French wiring. What is this?

[dedee]

I went up in the loft for only the second time in over 2 years and found this

Now I know I am supposed to have a radial system (sockets etc daisy chained together) but I do not understand the need for this mega Junction Box?

I'd welcome any info on its correct nomenclature in either language.


cheers

Andy

 

[Smudger]

Unless you need to change it, I'd put the lid back on that and try to forget about it...

I've never seen anything like that - I've never even seen a box that large for sale.

You might try one of the English language French living forums - I know one with a load of artisans (who are mostly sensible, once you work out which ones are bodgers talking out of their derrieres).

http://www.completefrance.com


(Don't mention me - they'll throw you out! The general political views there are to the right of Attilla the Hen)

 

[dedee]

Thanks ****, I too have not seen anything similiar in the books I have nor in the shops.

So you think it is not normal practice or standard? The house was built 17 years ago.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Smudger]

I guess it's standard practice inasmuch as the junction box is simply a box, and the connections are made with chocolate boxes inside. It's just a bit... extreme! What would it look like if you unpacked it!

I've never seen anything like it at all, but my experience is a bit limited.

 

[StevieB]

In either language I would call that a dogs breakfast :roll: If you are feeling brave the first step would to be to tease apart the wires and see if you can work out what flows where, and where it flows from ie which is the feed. If there are multiple feeds (current in) then you are in trouble. If there is one feed in then you should be OK as you can replace/alter one circuit at a time.

you could just put the lid back on and ignore it, it has been there a while as you say, but I would be worried about heat build up in that pack of wires. It also makes adding to an existing circuit elsewhere in the house problematic as you do not know what else you might be affecting. Your call - how safe do you feel sleeping below it?!

Steve

 

[Smudger]

If you go here and click on installation électrique and then Réaliser une installation encastrée, you will see something similar in the process of becoming!

 

[Smudger]

you could just put the lid back on and ignore it, it has been there a while as you say, but I would be worried about heat build up in that pack of wires. It also makes adding to an existing circuit elsewhere in the house problematic as you do not know what else you might be affecting. Your call - how safe do you feel sleeping below it?!

Steve

If the work was done by a competent artisan it will have a 10-year guarantee. That will pretty much ensure that it was done to the proper norms (France is well ahead of the UK in that respect) and it should be safe.
The danger comes when amateurs (French and English) and especially farmers start making modifications - power circuits run on lighting cable and so on. Bear in mind that a lot of French houses also have 3-phase 450 volt circuits...

Some English numpties have rewired French houses with 13 amp ring mains (complete with UK sockets and plugs) and are then surprised when their insurance declines to cover them, or French people decline to buy them.

 

[Smudger]

Don't mention me to the Woolybanana!

 

[dedee]

The danger comes when amateurs (French and English) and especially farmers start making modifications - power circuits run on lighting cable and so on.

I've got that particular T-shirt. All the sockets in the garage were on 10 amp lighting circuit with a spur to a lamp in the garden, a junction box inside the lamp fed a cable only 2" underground to the barn! All now ripped out and replaced.

Some English numpties have rewired French houses with 13 amp ring mains (complete with UK sockets and plugs) and are then surprised when their insurance declines to cover them, or French people decline to buy them.

I guess putting up Uk style ceiling roses is a big no-no then?

I will probably leave the box of wires well alone although I will show the picture to an electrician who is coming next week for a second local opion.

Cheers

Andy

 

[JMcK]

I'd welcome any info on its correct nomenclature in either language.


cheers

Andy

It's a "boite de derivation" Lots of hits for suppliers on Google.

Oh, and "c'est n'importe quoi!" ("It's a real dog's breakfast") :shock: :lol:

Best put the lid back on!

 

[JMcK]

If the work was done by a competent registered artisan it will have a 10-year guarantee. That will pretty much ensure that it was done to the proper norms (France is well ahead of the UK in that respect) and it should be safe.

Sorry, Smudger, had to add that.

 

[Smudger]

Indeed. As my mother told me, "Always get the gentleman's siret number" (apologies to T Pratchett).

Ceiling roses - grey area. We have some, just for neatness where we have used pendant lampshades, but ignoring the connections inside and just using the ubiquitous chocolate box, as here:

I don't know how, or if, that meets the NF.

 

[JMcK]

I believe it's supposed to be this type of thing to conform to NF (for false ceilings anyway).

http://www.capri-codec.com/pdf/GSA-GSB/DCL.pdf

Leroy Merlin, for one, sell shades like those in your photo.

 

[Smudger]

Generally we have got those with lights, although not as elaborate. We don't have a local Leroy Merlin, unfortunately. Our nearest is a couple of hours drive. The local sheds are a little hidebound...
The joys of la France profonde!

 

[head clansman]

hi

ha ha ,i do love what appears to be the flexible tubing trapped between underside of joist and plaster board (upper right corner of pic ) if it is what it appears there must be a bowed ceiling underneath somewhere . hc

 

[Digit]

Maybe there's something to be said for the British system after all! :lol:
I sure as Hell wouldn't want to get involved in fault finding on that mess.

Roy.

 

[head clansman]

hi

me neither , if i had found that i couldn't close my eyes at night till it had been removed and done properly , and if thats the acceptable standard in france then the french system sucks. hc

 

[Smudger]

hi

me neither , if i had found that i couldn't close my eyes at night till it had been removed and done properly , and if thats the acceptable standard in france then the french system sucks. hc

As a system it works fine, and the radial arrangement has advantages. France isn't some third-world country, you know!

 

[andycktm]

Is it still legal to p*** in the street smudger? :lol:

 

[Smudger]

Is it still legal to p*** in the street smudger? :lol:

I don't know - is it?