Electricity upgrade

[mejulie]

Has anyone got experience with spanish electrics. Help !!!! Need some advice wether to upgrade to 8kw during construction by builders at a cost of 450 euros or can it be done cheaper and just as easy after by an electrician, The standard installation with only a 15 amp fuse is definitely not adequate from experience in a 2 bedroom house. Thanks for any comments. Mejulie

[archiebake]

Hi
I was just thinking about this on another thread ; ie hot water. There was another thread about this a few weeks ago if you search back.I was to understand that the electric suppliers come along and put a bigger fuse in.( at a fee ) I hope somebody else joins in and clarifies the matter.
archiebake

[mejulie]

Hi Archiebake Thanks for your reply. I did read the thread about bigger fuses. Also been told a bigger cable needs to be put in during consruction. But then if the supply is bigger you are charged a higher tariff therefore bigger bills! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope someone can set us straight on this subject.

[mejulie]

Thanks Elmcroft for your answer to my dilemma.But was told if you put in a bigger fuse than your actual supply it is dangerous. So what would I get from builder then for 450 euros? ( ripped off) The mind boggles

[archiebake]

Hi mejulie,
Elmscroft to the rescue thanks. I had talked to a Spanish electrician a few weeks ago as to fitting some wall lights. and he told me were to find the junction boxes; ( behind the square or oblong pannels you see on the walls ) he told me just to take any live i wanted .Certainly different to the uk.He did mention about the main fuse but it was not an issue with me.( not at the moment )The supply cable will take a much greter load to allow for power surges,so I could not see the need for a bigger cable myself but I was not sure.Now we have it from two sources.
All the best archiebake

[steviebrasil]

First point is if you are building is to plan to use gas for your water heater. You get as much hot water as you want and are not limited to the size of your water tank.
Basically anything that heats up will be your largest electrical user.
From what i've seen each house is supplied with a 30 or 32amp fuse in the locked box outside the house. In the fuse box inside the builder will fit a 15amp circuit breaker. You can increase the size or the breaker inside to 25amp. You don't want to go any higher as you must be sure any fault trips the breaker in the house not the fuse outside as you don't want to have to call the electrical supplier each time the fuse blows.
To clarify your query on wiring. It appears all the wiring distribution from the fuse box(in my house anyway) has been done with 2.5mm cable. Different size cables have different current carrying capacities. 2.5mm depending on maker of the cable is around 20amps if run inside conduit.
I have found for a 2/3 bed house 25amp is quite sufficient. You just have to remember not to try ironing,cooking & putting the kettle on whilst running your air con at the same time.

Electrics

This is a real scam by Iberdrola. They put a smaller main fuse in then when you ask for an upgrade (like if you want to use a kettle AND your oven, they not only charge for the upgrade but more per unit. My husband is an electrician and upgraded ours to 30 amp. He was then inundated with requests to do the same to neighbours and the word spread!) He used to charge 80 euros including the breaker but alas we no longer live in Torry. I am sure if you ask around (like the nearest pub) they will know an electrician who can do this but don't get ripped off and make sure he's a qualified electrician!

[Nick Edwards]

Well If your husband charges 80 Euros to fit a 10 Euro breaker then I would query who is ripping people off.

[steviebrasil]

Took the words out my mouth.
I work as electrical / electronic offshore and am now thinking of giving up work to upgrade peoples electricity.
80 euro a time for half an hours work. Only need to work mornings and play golf every afternoon. Luxury.
Did my own house and neigbours for price of a pint and cost of the breaker.

[andywebb]

I am still a little confused by this!

I asked a similar question here some time ago.

Do I just need to put a new fuse in the box inside the apartment?

Is there any real need to change the one outside or inform Iberdrola?

Is it worth bringing the fuse from UK ot are they the same price in Spain?

Is it definitely 25 amp or could it be 30?

Why do you need to get anyone else to do it if the former is the case?

Help!!!!!

[steviebrasil]

First it is neccessary to get a electrician to do the job as some wiring needs to be moved live if you cannot access the main box outside which will be locked by Iberdola when they connect you.

On connection by Iberdola they will I believe install a 30 amp fuse in the box outside and fit a 15amp circuit breaker in your inside fusebox. Not a fuse.

The box in the house will also have a seal to stop you opening it to change things but this is not a problem as it can still be done.

There is Very little difference in the price of fuses and circuit breakers in Spain or the UK.

I'll attemt to explain the situation a little clearer.
First lets convert your KW to Amps. This is done by kwx1000 divided by voltagexpower factor. I'm not sure exact power factor to use but roughly 8kwx1000 =8000w 230Volts x 0.95= 218
8000/218= 36Amp.
A 5.5kw supply will give 5500/218=25 Amp

So you have Iberola installing a 30 fuse outside that you can't access without removing the lock.
Therefore you can't switch off the power inside the house.
You need to remove the 15amp breaker the house and install (upgrade? I hate that expression) a 25amp breaker/fuse. Wiring has to be moved whilst live. NOT recommended by anyone not knowing what they are doing and also not recommended by anyone who does know what they are doing.
Yes you could change the breaker/fuse inside the house but you can't garantee the one in the house will trip first. If the one outside go's you'll need to call Iberola to replace it so could be in the dark for a while.

I would suggest you don't go above 25amp in the house unless you know for sure that Iberola have installed a fuse of 35amp or more outside. If your lucky and the box outside is not locked get somebody who knows what they are doing to check.

Hope this makes things a bit clearer.

[Steve]

If you want a definitive answer re costs etc from an English electrician, I can suggest Tony Poole whose business card shows (UK approved Electrican, since 1977). When he first came over here he did not intend to continue as an electrician but he has been swamped with work and now just works on referrals. Nice guy based in Orihuela Costa.

[andywebb]

Thanks very much for that feedback.

If you have a number for Tony Poole I would be grateful.

I am in Torrevieja for a couple of days in May and would like to get the job done before summer.

[mejulie]

Dear Steviebrasil. You are a star!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for explaining the electrics in idiot term. I think I will keep the 450 euros that the builder wanted in my pocket for now.
Also Steve I might like that guys phone number also, thanks