Advice please

[asqs342]

Hi all,

I need some advice please from the experts on here. My cousin was having a problem with neusance tripping on a split board. He called a local sparks and he has removed the RCD's, installed a large buzz bar and linked the neutral bars using 6mm. I have questioned this and really need some advice on the safety of this?

Many thanks

 

[Deleted member 9648]

The rcd is there for a reason and tripping for a reason,that reason needs to be established and rectified. Unless the so called electrician has removed the RCD as a temporary measure to restore supply and has assessed the risk of doing so..(unlikely)...he is a cowboy and you should get it checked by a competant person without delay.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Sounds like a cowboy to me!! This has not solved the problem but buried it. :/
Post your cousins location on the jobs section of this site and hooefully one of our trusted sparks will be here to help.
Tests should be done to find what was causing the tripping. Than the fault found and fixed.
taking it off an RCD could be potentially dangerous as it leaves exposed extrenous parts unprotected. It leaves whatever causing the fault to possible becone worse and cause danger. Good luck

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[baldelectrician]

It ain't rocket science- your 'spark' obviously hasn't got (or doesn't know how to use) the relevant test equipment

Get someone that knows what they are doing

You should use a competent person for the work, links below
In Scotland:
Individuals registered;
Building Standards Division Certification Register - Maintenance - Approved Certifier List
Companies
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/Sear...struction&ID=2
In England and Wales:
Competent Persons Register | Home

 

[asqs342]

After getting more info. His house had an old wire fuse board which got changed a few weeks ago to this new one. The tripping started and its the same guy who came out and modified his work. He said that it will be safer than the old box as it is now. Is this correct? He also said to find the fault would take a lot of time and mess and therefore cost which was the major problem. Is this the case?

 

[trev]

Your cousin's local spark is a cowboy. His actions and advice are incredibly dangerous. What he has done could in worst case scenario endanger your cousins and his/her familys lives.
Post up your location as soon as possible mate, a real electrician will put it right

 

[telectrix]

just wondering what th spark entered on his test schedules when he changed the CU. don't tell me " what test schedules?"

 

[Rockingit]

He said that it will be safer than the old box as it is now. Is this correct?

NO, not really. The old box was designed to accomodate and protect the circuits in the installation, the new box has been modifed against manufacturers instructions, the protective devices in it have very different characteristics depending on several other factors, and if the premises are supplied by what we call a TT system (as in, what the national grid push into the house) then the presence of an RCD is mandatory.

 

[Engineer54]

It ain't rocket science- your 'spark' obviously hasn't got (or doesn't know how to use) the relevant test equipment

Get someone that knows what they are doing

In England and Wales:
Competent Persons Register | Home[/QUOTE]


I don't know about Scotland, but being a scheme provider member, doe's not make you a competent electrician!! Have you not been reading of the numerous examples of so-called assessed scheme provider members that have been proved woefully lacking in being anything like competent, some alarmingly so..... So i'm afraid your link ain't gonna guarantee you finding a competent electrician in England and Wales... Best way , as has always been, by word of mouth from recommendations of satisfied customers.

 

[Marvo]

It's not an uncommon situation but it's certainly not the way a professional electrician would address the issue. He hasn't fixed the fault he's just used a workaround at the expense of your safety.

When a CU is upgraded to have RCD protection there's often previously existing problems with the circuits around the house that will cause the new RCD to trip. These faults need to be localised and fixed. This can become a bone of contention if the customer wasn't made aware before the upgrade and obviously the electrician doesn't want to spend possibly hours fixing faults that were pre-existing and the customer now doesn't want to pay for.

You'll need an electrician that knows how to use a tester and the customer would need to cough up for the repairs.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Incompetence of the highest order. Sounds like the so called spark didn't know how to correct the mess he had created with the board change. Post the location and get local forum member to put it right.

 

[Octopus]

After getting more info. His house had an old wire fuse board which got changed a few weeks ago to this new one. The tripping started and its the same guy who came out and modified his work. He said that it will be safer than the old box as it is now. Is this correct? He also said to find the fault would take a lot of time and mess and therefore cost which was the major problem. Is this the case?

Sounds like a load of cobblers, does your cousin have the Electrical Installation Certificate? A Receipt/Invoice from the Sparky? The confirmation of notification to LABC from Elecsa or Napit or NICEIC???

 

[Inteificio]

You know it would have been faster to put a paper clip linking the top and bottom of the RCD, this would prevent nuisance tripping too ;-)

 

[Inteificio]

I should add the problem should not take long to identify, basic electrical testing.
Depending on the fault it could be quite complex to fix once identified, but there are always shortcuts.
eg if two circuits have a shared neutral, it might be impractical to repair (as ripping walls ceilings open), but putting both circuits on the same side of the split board would be fine. Not perfect, but fine. Everything would be RCD protected.

 

[baileysufc]

so by what you are saying your cousin has payed for something that the spark has just taken back nice little earner for him but on a serious note i would get it looked at by a (proffesional)spark ,by rights he should of identified this when he tested before he removed the old board.