How would you describe the dangers, when they say it all works

Optimus · Nov 12, 2018

Hello everybody! I'm currently completing evening classes at my local college to get my level 2, recently I have been taking a look at the consumer's unit of friends, family (this sounds really sad as I'm typing it) just to gain some more experience of the various types, intake, earthing arrangements etc. Stuff that I don't see in college basically. Well today I saw this at my uncles, who recently had an extension done. That rcbo that is second from the left, is feeding an oven, a microwave, 2 sockets and about 20 recessed lights in the kitchen.

I need some help in explaining why this is dangerous to someone that replys "but it works perfectly"

[ElectriciansForums.net] How would you describe the dangers, when they say it all works

marconi · Nov 12, 2018

The first thing for you to do is develop your powers of critical inspection by studying the first and second images very carefully.

snowhead · Nov 12, 2018

Just studying the 2 RCBO's in the 2nd image might be a start to validate the O.P's statement.

Is that copper I see on that BLUE cable?

buzzlightyear · Nov 12, 2018

looking at the other rcbos they need attention has well .
but on the front of the that consumer it should say isolate before opening this cover .does it not .

Pete999 · Nov 12, 2018

Well for starters the CU is a right mess, is that blue conductor connected to the Live terminal? you say it's feeding a oven, microwave and some lights, that's bad circuit design, what size is the cable feeding this lot?

buzzlightyear · Nov 12, 2018

looks like some body's charged the shower cable or installed it
no rcbo on that .

Optimus · Nov 12, 2018

Right now, the only cover that it has is the door of the cupboard that it is in, I'm assured that the cover is around somewhere and will be fitted as soon as

I did check the oven isolator plate, after switching off main switch, and the wires were in the correct terminals there. I'm not clued up enough to to explain the dangers of the wires being in the incorrect terminals of the rcbo

marconi · Nov 12, 2018

One worrying thought is 'what else has been wrongly connected'?

There are so many learning points which are going to come out of this for you. How is most functional switching done? How do most/all(?) new socket outlets switch L and N - what order do the contacts make/break and why? What is the potential of the incoming N with respect to terra firma? What happens if the fuse blows in a plug connected to a socket with L and N reversed?

davesparks · Nov 12, 2018

Presumably that circuit is a submain?

buzzlightyear · Nov 12, 2018

any body spotted the neutral is in the live in that rcbo on the left side.

DPG · Nov 12, 2018

Yes Buzz. See above

frontier219 · Nov 12, 2018

Someone didn't take their colour blindness test then...

plugsandsparks · Nov 12, 2018

I always explain that getting things to work is very easy , getting stuff to fail elegantly and pose no danger to people or the building is the hard bit. Most sites use ADS to make an installation safe under fault conditions but the installation has to be designed, installed and tested to make sure it does in fact fail nicely, otherwise its really really bad... lol

marconi · Nov 12, 2018

Optimus these for example:

Re Davesparks #9 - Presumably that circuit is a submain?

Re Plugsandspeaks #13 - Most sites use ADS to make an installation safe under fault conditions

MFS Electrical · Nov 12, 2018

Don’t forget the mixing of manufacturers breakers voids the warranty, whoever fitted them becomes responsible for designing the consumer unit and it can no longer be rated at 16kA as a whole unit because it hasn’t been tested to comply. Naughty Naughty! Another pleb purporting to be an Electrician me thinks or just a cowboy.