HOW TO WIRE A HOUSE UK / FIRST FIX / RUN CABLES IN YOUR HOUSE UK 

Update: Just to let people know - I’m not trying to put electricians out of a job here. I’m just helping people that have the patience and ability to do it themselves to do so without having to spend as long as I did researching. If you find this video a threat then there is a bigger problem here, because I’m sure your learnt a lot more in 4 years training to become a qualifying electrician than I could in a week on google and chatting to a couple of electricians.

The best video explanation I’ve found on RU-vid for wiring a house!! Great work mate thank you for simplifying and giving practical examples!

Please ignore all the middle aged alcoholic electricians who feel threatened by this. They know that with some research and planning this CAN be done and can be done SAFELY too. I wired my own shed (more like an office building) and had my spark mate check it all out. Most electricians apply “danger” to everything so you have to pay them to do it. £70 to change a lightbulb with some of them and I’m not joking 😂 Great job and great video 👏

Thank you Matt! I appreciate you going to the efforts of learning how to do this yourself and sharing that with others. You're an inspiration to the stingy control freak DIYer in all of us.

Thanks for the info Matt. Not sure why this video has so many dislikes. You clearly state throughout the video that you are not a qualified electrician. You was wise enough to have it signed off by an electrician.

Nice one mate! In a country where cowboys pluck a figure out of the thin air ( seems like a vulture culture that no one cares to regulate) based on the size of you house or what they believe you should afford, you really sent a spark with this tips.

Interesting to see how its done in Britain, here in Norway we use conduit pipes for everything (except if the cable is on the outside of the wall) and they are plugged directly into the backboxes, so its usually easy to replace the entire wiring in a house if its necessary in a rehabiltation. Like on a concrete aparment I worked on (which was being rehabilitated) where the old wiring from the 60s had solderd joints (which by todays standards is illegal) we had to replace every single wire, which thanks to conduit pipes was pretty easy.

Well I've found this pretty helpful as I'm going to rewire a four storey house. I will be working with a qualified electrician for alot of the works. But it'll be myself what will be putting in the graft. Thanks Matt

Great video I do all my own electrics and plumbing and building and the quality is 100 times better than I would get from any trades because it my house or families houses so I take pride and I've also have friends that are qualified builders that have wanted me to work for them. I'm sure any electrician had problems with there car they would be straight on RU-vid for advice and maybe tackle it themselves. 😁👌👍🇬🇧

As a qualified and practcing electrician, I strongly advise to have the full install carried out by somebody who knows what they're doing! You did the right thing in having the install checked, tested and signed off by an electrician, however please nobody forget - electricity can kill! The amount of times where I have been to a job to have the customer say 'I installed it all myself' and there to be so many issues with the installation - Ive had times where the main water pipe has been live, and times where there has been a fire due to bad connections. Moreover, electricians like myself went through a grueling 4 year course, being paid less than the minimum wage (i was on £3 an hour for 3 years before going up to £4) theres no chance that you can spend some time on the internet and learn what a spark has learnt over 4 years. You wouldn't work on a gas line.

Good work. I love all the electricians in these comments having a hissy fit.

One of the better instructional/explanation videos I’ve seen, 10/10, subscribed!

Good show, mate. I am an apprenticed American Electrician and I have to hand it to you and your presentation. You have a good basic understanding of your system. Of course, nothing beats formal education and supervised practice but you did well. Our systems are quite different as we always 'spur' but never do a 'ring' circuit. In every case, fuses (or breakers) are there to protect the WIRE, not the end device or the person. Do not worry about putting electricians out of work. We have/need specialty equipment that most people cannot justify the cost because we use these tools all the time. In short, it's cheaper to hire the guy with the equipment for a short time. - Dave

A typical 3 bed house would have..... Ring downstairs Ring upstairs Ring kitchen Cooker Shower Boiler Smoke alarms Down lights Up lights Also run a Ring to the grid switches in the kitchen to control the appliances is good practice

There is no problem with how you wired the supply to the light switches first, I completed the electrical AM2 assesment a few months ago and this is exactly how we were told to wire the lights during the assesment. The reason being that a lot of the electronic switches coming out require a neutral connection at the switch and when you wire the supply to light first, you do not get a neutral to the switch. Although your switches are not electronic, this will save a lot of future work if you decide to install electronic switches.

Thank you for your research/patience and sharing this useful video Matt. I’m about to rewire my house and this has saved me time on researching myself! 👍👍👍

Great video mate. I am doing a similar project and this helped me immensely. I'm also getting it signed off by an electrician for safety.

Matt, This is fantastic. We are almost ready for first fix for our self-build and you explained everything perfectly. Can't thank you enough, we will get everything checked by a qualified electrician but now have the confidence to do a lot of the hard physical work ourselves.

