Could someone please tell me if this is right or wrong please.

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

Right or wrong please? , if wrong, what needs to be done to fix it? thanks in advance.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Could someone please tell me if this is right or wrong please.

James · Nov 14, 2023

Very wrong.
dangerous
and untidy.

I can’t see a single cable that has been landed and terminated correctly.
it needs ripping out and doing again, your average first year apprentice would do a better job than that.

James · Nov 14, 2023

Just out of interest, what is the back story here?

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

James said:
Just out of interest, what is the back story here?

Hi James, i work away and a company has installed this in one of the warehouses, i don't think it looks correct, e.g. big coils of cable acting like an element, but i am not an electrician, so i was hoping for some guidance.

westward10 · Nov 14, 2023

The supply is using black as neutral and blue as a line. I would seriously question the competence of someone who cannot even get that correct.

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

westward10 said:
The supply is using black as neutral and blue as a line. I would seriously question the competence of someone who cannot even get that correct.

Thank you for this

westward10 · Nov 14, 2023

The only conductor in the correct place is the brown.

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

westward10 said:
The only conductor in the correct place is the brown.

Like i said i am definitely not an electrician, but i knew something was wrong, just did not realise that nearly everything is wrong, thank you for the help and advise, feel free to add more problems, if you see any more.

pc1966 · Nov 14, 2023

westward10 said:
The supply is using black as neutral and blue as a line. I would seriously question the competence of someone who cannot even get that correct.

I am wondering how much of this photo is new and how much old?

I.e. maybe it was old colours with black on the neutral bar, and someone has used new colour SWA and got their undergarments in a twist trying to work out what to do.

If it was old colours and new SWA, then blue tape on the existing neutrals and putting in the new colours correctly would be the right thing to do. The other tape also is not quite right, if they were using yellow to identify L2 and blue for L3 then why no red for L1? And why not use the new colours correctly?

And while it is good to leave enough slack so the next spark can re-terminate without stress is excellent practice, it should not be enough to hang yourself with!

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

pc1966 said:
I am wondering how much of this photo is new and how much old?

I.e. maybe it was old colours with black on the neutral bar, and someone has used new colour SWA and got their undergarments in a twist trying to work out what to do.

If it was old colours and new SWA, then blue tape on the existing neutrals and putting in the new colours correctly would be the right thing to do. The other tape also is not quite right, if they were using yellow to identify L2 and blue for L3 then why no red for L1? And why not use the new colours correctly?

And while it is good to leave enough slack so the next spark can re-terminate without stress is excellent practice, it should not be enough to hang yourself with!

Hi, it is a new installation, not in the UK, unfortunately this is what have to deal with, so looks like i need them back in and to do it correctly as per all the comments and suggestions above, thank you for the advise.

pc1966 · Nov 14, 2023

Steve138 said:
Hi, it is a new installation, not in the UK, unfortunately this is what have to deal with, so looks like i need them back in and to do it correctly as per all the comments and suggestions above, thank you for the advise.

Dare I ask where?

i.e. to what national standard should it be constructed/installed?

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

pc1966 said:
Dare I ask where?

i.e. to what national standard should it be constructed/installed?

Supposed to be to British standards, unfortunately, everyone seems to be an engineer over here in Lagos Nigeria, even the people who work in the markets, I knew a lot was wrong with the DB even though I'm not a spark, but you guys have highlighted so much more.

James · Nov 14, 2023

In the uk we would expect the correct glands to be used for each of the armoured cables so the armour is earthed.
this has not been done on any of the cables visible in the photo.

uk spec would be
L1 brown
L2 black
L3 grey
N blue

if the cables are terminated correctly at the other end and incorrectly (as shown) at this end then 2/3 of the single phase equipment is likley to be destroyed and the remaining 1/3 is dangerous as the N will be switched instead of the live so the circuit breaker of fuse will break the N not the live in the event of a fault.

Steve138 · Nov 14, 2023

James said:
In the uk we would expect the correct glands to be used for each of the armoured cables so the armour is earthed.
this has not been done on any of the cables visible in the photo.

uk spec would be
L1 brown
L2 black
L3 grey
N blue

if the cables are terminated correctly at the other end and incorrectly (as shown) at this end then 2/3 of the single phase equipment is likley to be destroyed and the remaining 1/3 is dangerous as the N will be switched instead of the live so the circuit breaker of fuse will break the N not the live in the event of a fault.

Thanks James, that's very helpful, give s me loads to get sorted now, fingers crossed for a safe outcome.