Help needed to review quality of distributer box installation

Isaac k · Oct 22, 2018

Hi everyone,

I just had my distributer box upgraded to an RCD box, and I was wondering if anyone could advise me on the quality of the work done here. I know that changing these boxes is a nightmare to do, and truth be told our wiring was a mess before, but for the price we payed I don't believe there should be electrical tape and exposed wires coming out of the box. Also you can see the housing for the old night electricity box which they have decided to leave and they also chose not to cover the channel with all the exposed wires. I'm just curious to see what this forum's take is on this work, and if it was worth the £700 I payed for it.

Thanks!

(This is my first post, so if I am in the wrong category I apologise)

[ElectriciansForums.net] Help needed to review quality of distributer box installation

Deuce · Oct 24, 2018

I'm so glad someone on here is actually able to take a look

Can't wait to see more pictures..

polo1 · Oct 24, 2018

Sorry, just saw this post and would have offered a free visit to assess. Bloody awful work.
Interested to hear what JK says!

SparkyChick · Oct 24, 2018

polo1 said:
Sorry, just saw this post and would have offered a free visit to assess. Bloody awful work.
Interested to hear what JK says!

As I said, I figured I'd tag a few of you in but could only remember JK and couldn't search on location, so sorry about that.

polo1 · Oct 24, 2018

SparkyChick said:
As I said, I figured I'd tag a few of you in but could only remember JK and couldn't search on location, so sorry about that.

Lol, no worries. It’s sad (but no surprise) that people are still being ripped off like this. Gets the trade a bad name.

markythesparky · Oct 24, 2018

Pete999 said:
Totally agree with SC on this, a total cowboy lash up, hope you haven't paid this bloke yet, although by the tone of post you already have, any certificates issued? was the Herbert who did this registered with any Competent Persons Scheme, NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, STROMA to name a few?

Probably!

Octopus · Oct 24, 2018

Always wondered why some people don't give a location on their profile .... Or give something really vague like South!

markythesparky · Oct 24, 2018

Baddegg said:
i wouldve polished it as well for that price...

I suspect he may have been polishing something else while he was doing that!

Deuce · Oct 24, 2018

markythesparky said:
I suspect he may have been polishing something else while he was doing that!

All we know for certain, looking at the pictures, is that he failed to polish the turd he left for his poor customer!

JK-Electrical · Oct 25, 2018

Murdoch said:
^^^ Part P for Scotland - like thats going to help .................. not

I'm not sure that we'll be going down the Part P route. From what I've heard, the plan is for SELECT and NICEIC to maintain a register of all personnel carrying-out electrical installation work in Scotland. To be included on the register, the applicant will need to have up to date qualifications. Anyone who is not on the register commits a criminal offence if they even advertise as an electrician never mind actually undertake electrical work. But for this approach to work, the Scottish Government will have to first give Scottish electricians protection of title. This very day may well turn-out to be the day that this plan starts to become a reality. A debate commences at 12:45 this afternoon in the Scottish Parliament. I will be there. Hopefully I'll be watching history in the making! We'll see.

JK-Electrical · Oct 25, 2018

SparkyChick said:
@JK-Electrical .... we need pictures

You got 'em lass.

JK-Electrical · Oct 25, 2018

I attended the property this afternoon and carried-out a Visual Condition Report. I've uploaded the redacted document for your perusal. I also carried-out a Ze test (fine), RCD trip times (fine) and Zs tests on all the sockets (not fine). I also did end-to-end tests on two RFCs. The house ring was fine, but there is an issue with the kitchen ring. Someone (Kevin the kitchen-fitter, no doubt) has made alterations which have resulted in a complete loss of continuity of both CPCs at one of the kitchen sockets. Zero volts between live and both CPCs. So, whoever did the board changeovers either knew about this fault and simply ignored it, or, as is much more probable, didn't do any testing prior to installing the new boards. All the issues that I found are detailed in the VCR. I look forward to reading your comments!

Now for the moment that you've all been waiting for ...... the photos:

The customer informed me that it was a wetpants who did all of this. I've yet to decide a definite plan of action to rectify this lash-up, but I'm inclined towards ripping the lot out and starting again from scratch using a Hager unit instead as I absolutely hate BG boards. I think that the Axiom 3-way garage unit that is being used to supply three off-peak storage heaters should be replaced by a better-quality unit with 100 amp main switch and RCBOs. I propose to relocate this board further to the left so that I can utilise the adaptable box that is being obscured. I could then take all those bad joints inside the box and crimp them or use Wagos. Your thoughts please guys and gals.

As we all had already anticipated, the customer did not receive an EIC.

Baddegg · Oct 25, 2018

markythesparky said:
I suspect he may have been polishing something else while he was doing that!

His spurs?

SparkyChick · Oct 25, 2018

Inside the smaller one isn't as bad as I expected, but the big one... Nice

Quality

Thanks JK

Octopus · Oct 25, 2018

JK-Electrical said:
I attended the property this afternoon and carried-out a Visual Condition Report. I've uploaded the redacted document for your perusal. I also carried-out a Ze test (fine), RCD trip times (fine) and Zs tests on all the sockets (not fine). I also did end-to-end tests on two RFCs. The house ring was fine, but there is an issue with the kitchen ring. Someone (Kevin the kitchen-fitter, no doubt) has made alterations which have resulted in a complete loss of continuity of both CPCs at one of the kitchen sockets. Zero volts between live and both CPCs. So, whoever did the board changeovers either knew about this fault and simply ignored it, or, as is much more probable, didn't do any testing prior to installing the new boards. All the issues that I found are detailed in the VCR. I look forward to reading your comments!

Now for the moment that you've all been waiting for ...... the photos:

View attachment 45196

View attachment 45197

View attachment 45198

View attachment 45199

View attachment 45200

View attachment 45201

The customer informed me that it was a wetpants who did all of this. I've yet to decide a definite plan of action to rectify this lash-up, but I'm inclined towards ripping the lot out and starting again from scratch using a Hager unit instead as I absolutely hate BG boards. I think that the Axiom 3-way garage unit that is being used to supply three off-peak storage heaters should be replaced by a better-quality unit with 100 amp main switch and RCBOs. I propose to relocate this board further to the left so that I can utilise the adaptable box that is being obscured. I could then take all those bad joints inside the box and crimp them or use Wagos. Your thoughts please guys and gals.

As we all had already anticipated, the customer did not receive an EIC.

A very sensible and thorough use of a visual inspection form - the customer could almost copy and paste as his justification not to pay, or to pay a hugely reduced sum for the "work" undertaken.

Trading standards should be informed too IMHO

Good man.

johnduffell · Oct 25, 2018

Nice work! Hope the customer is satisfied.
Although comment would be you're only supposed to code non compliances that affect the safety of the installation, so lack of labelling could only be an observation could it?. Also no CPC continuity would not need further investigation in order to classify it, although investigation would be needed to repair. Should just be coded straight away.