There are some very different electric codes in the UK from the US. This document is a bit techy, but gets to some of the points we have been experiencing. But here are my first hand experiences:
Outlets in the bathrooms - Not sure of the historical signifigance, but the British are downright paranoid about eectrocuting themselves in a bathroom. The code has been loosened a little bit since 2008, but basically, you can't havr ANY plugs witin 6 or so feet of a shower or bath. The one exception is the 'Shavers Only' outlet that draws much less power, and you have to be touching both prongs to zap yourself.
Kitchen wiring - We have lately blown fuses in the kitchen using the oven. Except that you can't just flip the fuse.... these things seem to have a mind of their own, they will just randomly decide to start working later, with absoutely no realition to flipping the circuits. It makes me very nervous!
I think a lot of it is due to installing electrical well after the houses are built... and then maybe only upgrading things here and there. Our electrical works much better than other houses we here about, but it is still far from the easy to follow US code and mostly new construction.
Outlets in the bathrooms - Not sure of the historical signifigance, but the British are downright paranoid about eectrocuting themselves in a bathroom. The code has been loosened a little bit since 2008, but basically, you can't havr ANY plugs witin 6 or so feet of a shower or bath. The one exception is the 'Shavers Only' outlet that draws much less power, and you have to be touching both prongs to zap yourself.
Kitchen wiring - We have lately blown fuses in the kitchen using the oven. Except that you can't just flip the fuse.... these things seem to have a mind of their own, they will just randomly decide to start working later, with absoutely no realition to flipping the circuits. It makes me very nervous!
I think a lot of it is due to installing electrical well after the houses are built... and then maybe only upgrading things here and there. Our electrical works much better than other houses we here about, but it is still far from the easy to follow US code and mostly new construction.
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