Your electrician was right about taking power to the switch that is how it's done in the industry now because it's a more accessible point than the 3 plate loop in method, also you can use 1mm cable for lighting very rarely would you need to use 1.5mm

This is what I'd do as well. Regulations have scope for sign off if you haven't installed it yourself and naturally the qualified person shouldn't sign it off without total satisfaction of the install being to specification. I have also come across some being defensive and saying they would never sign it off but a true professional with an open mind will have no problem. This kind of work can be learnt with enough reading providing you know when to ask for advice. A lot of the installation is relatively low skilled work and paying a professionals rate for unskilled labour doesn't make sense, regardless of industry. Keep it up.

I keep going back to your Vlog, you make it sound so clear, my electrical engineer in the Philippines doesn't seem to grasp the earthing system we have here, we have sent consumer box, 2.5 twin earth , 1.5 twin earth, 4 core cable, everything you need to wire a house, the only thing we couldn't sent was earthing rod. We go out there in 4 weeks , that's if Philippine airlines don't cancel our flight, But I want to see what the electrician is doing...and making sure he has a ring circuit in the kitchen. Its a new build, so we have the opportunity to get the electrics right.. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Regards Tim

You can do a 32a socket radial circuit, but you need to use a 4mm cable. You only get 20a max on a 2.5m cable.

Hi I have learnt alot from this video, i fully understand the position you we're in at the time. But you did very well. Congrats

Wow ive learned so much from this video more than any electrician ive tried to learn from great vid man👍

As a Spark I would always say powering the switches is always best as it is more accessible for testing and it makes it a lot easier to install various (metal) light fittings.

thanks for the video, i did learn something

On your final ring circuit hope you are using socket outlets with duel earth terminals and connecting your incoming cpc to one of the earth terminals and the outgoing cpc connected to the other earth terminal, what this does if for some reason one of your cpc cables comes loose and pops out of its terminal it means connecting the cpcs as I have told it means you will still have all the socket outlets covered by a cpc and if an earth fault occurs it will still trip the rcbo or mcb back at the board, because obviously you had put both cpcs in the same earth terminal and it came loose and they both popped out it would mean the socket outlet that this happens to has now no earth and a fault could occur and if an appliance which was plugged into the said socket say a washing machine had an dead short down to earth then the fault path would be your body if you touched the casing of that washing machine so it's a good tip to use those modern sockets with duel earth terminals but it only works if you put the cpcs in separate terminals

Nice one a lad with a lot of common sense.

Great video Matt, watching this in 2021! I'm not going to do the job myself, but it's great info if you just want to know that the electricians know their stuff. There's a lot of dodgy tradesmen out there these days, and quite a few people get screwed because they don't have basic knowledge.

Looks to be good, you basically did all the grunt work (the labouring) after spending some time learning as well as getting advice and inspection from qualified tradies. Don't mind some of the rather silly comments (the ones who obviously haven't watched the full vid). Out of all the trades, sparkies are the biggest bunch of divas who can barely agree amongst themselves on their interpretations of the regs never mind tolerating joe public have a go.

Great video! I'm not planning any big wiring job, just some simple socket/switch maintenance and installation, and I found this video a great source of information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and research, I found it very helpful! ;)

Awesome video mate. Very clear and informative. Will be a real help as i’m building a 1 bed flat on top of my shop. Will get further help from my electrician. But many many thanks 🙏

Brilliant thank you nice refresher! 👍

Very informative! I have just begun the process of a re wire of the house, starting in the first bedroom. Some graft

Great vid mate really helped explain things in lay mans terms

Good work Matt! I'm presently rewiring a house I inherited (lots of spurs and old rubber stuff) and everything going great. You just have to do everything RIGHT - as you have.

In Germany ring circuits are not used, if not forbidden. I learned that brand new kitchen stoves can pull 20 A on all three phases at 230 V in maximum, while most German households still operate on 16 A ratings in maximum, even when it comes to the kitchen stove which gets three phases mostly. In 2023 they changed the code book from 16 A to 20 A and 2,5 mm² cross section for those appliances. So 16 A is the maximum rating for fuses in most German homes giving us ca. 3,6 kW at a socket in maximum, what the heck do you do with 40 A at 240 V in Great Britain from a ring line? Lights are based more and more on LEDs, so they save up to 80-90% of their current.

1 you’re not allowed to sign off someone else’s work 2 you have to submit paperwork to the council for any work carried out 3 that consumer unit is nit regulation height I can’t be bothered to watch the video as it’s dangerous but I bet I could pick many wholes in that install

Great Video. I have learnt a lot from this. Well done and thanks for the effort.

