and if the number exceeds 12 then the trip should go. There are techincal solutions for popping over-current trips, so you need never be plunged into darkness (in the middle of winter, in the middle of a dinner party). Why not use gas for the hob? Much better all round IMHO.

[quote user="Gluestick"]Still, as you say Le P, then we are back to the old thorny matter of type approval. Once more................ [:)]  [/quote] But it seems to be the issue that everyone ignores. Despite it's crticallity (is that a word?). Does the OP's cooker have NF approval? If it doesn't, then surely its installation would be illegal. Things can't be slightly illegal, or almost illegal, can they?

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="Nick Trollope"] And, is it the apostrophe in your name that gives a "non matching quote block blah blah" error? [/quote] Yes, it is... but you can remove it from the quote and it'll make it all fine and dandy again [:)] [/quote] Nah, I'll just stick to the enigmatic "X"

[quote user="x"] For sealing threaded plumbing joints use "filasse" - horse hair [/quote] Are you sure it isn't hemp? And, is it the apostrophe in your name that gives a "non matching quote block blah blah" error?

At 6Kw, your hob will (probably) have screw terminals to which you would need to connect a length of 6mm Sq flex. At the "wall" end, you will either have a junction box, or a large 32A socket. Connect to the JB or attach the appropriate plug to the end of the cable. BUT. Think carefully about using a hob this size in France. They are rare because French supplies are frequently not up to the job. If you only have a 6KW supply (likely if you have non-electric heating and are rural) you will only be able to run the hob at full power on its own - no lights, kettle, oven, C/E at the same time.... Check the bottom of your bill for the size of your supply. Buying brown goods in the UK is often tempting (especially at the moment!) but the whole cooking ethos is different here.

[quote user="belu"]We want to buy our hob in the UK as the one we want is not available in France.  Will we have problems wiring it up?  Any advice would be much appreciated.[/quote] You must ask yourself, whilst reading Antons reply, why your hob is not available in France....

Or 1.100€ to an Artisan or 9.995€ for a "commercial" transaction, etc etc...  

Measure that string! Depends entirely on how far they must travel with the cables/pipes. For electric installations, I have seen prices quoted from 350€ to 20.000€+. Water companies tend to cost more (here, at least). Obvious thing is to ask EDF and your local water Co for quotes, then see if you can do it cheaper by digging the trenches, etc yourself....  

Indeed you can - it is part of the specification for modern telephone/data wiring. Unfortunately, my book with the connections is in the van, but I'll post a diagram if you (or anyone else) is interested - as soon as I have fixed the scanner (again). If you are using decent (cat5) cable then x-talk isn't a problem.