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How-to library

Small electrical jobs, explained properly

Honest, UK-specific walk-throughs for jobs a careful homeowner can safely tackle — and equally, a plain statement of when to stop and call a qualified electrician. Every guide includes a helpful video picked because it gets the UK-specific parts right.

Wire an immersion heater circuit

From MCB sizing and 2.5 mm² cable run to double-pole switch wiring and connections at the heater head: the complete UK guide to a dedicated immersion heater circuit.

Fit a carbon monoxide alarm

Where to position a CO alarm under BS EN 50292, what the 2022 rental legislation requires, battery versus mains-connected types, and when to call an electrician.

Install an electric panel radiator

Plug-in versus hardwired options, FCU sizing, bracket fixing, cable routing, and the Part P question answered for dedicated circuits above 2 kW.

Run cable in PVC conduit

When conduit is the right choice for an exposed cable run, how to choose the right diameter, fix clips at correct spacings, form bends and draw cable without damaging the insulation.

Wire a kitchen cooker hood

Connecting a kitchen extractor hood safely: the plug-in versus FCU spur decision, choosing the right fuse, staying outside the gas appliance zone, and testing every function before finishing.

Replace fluorescent with LED batten

Swapping a fluorescent strip fitting for an LED batten: isolating safely, identifying the cable colours, making off the terminal block and the check that confirms the circuit is ready to use.

Wire a garden room or summer house

Armoured cable burial depth, sub-consumer unit requirements, earthing arrangement (PME or TT), Part P notification and what the electrician needs to certify before the supply is switched on.

What to expect from an ASHP electrical installation

Supply cable sizing for a heat pump, isolator switch requirements, wiring centre connections and the certification the installer must hand over — explained for homeowners.

Wire a hot tub electrical supply

Understanding the PME earthing question, sizing the dedicated circuit, installing an outdoor isolator and 30 mA RCD protection in line with BS 7671.

Fit a surge protection device (SPD)

Installing a Type 2 SPD in a domestic consumer unit — choosing between TN-C-S and TT earthing types, DIN rail mounting, wiring sequence and reading the status indicator on completion.

Wire an LED illuminated bathroom mirror

Bathroom zone rules under BS 7671, FCU positioning outside Zone 2, choosing the right fuse rating for a demister mirror, and the wiring sequence from ring circuit to mirror supply.

Wire a Ring wired video doorbell

Transformer voltage checks for Ring models, bracket fitting, bell-wire connections and the clear line between low-voltage DIY work and the Part P mains side of the transformer.

Install armoured cable (SWA) underground

When and why to use steel wire armoured cable, correct burial depth under BS 7671, SWA gland termination, armouring as the CPC, and Part P notification for outbuilding circuits.

Wire an air conditioning isolator switch

BS 7671 local isolation requirements for domestic split-system air con units, rotary isolator ratings, safe isolation procedure and correct conductor connections explained.

Fault-finding dead conservatory sockets

A systematic method for tracing why conservatory sockets have lost power — consumer unit checks, FCU inspection, socket-by-socket testing, and the moisture-related faults most common in UK conservatories.

Understand BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026)

What changed in the April 2026 update to the UK wiring regulations, why Section 745 matters if you have battery storage, and what the six-month transition means for homeowners getting electrical work done.

Select the right cable size for UK domestic wiring

Design current, MCB rating, the On Site Guide method, correction factors for grouped or insulated cables, and the standard sizes used in east Kent homes — explained plainly.

Wire a lighting circuit using junction boxes

The joint box method for lighting circuits — mounting an accessible box, connecting the supply, wiring the switch drop and fitting, and the BS 7671 accessibility rule that every junction must meet.

What to expect from a consumer unit upgrade

From the initial EICR through to certification: what the electrician does at each stage, what 18th Edition requires, and the three documents you must receive at the end.

Test earth fault loop impedance (Zs)

What Zs measures, how to take a live reading with a multifunction tester, the BS 7671 maximum values by device type, and what a high reading means for the installation.

Wire a smart thermostat (Hive or Nest)

Combi boiler, S-plan and Y-plan installations explained: safe isolation, photographing existing wiring, connecting the receiver, and what to do when the boiler does not fire after commissioning.

Carry out safe isolation

The correct BS 7671 procedure for proving a single-phase circuit dead before starting any electrical work — live indicator test, MCB lock-off, dead test, and the second live check that confirms it all.

Ring and radial socket circuits explained

What makes a ring final circuit different from a radial, how to tell which type your home has, why the UK settled on ring mains, and what changes when you add new sockets.

Wire an S-plan central heating system

The five components explained, how the programmer, room thermostat, cylinder stat and zone valves connect at the wiring centre, and the Part P rules that apply to central heating electrical work.

Chase walls and run cable

Safe zone rules under BS 7671, choosing the right cutting tool for the wall type, cable protection requirements and how to photograph the runs before making good.