Thanks Matt I am so happy to find your Vlog. I am building a house in the Philippines and am trying to explaine about earth cable and uk connections. And especialy about looping electric sockets in the kitchen. I have sent out uk electric twin earth cables and every electrical item they should need. But they are not going to connect the electric until we go out there in March 2020. I have even bought a consumer unit from screwfix. We got all our sockets from screwfix and some universal sockets from ebay.. But thanks buddy...I will show your video to the electrician. As they do things differently out there..

Nice of you to share this information with others. Useful for the ones who want to save time and money when building themselves.

Thanks....youve really helped me.....regards

Well done Matt, I found this very helpful, thank you.

Hey Matt, thanks for the video. How long did it take you to do the rewire on the one bed apartment?

Hi Matt, great video 👍 I’ve just started my own rewire and I’ve set the power sockets at 30cm from the floor which is higher than previous old position and recently discovered that the new regs require them to be 45cm. Is this just for new builds?? I live in a old Victorian property.

Great video. Gives us diyers real confidence to have a go ourselves. Can you do a video on how to move a gas pipe mate? I’m looking to relocate my boiler.

Not a bad run through from a DIYer, at least you tried to understand the safety implications and you had some professional advice. Shame you opted for ring mains and weren't advised about all the problems they cause. Although still allowed in the regs, their use is rapidly dying out with less that 50% electricians still installing ( mainly old school stuck in their ways) Once ark fault detectors start being installed , rings will die completely. I would assume also with the cheap price quoted for the consumer unit was they palmed you off with a dual RCD board rather than advise RCBO. Dual RCD boards fitted with type "ac" RCD will soon be an issue with "blinding" from the dc element of modern electronics from washing machines, tv's etc, so half the house will be at risk, rather than just 1 circuit ( which would be ok anyway as it would have a type " a" RCBO which can cope with DC residue). I would also query why the bathroom switch is outside the bathroom, or is the room so small the only space is in zone 1or 2?. Normally these days it would be inside as long as it's positioned "outside the zone" Look forward to the next instalment

Can you do a boiler installation video now please? What could possibly go wrong 😆

Earth bond has got to go before the first 90 bend on the pipe to water

Only a few minutes in and I commend your efforts, but I'm not going to watch beyond 4 minutes as already there are some red flags. Two examples cable zones and broken ring final circuit. But if 2 crucial aspects of install are misrepresented this early on, then undoubtedly there will be more. Appropriate Test and Inspection on completion of works would identify most cabling issues, but you are referring to a fault on an existing energised circuit. Cable zones have specific measurements it's not as simple as runs being vertical and horizontal. Bigger issue is a socket outlet not working on a ring final circuit, hopefully anyone having watched this who has a socket outlet not working has a faulty faceplate (albeit safe just contacts perished ,etc) and not a fault with the cabling. That's what prompted me to comment. I have no intention or inclination to condense electrical knowledge to bite size pieces. But due to discoveries of faulty installs and the repercussions it's appropriate to illustrate there's a lot more to understanding then implementing. And here within minutes it's clear you don't understand even if you have installed to a standard that could be signed off by appropriate person/s. It's a mine field finding a decent electrician, as with any occupation you get a spectrum of competencies and conscientiousness. I truly understand why someone would want to save money on a rewire. My advice is to request a reduction in cost by doing the basic labour if skilled enough to chase walls inside cable zones and to the correct depth, lift floor boards without damaging, drill joists using correct formula for measurements relevant to spans, etc.

Fair play to this guys he did well BUT Even something as simple as cable clips have to be a certain distance apart for example, otherwise the wiring is not up to regs meaning in a fault or fire the house insurance is invalid. Trust me the first thing insurance companies look for is faults so they can void your insurance even if the fault has nothing to do with the claim. Torque tolerances etc..... but Great risk for great reward I guess.

So how do you register the work carried out with the building control? To comply with the regulations

A great video, funny how the electricians hate you showing how somethings can be done with some research and common sense (which is a declining trait I'm sad to say) same with double glazing...window fitters are literally having people's pants down. If you go to where the trade buy them you can replace an whole average house for about £800 where normally it would cost 3 to 4 grand! I know cos I did what you did with the electrics, did my research and then did it myself. Anyway great vid. 👍

Fantastic video Matt! Many thanks.

Great video. Really helpful. Your a legend mate. 👏

Thank you very much. Very helpful video..

Yes was saying u got a floating floor so where’s the 2.5mm wire for ring should be in safe zones

Good video cheers mate

What’s powering the thermostat? 3c and earth from the back box next to the boiler switch to the thermostat by the front door? Unless I missed something!

