A.J.Walton Electrical

17/10/2026

As the evenings draw in, portable heaters, lamps and extra lights can mean more extension leads around the home. A quick safety check is well worth doing. ⚡

Quotezone research found that 53% of homeowners admit to daisy-chaining extension leads. Overloading a lead can create a fire risk and may affect your home insurance cover, depending on your policy.

A few sensible checks:
✅ Plug one extension lead directly into a wall socket, never plug one extension lead into another.
✅ Check the lead’s rating and don’t exceed it. High-power appliances such as portable heaters should be plugged directly into a suitable wall socket.
✅ Use a correctly rated, RCD-protected lead.
✅ Stop using it if the plug or lead feels warm, or you spot scorch marks or damage.

If you’re unsure about your sockets or electrical safety at home, give us a shout. A.J.Walton Electrical Ltd is NICEIC approved and MCS certified for PV (solar) and battery storage.

📞 07736880852
✉️ [email protected]

16/10/2026

Good news for terraced-house owners across Sussex! ⚡

From 21 October, eligible homeowners without off-street parking in England can install a wall-mounted home EV chargepoint under permitted development rights, without a planning application. This can include a cross-pavement cable channel, but the channel still needs the relevant highway authority’s authorisation, and conditions apply.

We install Sync EV chargers and can help you work out what’s suitable for your home. A.J.Walton Electrical Ltd is NICEIC approved, and MCS certified for PV (solar) and battery storage.

For a chat, contact Ashley on 07736880852 or [email protected].

15/10/2026

Planning a bathroom update before winter? ⚡ The electrics deserve attention from the start, whether it’s your own home or a rental property.

Bathrooms are divided into electrical zones around the bath and shower. Each zone has different requirements for what can safely be installed, so lighting, fans, heaters and other equipment must be suitable for its location and level of water exposure.

A shaver socket is not the same as a normal socket. It is specifically designed for bathroom use, while a standard 13A socket should not be installed in a normal sized bathroom. That’s why chargers and extension leads have no place beside the basin.

Showers and electric underfloor heating should normally be supplied from their own dedicated circuits, with suitable RCD protection, correct isolation and thorough testing before the room is put back into use. ✅

Electrics are one of the most common problem areas in bathroom and wet room DIY. It’s easy to focus on tiles and fittings, then find that cables, zones or circuit capacity have been overlooked. Getting the electrical work right early helps keep the refurbishment safe, tidy and compliant.

If you’re planning a bathroom refurbishment, or you’re a landlord arranging work between tenancies, give our NICEIC-approved Sussex team a shout. We’re also MCS certified for PV (solar) and battery storage.

📞 07736880852
✉️ [email protected]

14/10/2026

From 15 October 2026, Amendment 4 to BS 7671 becomes the only valid standard for new electrical work. ⚡

The biggest change is a new Chapter 57: the first dedicated framework for battery energy storage systems. It covers important design considerations, including power conversion and bidirectional inverters, battery location, ventilation and fire-risk mitigation. Batteries are now treated as generating sets, rather than simply another load.

That matters because more homes and businesses are bringing solar, battery storage, EV charging and smart controls together on one installation. They all need to work safely and properly together, with the system designed, tested and certified to the right standard.

We’ve recently visited the Fox ESS inverter and battery range with the team at Aurora Energy Group in Chelmsford. Getting to know the equipment helps us give practical, informed advice, not just recommend a product.

As a NICEIC-approved contractor and MCS-certified installer for PV (solar) and battery storage, working across Sussex and the Cuckmere Valley, we focus on quality, compliance and doing the job properly.

Planning a battery installation or have a question? Get in touch:
07736880852
[email protected]

14/10/2026

I’m lucky to spend my working days in some beautiful parts of Sussex, and the Cuckmere Valley is a favourite. 🌿⚡

There’s something special about driving out to a rural job early, with the mist lifting off the fields and the river and Downs opening up around you. We work on farms and rural properties across the county, and some days the views are every bit as memorable as the job itself.