Wire a media wall

Planning socket positions, chasing recesses, separating mains from data cables and testing every outlet before the wall is boarded up for the last time.

Install garden lighting

Choosing the right supply route, IP ratings for outdoor fittings, SWA burial depth, weatherproof connections and RCD protection rules for every outdoor circuit.

Fault-find a lighting circuit

A systematic method for diagnosing why a lighting circuit has stopped working or started flickering — consumer unit checks, testing at the switch and rose, working along loop-in circuits, and the point at which to hand over to an electrician.

Wire an electric towel rail

Bathroom zone rules under BS 7671, fused connection unit selection, cable sizing, connecting the element, earthing the rail body, and the Part P notification question answered honestly.

Test insulation resistance

What the test checks, the 500 V DC MFT procedure, the three standard measurements, minimum pass readings under BS 7671 Table 64, and why a healthy circuit reads far above the minimum.

Home battery storage: what to know before buying

Capacity vs usable energy, MCS certification, DNO notification, smart tariff compatibility, 0% VAT rules, and the questions every quote must answer before you commit.

Find an electrical short circuit

How to read the symptom, unplug and test methodically, use the half-and-half split to narrow it down, check with a multimeter, and decide when to call an electrician.

Wire a garage consumer unit

Metal enclosure requirements, MCB ratings, mandatory 30mA RCD protection on every circuit, labelling and the pre-energisation tests that Part P certification requires.

Upgrade a single socket to a double

Back box depth explained, fitting a deeper or surface-mount box, transferring the conductors correctly and testing both outlets — the details that make the difference between a sound job and a fault.

Install an outdoor wall light

IP rating selection, weatherproofing the wall entry, wiring L N E on a fixed fitting, earthing metal bodies and the Part P rules on new cable runs explained plainly.

Fit a new socket outlet

Back box selection for masonry or plasterboard, correct conductor strip length, proper earth sleeving, metal back box earth tails and how to test with a socket tester before use.

Loft conversion electrical requirements

New circuits, Part P notification, mains smoke alarms and the fire hoods that go above every downlight -- what a loft conversion needs from an electrician and why planning it early saves money.

Understand TT earthing in UK homes

What a TT earthing system is, how it differs from TN-C-S (PME), how to identify which type your home has, and why TT properties need an earth rod and full RCD protection on every circuit.

What to expect from a house rewire

The five stages of a full UK house rewire from initial survey to Part P certificate -- timescales, disruption, what the plasterer needs to finish before second fix, and the paperwork to ask for at the end.

Replace a bathroom pull cord switch

When pull cord switches fail, zone rules under BS 7671, 6A vs 45A ratings, safe isolation and a step-by-step swap — plus when a new position means calling an electrician.

Run cable in surface trunking

When to use PVC surface trunking instead of chasing walls, cable fill limits under BS 7671, fixing the base, making joints in accessible enclosures and what makes a tidy compliant run.

Wire an intermediate light switch

Three-switch lighting circuits for stairs and landings — the four-terminal switch body, three-core cable colours, making the connections and testing all switching positions.

Understand arc fault detection devices

What AFDDs are, how they differ from RCDs, what BS 7671 Amendment 2 says about socket circuits in UK homes, and what to expect when one is fitted in your consumer unit.

Use a WagoBox maintenance enclosure

When to use a WagoBox or maintenance-free junction enclosure, how to select the right Wago connector size, the correct strip length, and the BS 7671 rules on accessible electrical joints.

Wire electric underfloor heating

Supply circuit sizing, mandatory 30 mA RCD protection under BS 7671 Section 753, thermostat wiring, floor sensor installation, and the cold resistance test you must do before tiling.

Understand surge protection devices

What SPDs do, why 18th edition Amendment 2 made them the default for new UK work, the three types, and what to check when getting quotes for a consumer unit upgrade.

Understand bathroom electrical zones

The BS 7671 zone system explained — what equipment can go where, IP ratings, heated towel rail connections, shaver sockets, and the Part P rules for bathroom electrical work.

Hardwire LED tape lighting

Choosing the right driver and tape, planning the cable route, fitting a fused connection unit, and connecting the driver to a mains circuit safely.

What to expect from a solar battery installation

MCS certification, G98 and G99 DNO notification, PAS 63100 fire safety, and what a proper home battery installation involves from first quote to final sign-off.

Understand Economy 7 storage heaters

How the dedicated overnight circuit works, setting the input and output controls correctly, and what common faults mean before reaching for the phone.

Extend a ring final circuit

Adding sockets by extending the ring rather than adding a spur: confirming the ring is healthy, breaking in correctly, looping back, and testing before restoring power.

Understand your lighting circuit

Loop-in wiring, junction boxes and switched lives explained — so you know what you are looking at before touching a ceiling rose, switch or light fitting.