It's all pretty sound stuff. What you learn though in 4 years of training is a hell of a lot more. (Well I did over 50 years ago when I qualified) I didn't do sparking afterwards as I changed direction but it put me in good stead. Simple safety stuff like not leaving tools on top of a step ladder, how to cut a joist, what supports what in a house, how to take-up tongue and groved boards without cutting pipes and cables, how to actually work out sizes of cables to be used, (Matt didn't mention 1.0mm,) how to fault find, catenary wiring, garden lights and sockets, he didn't know/fully understand two way switching nor did he mention intermediate switching. How to twist cables together, how using cheap stuff the screws can cut the cable where they terminate. The importance of connections being tight without cutting through. My list can go on and on. That said, Having been out of the trade for over 45 years and therefore no longer qualified, I watched this video as I'm considering rewiring my house and then getting it tested and signed off. In my day it was poor practice to have a neutral at a switch, everything was 3 plate at the light. Now, so items now require it especially some of the smart switches. Did I learn anything positive from this video? Yes I did. Would I recommend anyone doing it if they previously had no experience? Probably not although, we are not talking 3 phase or switching gear here. Mind you, you have to ask, why you fell out with the first sparks. Btw Matt, the words you were looking for were, cutters or snips and earth clamp. 😉

Is this the first time you have done it ?and you have done a top job there well done mate 👍🏻

Good man welldone very impressed

Cracking video mate Thanks

Great Video brother..

If you've got plastic gas and water incoming supply you shouldn't connect an earth bond. By doing that you could actually liven the pipes up in a fault condition. Disconnect them if you have plastic incoming.

Great job. Well done.

Great video, thanks.

Really useful video. Cheers!

So for theboiler cable is that run from a fuse directly to the boiler Also the boiler thermosat switch is that daisy chained from the boiler switch for the power or does that come straight from the consumer unit

Matt - I have been quoted an extortionate amount to re-wire my newly purchased house so have been thinking of doing fiirst fix myself. How did you run the cables under the floor? ie did you put them through the joists with min hole size or clip them with metal fireproof fasteners? Also as per my understanding for each circuit (1 RCBO/RCD) in the consumer unit = 1 circuit, so I imagine you have 1 circuit for sockets, 1 circuit for lights, 1 for cooker etc? For the 2.5mm TE you have one length of cable coming from your CU to your first socket (IN) then wired from the next section in the same socket going to the next socket (OUT) - this assumes a double gang socket.. Thanks

Very helpful video 👍🏾

Top video well done mate 👏 👍.

thanks dude this is super jelpful!

Good Video Chap , Thank you

Are you doing the boiler and heating next ?

Thank you very much for the video mate! One question if you don't mind. How did you send power to the mirror light from the switch, without the switch having any control on the 'turning on and off' of the mirror light?

Great video gives you confidence to do most yourself, presume checking wiring and connecting up main box was quite a big less than £750 because you've included connecting to house. Would of liked to have seen coloured wiring diagram because I'm a bit thick, and a view of the floor up for the wires.

Well done. Ever thought about becoming an electrician.

Legend this is so useful

Ring final circuit not ring main, circuit protective conductor not earth.

Loved it. Thanks a millo!

Great video mate. Absolute star you are. Thanks for your efforts and sharing your knowledge. Tc

Falling into you, baby Even electricity can't compare to What I feel when I'm with you Ooh, baby o_O

Your first electrician was probably future proofing your install. By wiring to the switch your taking a neutral to the switch which will be needed for running any smart home gear which is becoming more common. Also easier for testing.

Great video! I’ll probably do this if required after buying my first house. Definitely installing sockets with USB ports however.

Thank you very much... Good job,

Hi with the electric coming in where is the switch between it and either your meter or consumer unit? Like if you wanted to work on your consumer unit how would you do that safely without isolating the incoming electric?

Thanks for the upload. Will be added to my archive of useful vids when extending my house and full rewire. Please look up John Ward's vids for useful wiring schemes. Planning to flood my house with smart tech with Alexa. Did you run any cat6 for poe CCTV and WAP? What about speaker cables for flush mounted speakers?

Thank you for this, appreciate your efforts

Nice video. Would you be able to share any links about the regulation and what needs to be corret in order to get the job signed off by a certified electrician?

Hi great vid .Links are not showing. Did you use conduit or capping to bury cables in walls? how much cable should you leave in backboxes to wire the sockets? Many thanks

Brilliant stuff, reminds me of fast and furious 794 great stuff

Hi matt great video, looking to update the electrics as we have old wiring missing earth and 70's consumer unit, if i have understood correctly to upgrade the wiring would it be a case of chasing out all the wall sockets, switches etc and feeding the new wiring back to the consumer unit?

Thanks matt! Do u also lay pipe?

Very helpfull matt. 👍

thanks for all the hard work you put into this video. Where did you get the building regs from?

very good video mate

Nice video! However it will be nice to add some drawings instead of showing sockets so people with little or no knowledge will have better idea what you are taking about.

Nice Vid mate. have you done spotlights, would be cool to see a video showing how to wire them up?

A battery flows from the negative to the positive