Rewiring a house in France

[spuorgelgoog]

Non, mon est:

it's actually quite cheap. It was ?22,99 new (or 25p in charity shop here)

Owain

[spuorgelgoog]

I think they have rules about having a number of phone/tv/network ports included in new builds; don't know if that applies to rewires.

Sorry it's fuzzy. That'll be my old tablet and free PDF software.

Owain

[Andrew]

Reading that thread in DIY-not suggests that UK-style T&E where the cpc is bare copper is not allowed?? in France. They seem to use singles inside conduits.

Lightning is more of a problem in parts of France so surge protectors may be more of an issue in rural areas.

[spuorgelgoog]

Page 272, Protection contre la foudre, includes a map showing the lightning risks across France. The surge protection device is a parafoudre (parafoudre debrochables has a replaceable surge arrester) and like in the UK can be a separate unit taken from the meter or included in the consumer unit.

In areas with high risk of strike, not only is earthed equipotential bonding and external lighting conductors (descente de paratonnerre?) used but strike counters (compteurs) are wired in to the individual main bonding conductors to gas, water etc.

Owain

[ARW]

And some shit about carrying a breathalyser kit, spare bulbs[1], warning triangle and other shit like driving on the wrong side of the road?

TBH I actually have the first aid kit and hi viz in my car.

[1] Plus learn how to swap the bulb I have to beat the 5000 Euros the French want to rewire it.

[ARW]

Apparently you can learn to speak French in one hour

[Robin]

Seems to me tricky if it's for a commercial job for someone who might insist you come back to look at what they say is a problem. And if they expect you to provide the usual insurance-backed 10-year warranty ("assurance decennale") you'll need to budget for that - although I don't know if you can buy a one-off.

Oh, and if Lou would be travelling with you the shopping opportunities might also impinge on the budget :)

[Steve Walker]

Up to eight on 2.5 sq mm cable and 5 on 1.5 sq mm i IIRC.

SteveW

[tim...]

I'm fairly sure that doesn't apply to this example

[Steve Walker]

No rush - the Republic of Ireland allows ring-mains too, so they should stay legal.

SteveW

[Steve Walker]

Hmmm, a moment's research seems to show that they expect 2.5 sq mm for all sockets now.

SteveW

[Jeff Layman]

What about contacting Mr Strawbridge? You might even feature in the next series of "Escape to the château"!

[Chris Green]

Yes, I didn't think it was quite one socket per MCB, but it's not many is it!

Quite unlike the UK regs which have no specific limit on number of sockets, just a recommended maximum area to serve and a requirement to consider what the load is likely to be.

[Chris Green]

But you'd have to do it to Irish standards which I don't think are exactly the same as ours.

[Andy Burns]

for example

[spuorgelgoog]

It does if the standards are harmonised, which BS 7371 is to the IEC standard (which explains the weird numbering and section arrangements).

*Mixing* standards may be a problem and I doubt French sockets meet ours.

Owain

[ARW]

She has already looked up how to order a bottle of white wine in French.

BTW offers of a labourer on this job are welcome. You get there for free (the car has empty seats) do some work for some money, take advantage of the free villa next door to the job etc.

I intend to visit Gold Beach (my Grandad landed on it on D Day +2) whilst I am there[1]. And have a look at a large tea towel in Bayeux.

He always told a good story about landing on the beach. A motorcycle pulled up and the driver shouted "Wadsworth get on". He did and was driven a few miles away to fix a radio. That's when they realised it was the wrong Wadsworth and they took him back to the beach.

[ARW]

Already covered that one:-)

Download the maps of France into my phone and go off line and then use Lou's phone to look for the cameras.

And then probably have a shit next to a French speed camera.

[spuorgelgoog]

That's not the only thing you'll need to have covered.

If you suffer from plumber's smile (sourire de plombier) or mason's line (raie du maçon) the French have invented an answer:

Owain

[Tim+]

If you use the Waze navigation app, 9 times out of 10 speed cameras will be marked as ?policemen?.

Tim