This section contains details regarding the first fix electrics. I will also carry out all the electrical work myself. Before I can collect the completion certificate from the Building Control officer I will need to have the electrical system tested by a qualified electrician.
First fix electrics covers all the electrical work which needs to be installed behind walls and under floors. Once the first fix electrics have been completed I will then be in a position to install the plasterboard, and hopefully the cables will be in the right places for things such as light switches and sockets.
Click image to see a bigger picture.
This picture shows the wiring being installed in the loft above the back of the house. This was done in summer and it was hard work stooping around under the rafters.
At the same time I have also been installing the wiring in the back of the house. Here is a picture of the cables being installed inside the bathroom stud partitions. These cables will be used for lights, sockets, the shower etc.
Here the lighting circuit is being installed in the back porch of the house. The junction boxes are used where a spur is required, such as for a light switch or ceiling rose. Also the cables have not been connected at this point.
Here is another picture showing some of the cables installed within the bathroom stud wall.
This is where all the cables run from - eventually the new consumer unit will be installed on this wall. It contains all the circuit breakers which will protect the individual circuits.
Once the plasterboard is in place dry lining boxes have to be installed and the cables threaded into them. The actual fitting will then screw to the box, and hold itself in place. In this picture I have installed the dry lining boxes ready for the fittings.
All the first fix wiring has been completed in the back of the house. This just leaves the cables poking through the walls ready for the fittings to be applied. You can also see the current consumer unit which is live, and used to give temporary power and lighting circuits.
Another shot of the back of the house, with the first fix electrics completed. The wires in the picture are used for a temporary supply, and will removed when the new circuits are made live.
As well as main electrical work, In have also to install phone and FM / TV cables at the same time. Here you can see a new phone cable, which distributes to other phone sockets throughout the building.
Cables installed in the partitions in the front of the house. Here you can see ring main cables, as well as lighting cables for switches.
I decided to use a spur based lighting circuit, as opposed to a loop in system. Here are junction boxes waiting to be wired up. This is where the mains feed comes in for a particular light, and spurs go off to any light switches and the ceiling rose.
All the circuit supply cables going into the main house from the porch, which is where the consumer unit is located. Also you can see lighting junction boxes, which have been wired up already.
More lighting junction boxes in the front porch waiting to be wired up.
 "This picture shows cables being installed in the loft at the back of the house. These include lighting, shower and ring main cables.")
 "Here the cables and pipes are being installed inside the stud partitions.")
 "This picture shows some of the lighting circuits being installed in the back porch. The junction boxes are used wherever there is a seperate lighting point to be taken of the main.")
 "More cables being installed in the walls. Here are a combination of seperate lighting circuits, fan and shaver point circuits, and the shower circuit. All these different circuits require switches or isolators which will be installed in this wall.")
 "Here are the ends of the various circuits. This is where the consumer unit and meter will be mounted. This contains all the seperate circuit breakers. Here you can see ring main circuits, lighting circuits, cooker and shower circuits, and Earth bonding connections.")
 "FirstElectrics7.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics8.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics9.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics11.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics12.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics13.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics14.jpg")
 "FirstElectrics15.jpg")