Electricity

[minesthechevy]

This is a bit arcane, but I cannae be the first Brit who's rebuilding a house from scratch, and someone might have been there before....

The house is (mainly) 120 yo, the electrical supply dates from the mid-60s, complete with cloth-covered wiring - which is why, despite being on 30amp tariff, we cant put the tumbledryer on at the same time as the microwave.

Needless to say, a complete re-wire is in my future, and ive already dug the trench which will carry the new threephase mains into the house - EDF have quoted me for digging the road up and installing a remote meter-reader.

Do EDF allow a 'new' supply to run at the same time as the old? I had a long discussion with the very helpful bloke from EDF, but I clean forgot to ask him this.

For obvious reasons, it would be useful to commission a newly-installed room as each one is done, without giving up the 'old' lighting in teh rooms not yet tackled.

TIA

[giantpanda]

TIA[/quote]

Hi!

I assumed that you can run the old and the new connection - the EDF will be happy if you pay 2 connections.

I am not a specialist, but it can be certainly be done on one connection.

If you have an electrical heating it may be worth while to consider a " Tarif Tempo "

See more details here ( at present the 2nd link is not operating - )

EDF Bleu Ciel

Anyway the EDF can help you here and counsel you.

Now it is not quite clear if you are doing the wiring yourself.

I would like to draw your attention to 2 points which could be of consequence, if you do the work yourself, since French norms are specific.

- if you have a new counter, your complete electrical installation will have to be checked.

- from 1.1.2009, there is a diagnostic electrique, and if you were in a case were no check is made, when the house is sold, there could be problems.

Therefore there are real arguments, why the wiring should be by a French authorised electrician

Yours,

giantpanda

[minesthechevy]

Thanks Panda; I'll re-check with them. Even if I end up paying for 2 connections for 6 months it'll be worth it.

Indeed, all the actual connections will be done by local (accredited) company, and as far as wiring goes, that's the best way, but I dont see any reason why I should pay them €XK just to pass flexible tubing from point A to point B when even an english dummy like me can do that....

Regards

Mick Dyer

[giantpanda]

[quote=minesthechevy;

Indeed, all the actual connections will be done by local (accredited) company, and as far as wiring goes, that's the best way, but I dont see any reason why I should pay them €XK just to pass flexible tubing from point A to point B when even an english dummy like me can do that....

Regards

Mick Dyer[/QUOTE]


Hi!

Notwithstanding suggest you get the opinion of an Expat who knows French regulations.

Or try to read up the matter if your French is good.

Yours,

giantpanda

PS. I have seen on another site postings in the past some competent GB electricans who have had problems.

[minesthechevy]

Yeah, wildly different regs to UK, aren't they. I've read the Norme until Im blue in the face - and the company I'm engaging is happy to let me do the non-electrical stuff. Almost every wall of every room is going to have stud walling so passing the sleeves behind is a doddle.

I heard one story a while back about a UK couple who bought a renovation project in the Limousin - imported their own UK builders, electricians, the whole team - and were rather ticked off when their insurance company made them take the whole lot down and start over.

(An urban granny, most certainly, but IMHO a sad reflection of some of the types who come over...)

Regards

Mick Dyer

[oddball]

Originally Posted by minesthechevy

Yeah, wildly different regs to UK, aren't they. I've read the Norme until Im blue in the face - and the company I'm engaging is happy to let me do the non-electrical stuff. Almost every wall of every room is going to have stud walling so passing the sleeves behind is a doddle.

I heard one story a while back about a UK couple who bought a renovation project in the Limousin - imported their own UK builders, electricians, the whole team - and were rather ticked off when their insurance company made them take the whole lot down and start over.

(An urban granny, most certainly, but IMHO a sad reflection of some of the types who come over...)

Regards

Mick Dyer

Do you not consider yourself one of these 'Types' that come over ? They were qualified UK electritians , what is your 'Claim to fame' Colin

[minesthechevy]

Oooo, no fame here, or claim to fame either....

OTOH, as far as provenance goes, I would say that I have been visiting my froggy mates here in teh Chartreuse (and yes, they DO call me the 'rosbif') for 30 years, I have willingly shot myself in both feet by refusing to import english builders of any sort, and I was asked - accent notwithstanding - to be Pere Noel for the local school (pop:14) last Christmas.

MY nearest brit is about 8km away, and if we see each other fine, if not, fine. Ive been to too many lunches in the Limousin where smug brits sit around being proud of not needing to speak any french - 'it's just too much trouble, darling....' - to feel any need to mix physically with such folk. Fortunately, such types ARE in a minority overall - but its easy enough to work out why they are despised.

[minesthechevy]

Oh, and just because the couple under previous discussion used (presumably) /UK/-qualified electricians, it doesn't mean to say that said sparkies were well-versed in the very different ways of the French methods.... does it?