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topcat
Junior Member
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject: Is my cooker switch safe and legal? |
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Im very new to DIY, but my dad is good at it and has been giving me a hand on my first house.
We are just doing the kitchen and have had to move the electric cooker point to the other side of the (small) room.
The isolator switch for the cooker needed to be put out of the way, so my dad put it inside the cupboard thats above the cooker. I have just found this site and on the cooker page its says to never put this switch above the cooker but doesnt say why. Is this because of steam? if so, then its in a cupboard so it should be ok?
What do you think? |
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honeymonster
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 406
Location: Newcastle
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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The cooker switch is there to isolate the supply in an emergency and should be located to either side of the cooker and needs to be withing 2 metres of the cooker. Yoiu should not place it directly above due to steam and heat! it should not be in a cupboard either as it is hidden from view.
This is my view, one of the sparks will tell you for sure 
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Slugster
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 965
Location: Cotswolds
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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Don't know about the regs, but common sense says you only need to get to that switch when something has gone wrong with the cooker (chip pan fire).
Do you want to be reaching over a burning cooker to switch it off?
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Nothing you do is a waste of time - especially if it can be used as a bad example by others... |
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Rich-Ando
Approved Electrician
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 2618
Location: Derby, Derbyshire
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| no need to reply lol. you two said it all. |
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Slugster
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 965
Location: Cotswolds
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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 Does that make us qualified to do Part P then?
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topcat
Junior Member
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that. It does seem practical to keep the switch to the right or left of the cooker, but Im not sure I can change it now without paying money I cant afrord to get an electriction to do it.
My dad seems to think Im beeing very silly when I worry about the electrical work he is doing, and I dont want to upset him as he is being very helpful. His work is of a high standard and seems safe, its just some of the placement seems a little odd.
I dont ever use chip pans (or anything like it) and I know where the switch is in case of emergency. But is the switch here legal?
I only really cook pasta and soups and such on the hob, so its only really steam to worry about.
So you guys think I should stop the work on the kitchen right now, and try and move this switch? Moving it is the last thing I want to do, as just saving up for an electricion would leave me saving for a couple of months, and then another month or so on finishing my kitchen. Im not sure I can do without a ktchen for another 3 months! Plus, I have already sepnt my £200 budget, so Im going to have to save for anything else that ay crop up. |
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Rich-Ando
Approved Electrician
Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 2618
Location: Derby, Derbyshire
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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100% honest, without checking i can't remember weather that would contravene the regs. there are many things not mentioned in them that would be considered "bad practice" by a sparky.
i fully understand what you mean about fathers. mine used to be a sparky years and years ago but he will NOT accept the fact he cannot do spur on spur. i have told him i would condem his house wiring but it falls on deaf ears. in his opinion, i am just being silly.
all said and done, i realy would move that switch. it soemthing that you may never find a problem with but in the worst case senario, you're in trouble.
depending on what area you live in will depend on the price a sparky will charge you. around my area, you will be looking at something around £70.00 to relocate it. |
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topcat
Junior Member
Joined: 05 Apr 2007
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. I think you are right. I may have to try and get the money together to move it. its prob best now before any other work is done on teh kitchen!
One other question though. At the moment there is a double socket to the right of the cooker, so i imagine i should put the switch next to this. Trouble is, that the socket starts right on the edge of the cooker, prob about 1cm away from the edge of the ceramic hob.
Is this safe? I would have thought that a socket should be futher away from the hob. |
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securespark
Junior Member
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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The IEE guide to BR's suggest to place accessories no less than 300mm from a sink or hob.
They reckon you should not put them inside cupboards but fix them to the "fabric of the building".
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