Consumer unit change with a fault!

happyhippydad said:

Evening all..

I have just changed a CU. I did find a neutral - earth fault prior to the change so I thought I would probably have a tripping RCD.. which I did!

My dilema is how do I proceed with the paperwork?

I'm going back tomorrow morning to do all of the testing and I shall give the required certificates (with a note on regarding neutral/earth fault on downstairs lights), but I get the feeling the chap is going to hunt for the fault himself, the reason being it will require the floorboards being taking up and he doesn't want to incur anymore cost (fault is in a junction box(s), under the floorboards that someone has kindly wired all the downstairs lights from - took me a while to figure this out!)

The main point being that the work is notifiable, but I cant notify it if it still has faults! How do I proceed?

I realise I should have perhaps corrected the fault before the CU change, but the chap just wanted the new CU in and due to my inexperience I wasn't sure if the new CU would trip!

Cheers...

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GLENNSPARK said:

this is just rubbish...

this OP IS NOT COMPETENT!!

sorry hippy but i`v read loads of your posts and i wouldn`t let you any where near an electrical installation...

for the life of me:nonod:...

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markc123 said:

Haha, im impressed glenn ... you held your true feelings in for at least 4posts, but then it came blurting out coz ya couldn't help ya'sen could ya! lol

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uksparks said:

I've got a cu change next Tuesday which fingers crossed will be ok as it appeared to test out ok, but another that I still have to do had a couple of faults hich really need to be resolved first.

I think all I'd say is you should perhaps have fixed the fault before changing the cu, I know it's not always the way we think, but it tends to make things less complicated.

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sjhall said:

How is the lighting circuit on if you haven't fixed the fault?
On fixing the fault - let the guy make a start, pulling the boards up, exposing the Jbs, then you should be able to find and fix in no time.... Stick to your original price and put the extra time spent as a learning curve.

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GLENNSPARK said:

i dont know if i really should reply to this...

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Engineer54 said:

I'm not understanding this at all?? If you found that you had a problem prior to changing the CU why didn't you inform the customer at that time?? It's now down to you to sort the problem out, whether you can now charge him for any extra work is another matter. But you can't seriously be thinking of walking away from this installation knowing there is a fault on the installation surely??

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GLENNSPARK said:

this is just rubbish...

this OP IS NOT COMPETENT!!

sorry hippy but i`v read loads of your posts and i wouldn`t let you any where near an electrical installation...

for the life of me:nonod:...

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markc123 said:

Agreed.

You shoulda informed the client before hand, it's a regular occurance what's happened to be honest - but when you tell mr.smith that the nice new cu will be cutting out because he's got a fault 99% of the time they agree to the additional works. If they don't consent to it, write up a little contract stating that his electrics wont work once you've done the job get him to sign it and walk away laughing.

I kind of got that impression, I did speak to an electrician friend, who said just change it! Also another spark was on site who said this happened to him alot! No excuse for me to get into that habit though!

However...you're probably gonna have to sort this out for free. Remember next time, correct before the CU swap OR at least inform the client. You can fill in the EIC if you really want too, but if someone with a trained eye gets hold of it you're going to look rather silly - as readings will be unacceptable.

Yep

Correct the fault, then issue the paperwork. Only option im afraid. Best of luck!

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Murdoch said:

You need to include this caveat on your quote/estimate:

"NB: Should the testing of the existing circuits find any faults there may be additional charges. Such additions would be discussed with you at the time."

So did you leave them without lights then?

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dan86 said:

that's all well and good, but he needs to ACtually tell them of any existing faults which is where he let himself down!

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Murdoch said:

You need to include this caveat on your quote/estimate:

I shall definitely be doing that next time!

"NB: Should the testing of the existing circuits find any faults there may be additional charges. Such additions would be discussed with you at the time."

So did you leave them without lights then?

He has not moved into the house yet, but yes there were no downstairs lights, however sockets were on so light could have be plugged in.

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GLENNSPARK said:

this is just rubbish...

this OP IS NOT COMPETENT!!

sorry hippy but i`v read loads of your posts and i wouldn`t let you any where near an electrical installation...

for the life of me:nonod:...

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happyhippydad said:

I returned to the house this morning and found the following JB's under the floorboards in the bathroom:

View attachment 22848

No earth sleeving and one was touching the neutral terminal.

VERY glad I found the problem, but embarrassed not to have hunted for it before changing the CU, no charge.. Lesson learnt. :redface:

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happyhippydad said:

And you'll read alot more of them too Glen. Unlike the many new members who you have bullied and who will now be too afraid to ask any further questions It doesn't bother me.

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happyhippydad said:

I kind of got that impression, I did speak to an electrician friend, who said just change it!

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happyhippydad said:

And you'll read alot more of them too Glen. Unlike the many new members who you have bullied and who will now be too afraid to ask any further questions It doesn't bother me.

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