06-08-2016, 06:09 PM
Hi Folk,
We have just bought a 200 year old former Boulangerie in the Dordogne.
Still complete with bread oven and all associated equipment!
The wiring isn't quite that old but not far in front! All the original power points (prises) - one per room are two pin only with integral re-wireable fuse. The light switches have the same type of integral fuse.
There is some later wiring in a downstairs shower room, bedroom and the kitchen, some of which are 3 pin.
No connection to the earth pin though.
One power point in the kitchen is connected into the 32Amp cooker supply....
There is, however, not an earth in the house! I got a mild shock of the washing machine and a mains testing screwdriver lit up on contact with the washing machine case along with the coffee maker- FRIGHTENING!
There is a disconnector that cuts off the electricity supply if more than the set limit is exceeded - you pay more for your KVA setting i.e. 6KVA, 9KVA , 12 KVA etc.
We had fun in our rental place which was initially set at 6KVA, when we used the oven and a few rings the power went off....
Into the garage and reset the supply.
In addition we have a triphase (3 phase) supply but it only terminates in ONE consumer unit (with cartridge fuses - no circuit breakers here!
I have just picked up a piquet de terre - earth stake - no PME system here in France, and plan to install it in the ground of one of our caves (cellars), fit an RCD and at least get stuff earthed initially where I can.
Main plan is to completely re-wire la maison and have a consumer unit for each phase and balance the load across all three phases.
I have woodwork machinery that is 3 phase, that will be installed in the other cellar which will become a woodwork shop.
And now to the plumbing, anyone know anything about wells, pumps and pressure vessels? Yes we have our own water supply which is a little low in pressure but that is another story....
Andy - in a warm and sunny place
We have just bought a 200 year old former Boulangerie in the Dordogne.
Still complete with bread oven and all associated equipment!
The wiring isn't quite that old but not far in front! All the original power points (prises) - one per room are two pin only with integral re-wireable fuse. The light switches have the same type of integral fuse.
There is some later wiring in a downstairs shower room, bedroom and the kitchen, some of which are 3 pin.
No connection to the earth pin though.
One power point in the kitchen is connected into the 32Amp cooker supply....
There is, however, not an earth in the house! I got a mild shock of the washing machine and a mains testing screwdriver lit up on contact with the washing machine case along with the coffee maker- FRIGHTENING!
There is a disconnector that cuts off the electricity supply if more than the set limit is exceeded - you pay more for your KVA setting i.e. 6KVA, 9KVA , 12 KVA etc.
We had fun in our rental place which was initially set at 6KVA, when we used the oven and a few rings the power went off....
Into the garage and reset the supply.
In addition we have a triphase (3 phase) supply but it only terminates in ONE consumer unit (with cartridge fuses - no circuit breakers here!
I have just picked up a piquet de terre - earth stake - no PME system here in France, and plan to install it in the ground of one of our caves (cellars), fit an RCD and at least get stuff earthed initially where I can.
Main plan is to completely re-wire la maison and have a consumer unit for each phase and balance the load across all three phases.
I have woodwork machinery that is 3 phase, that will be installed in the other cellar which will become a woodwork shop.
And now to the plumbing, anyone know anything about wells, pumps and pressure vessels? Yes we have our own water supply which is a little low in pressure but that is another story....
Andy - in a warm and sunny place