Install a Zappi EV charger

What a MyEnergi Zappi installation involves: consumer unit assessment, cable sizing, RCBO selection, solar CT clamp, and commissioning the app.

Fit an RCBO

How to swap a plain MCB for an RCBO to give a single circuit its own RCD protection — isolating the board, handling the neutral bar correctly, and testing the device.

Fit a ceiling light fitting

How to replace a pendant ceiling rose with a semi-flush or direct-wired fitting — identifying your wiring arrangement, connecting L N E, and the one check that matters for metal fittings.

Test a ring final circuit

What continuity, insulation resistance and polarity tests involve for a UK socket ring, what readings a healthy circuit gives, and what a homeowner can check themselves before calling an electrician.

Wire a UK plug

Correct terminal positions for a BS 1363 13A plug, how to choose the right fuse, and the wiring mistake that can make an appliance dangerous even when it appears to work.

Wire a doorbell transformer

Band 1 and Band 2 separation under BS 7671, running bell wire to the push and chime, and the clear line between DIY bell-wire work and the mains connection that needs an electrician.

Fit a bathroom shaver socket

Why standard 13A sockets are banned in bathrooms, how the isolating transformer works, zone rules under BS 7671 Section 701, and when a new cable run becomes Part P notifiable work.

Fit a USB charging socket

Choosing between USB-A and USB-C, why back box depth (25 mm vs 35 mm) is the first thing to check, transferring L N E connections, and testing the USB ports after power is restored.

Power a shed or outbuilding

SWA armoured cable, the earthing assessment that requires test equipment, RCD protection requirements, and why getting it right matters when you come to sell.

Fit a PIR security light

IP ratings, wiring L N E correctly, understanding the dusk sensor and sensitivity dials, and when a new cable run steps into Part P territory.

Wire a cooker circuit

Cable sizing, the cooker connection unit, the diversity rule explained, and the clear line between connecting a new cooker yourself and Part P work that needs an electrician.

Wire a two-way lighting circuit

Common, L1 and L2 terminals explained, three-core cable colours, and the checks that confirm both switching positions are safe before you put the covers back.

Wire a fused connection unit

How to identify the Line In and Line Out terminals, choose the right fuse, and connect a switched or unswitched FCU to a fixed appliance safely.

Check main bonding conductors

What the green and yellow cable on your gas and water pipes does, what to look for during a visual inspection, and when missing bonding becomes a C2 on an EICR.

Wire a shower circuit

Cable sizing, RCBO selection, routing through ceiling voids, and the Part P notification requirement — what a new electric shower circuit involves from start to certificate.

Bathroom supplementary bonding

What supplementary equipotential bonding is, when BS 7671 allows it to be omitted with RCD protection, and how to test existing bonds with a multimeter.

Test an immersion heater

How to diagnose a failed element or thermostat with a multimeter, what the resistance readings should be, and when replacing the part is a job for an electrician.

Wire a bathroom extractor fan

Bathroom zones under BS 7671, switching options including light-switch trigger and humidistat, over-run timer setup, and the IP rating your fan must carry.

Install an outdoor socket

Choosing an IP-rated weatherproof socket, RCD protection requirements, cable routing and conduit, drilling through the wall, and the Part P question answered honestly.

Install LED downlights

Marking out, cutting apertures, fire hoods in timber-joist ceilings, running the wiring, connecting the fittings, and what makes bathroom downlights different.

Home EV charger installation

What to expect when getting a 7.4 kW charger fitted: consumer unit checks, CT clamp load-balancing, OZEV paperwork and how to spot a quote that is cutting corners.

Fault-finding a tripping RCD

A systematic method for tracking down why an RCD or RCBO keeps tripping, from unplugging appliances to the half-and-half split — and when to hand over to an electrician.

Fit mains smoke alarms

BS 5839-6 explained, alarm positions on each floor, wiring options for hardwired and radio-interlinked systems, and the Part P question answered plainly.

Fit a dimmer switch

Check lamp compatibility, choose the right dimmer type, isolate properly and make the connections.

Wire a ceiling rose

Loop-in wiring explained, switched live identified, new rose fitted and tested.

What to expect from an EICR

What an electrician inspects and tests, what the C1/C2/C3 codes mean, and what to do next.

Add a spur socket

How to safely extend a ring main with a spur, including load checks and when a spur is not the right answer.

Understand your consumer unit

What each device in the board does, what modern RCBO protection looks like, and why older boards get flagged on EICRs.

Replace a plug socket

A like-for-like socket swap done safely: isolate, photograph, transfer wires and check the earth.

Change a light switch

Safe isolation, identifying one-way and two-way configurations, and the earth check that matters.

Test an RCD

How to press the test button correctly, what a healthy trip response looks like, and what to do if it does not trip.

Reset a tripped breaker

How to identify a tripped MCB or RCD and reset it safely, and when not to keep trying.