Thanks to everyone for all the info, I really do appreciate it.
The good news is I eventually finished the job by fitting a surface mount backbox over the old ones, carefuly extending the rubber wiring by a couple of inches and fitting new press on press off switches which she should be able to...
Reading my post above back now I apologise if I sounded harsh. You're obviously at a low point where things are getting on top of you and I wish you all the best and I really hope you stick it out and get motivated again. I'm sure your career change choice will pay off and you'll have a wide...
When I was an apprentice we were taught by a journeyman who always said smokers make far better refrigeration techs than non smokers because things take time with refrigeration and smokers are a lot more patient, they'll light up a smoke and wait for an outcome or result to an action without...
A lot of my comments will be repeats of others;
You're lucky. It's easier to become respectably quick at the job than it is to have to go back and fill gaps in your theory knowledge. Reading between the lines it sounds like a confidence issue more than anything else, you're doubting yourself...
As per Tim, check the circuit neutral isn't accidentally behind the cage clamp termination of the RCBO instead of inside it. Could be an upstream neutral fault but that would probably affect other ccts. Faulty RCBO is also possible.
I have a very small tool pouch that can be shoulder strap or carried on your belt. It's very good quality and I've had mine around 5 years and it still looks good. It's just a grab kit for quotes and small jobs and it fits a few screwdrivers, flashlight, panel key, some knipex 7 in 1 pliers...
What Mech Eng course are you doing and how far along are you.
I only know the UK routes from 40 year ago although I believe it's still the same. It's unlikely you can go straight from an HND or equivalent straight into a Masters program as mentioned above unless you've got an extrordinary work...
I'm not a domestic sparky but I would consider myself competent to complete this work safely. I don't have tools because I'm here on holiday from Cape Town and staying at my sisters house, I didn't bring any tools and unfortunately she doesn't have any either. If I really need tools I'l buy some...
I see it's an emergency light. Will it operate on its motion sensor if it has permanent 230v supply?
All the switches are downstairs. The first switch in the opening post is in an external cupboard/room which I think was a coal store originally. The second switch is for the kitchen and the last...
I wanted to run a thought I had past you guys to see if it might be compliant. The ceiling light fitting is also broken so I was thinking of killing two birds with one stone and just replace the light fitting with an LED 20w or 30w floodlight with a built-in motion sensor and wire it in the...
She says she's lived in the house for 70 plus years and the wiring hasn't been altered. Unfortunately the CU is under the stairs along with about 10 heavy boxes from when she packed everything upstairs away so I couldn't get to it or even see it.
I'm heading back there on Monday to get some more war time stories and investigate further. I'll replace the entire surface mounted metal switch in the first photo and armed with new knowledge I'm going to try to remove the face plates on the other two. The house is in Denton which is about 5...
I'm tempted to sub contract this out to someone who's got tools and a van full of parts. I thought it was an easy like for like replacement until I popped in today to have a look but I'm now worried I start this and the VIR disintegrates or there's another problem that means I can't complete the...
Thanks, you've kinda touched on my next question.
Are the backboxes going to be compatible with the switches available today? I was desparately hoping not to have to replace the backboxes. I also don't want to remove them to investigate because it's cotton wrapped VIR wiring so the less I...
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