I never take for granted how fantastic it is to live and work here. We’re proud to look after local customers across the Cuckmere Valley and wider Sussex. A.J.Walton Electrical Ltd is NICEIC-approved and MCS certified for PV (solar) and battery storage.

If you need a hand with electrical work, give us a shout.
07736 880852
[email protected]

09/10/2026

07/10/2026

There’s a suggestion doing the rounds that tradespeople should swap their vans for cargo bikes.

Everyone knows I love my bikes (I’m a proper bike enthusiast) but this just isn’t my idea of fun! 🚲

An electrician’s kit isn’t exactly lightweight. I need ladders, cable drums, consumer units, drills, test gear, tools and a van-load of parts. You can’t carry a set of ladders on a cargo bike, and moving everything from job to job would take ages.

Our work is spread across Sussex and the Cuckmere Valley, often involving rural properties, farms and outbuildings. We’ve got tight time slots to work to, and customers generally don’t want to wait while I pedal across the county with half a distribution board hanging off the back!

So, as much as I love two wheels, the van stays for now. I’m all for using a bike when it’s practical, but for me, the bike is for the weekend. 😄

If you need a hand with electrical work, give me a call on 07736880852 or email [email protected].

05/10/2026

Good CCTV on a working farm needs to be reliable, practical and built around the way the site is actually used. ⚡

We’ve recently completed a fantastic Hikvision CCTV installation at an agricultural farm, covering the yards, entrances and outbuildings.

With several buildings across the site, underground ducting was the right way to run the services between them. The ducting was carried out for us by Carr Contractors Ltd, thank you to their team for the groundwork.

Compared with overhead cable runs, underground ducting helps protect the installation from changing weather, livestock and farm machinery. It also leaves a much tidier finish and makes it easier to add to the system in the future if the farm expands or another building needs covering.

On a busy agricultural site, clear picture quality and reliable recording matter. Whether it’s monitoring access to the yard, keeping an eye on outbuildings or checking activity around entrances, a properly planned CCTV system gives farmers and landowners useful visibility when they need it.

If you’re considering CCTV for a farm, rural business or agricultural property, we can help plan a safe, neat and reliable installation.

NICEIC-approved local team serving Sussex and the Cuckmere Valley.

07736880852
[email protected]

01/10/2026

A useful trip over to Aurora Energy Group in Chelmsford ⚡

Ashley and the team visited to have a proper look at the inverter and battery storage options offered by Fox ESS.

With energy costs continuing to be a concern for homeowners and businesses, battery storage is well worth considering alongside solar. An inverter helps manage the electricity generated by the panels, while a battery can store surplus energy for use later, when it is needed.

The right setup depends on the property, energy use, available space and what the customer wants to achieve. That is why it is important for us to understand the equipment properly, rather than simply recommend a product without looking at the bigger picture.

It was fantastic to see the Fox ESS range in person and learn more about the options available. We can then give customers across Sussex more informed, practical advice when they are considering solar, inverters and battery storage for their home or business.

If you would like to discuss your property, give us a shout:

07736880852
[email protected]
https://ajwaltonelectrical.com/

29/09/2026

Planning ahead for the festive season at your pub, hotel or licensed venue? ⚡

Emergency lighting is one of those jobs that is easy to overlook until you need it. A properly maintained system helps keep escape routes clear and visible if the normal lighting supply fails.

A practical check should include:
✓ Corridors, stairwells and changes of level
✓ Escape route lighting, emergency exit signs and final exits
✓ Monthly function testing and an annual full-duration test, as required by the system
✓ Clear records, logbooks and certificates, with any faults dealt with promptly

Keeping the lighting and paperwork up to date makes things easier for your staff, visitors and licensing inspections. It also gives you confidence that the system is ready to do its job when needed.

As a local NICEIC-approved team, we understand the demands of pubs, hotels and licensed premises across Sussex. We can help check your emergency lighting, identify any gaps and keep everything safe, tidy and properly documented before the busy season begins.

Give Ashley and the team a shout:
07736 880852
[email protected]
https://ajwaltonelectrical.com/