Am I being a snob, or is this actually dangerous

[Inteificio]

On a distribution board last week in a farm house, I saw 2 core 4mm SWA with the sheath terminated by having a couple of strands in a terminal block.

A photo would save a thousand words, but I found out on that day that my camera phone is not waterproof =-(

The other sparky on site said it is fine if the Zs is in, which I accepted at the time.

Then I got thinking, the Zs will make sure the fuse trips, but how can you guarantee conductor safety while the fuse is tripping?
We had a similar issue in our factory where a spark proved that a distribution circuit would blow in 4s, within the limit. However I pointed out the wires would be melting the insulation after 1s.

I can do the calcs to prove how hot that conductor will get, but that is not sparky level maths and I know the guy who installed it won't be able to do that.

So my question is:

When is it ever safe to terminate only a couple of strands of the armouring on SWA when it is being used as the CPC.

This is quite important as I am going to be politely confronting the guy, and I don't want to risk causing offence if I am wrong. I will be the first to admit domestic is not my speciality.

 

[baldsparkies]

Guys we operate in the real world. This is a storm in the proverbial. Or dare I say Mountain out of mole hill. (Might explain the mountain bike though)

 

[Inteificio]

Yeesh am I not allowed to go mountain biking for the weekend? My life does not revolve around my parents install!

It will be fixed.

p.s. The job is 99% done, all the other trades finished on schedule pre-Christmas. All I have to wait for him to do is tidy a few things up and see what condition he leaves it in. Think the place is bloody unlikely to burn down in the next few weeks, I have seen FAR worse electrics than this in the past (lets not start on my place!, conduit in the walls, but all wiring done in singles and hanging free).

 

[Engineer54]

Errrr!! What's wrong with conduit in the walls??? Dammed sight better than T&E in the walls!! Sounds like you need to get this sparks across to your place then, to rip out all that pukka conduit, and replace with that wonderful T&E stuff ...lol!!!

I have no idea what your relationship is with your parents, ....but my parents safety would have always come before going out on a bike ride!! ...But there you go, were all different aren't we!! lol!!

 

[Inteificio]

I forgot to mention the key bit, the conduit is fine, actually really well done.

The issue is that the wires are not in it. Some stupid spark put all the effort in to getting the conduit spot on then just hung the wires loose in the wall!

There was a missing section of CPC from my boiler to me main board. I only found this out when I spotted that my water pipe bonding was blackened (this is before I was a spark).

 

[Andy 7671]

Too many tangents for me to take this seriously anymore.

 

[Inteificio]

Well the original thread was finished AGES ago, tangents is all that is left.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

well as far as i remember it was about heat coeficciency of mild steel wasn`t it....now it seems we`v moved onto tangents.......sounds more and more like you are trying to showcase something here...yourself?.....a new program maybe?....

 

[Inteificio]

Although I could probably do something like that in Excel, do you really think there would be much need?

As mentioned a few times before, it is best just to stick the friking gland on!

 

[alarm man]

It does kind of shock me, even taking in to account that this sparky knew that I was an electrical engineer and was probably going to have a nosey at his work.

ive read ALL your posts...electrical engineer?? your nowhere near even being an apprentice spark....billy liar....

 

[Inteificio]

oooh bitchy.

If we are being picky.

trained scientist who spent too many years behind a desk, retraining in electrics, with job title of electrical engineer.

Due to this some very basic knowledge I lack, hence why I spend so much time on here trying to learn from you guys. I do have my specialist areas though.

I should point out this is a forum, who tells 100% of the truth all the time?

 

[1shortcircuit]

Is this going to turn out to be another one of those threads where handbags start getting slung around and I don't get to see any bloomin pictures or ever see the last update?

Come on, grown up adults trained in professional fields? I sometimes wonder lol

Far too many brain cells but not enough courtesy on here at times!!!

 

[alarm man]

oooh bitchy.

If we are being picky.

trained scientist who spent too many years behind a desk, retraining in electrics, with job title of electrical engineer.

Due to this some very basic knowledge I lack, hence why I spend so much time on here trying to learn from you guys. I do have my specialist areas though.

I should point out this is a forum, who tells 100% of the truth all the time?

i thought sparks trained to be engineers,never seen an engineer train to be a spark...tho ignore me,im going to docs in morning to be certified mad..not before long some would say..:dozey:

 

[netblindpaul]

alarm man ^ I did!
Through choice.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Is this going to turn out to be another one of those threads where handbags start getting slung around and I don't get to see any bloomin pictures or ever see the last update?

Come on, grown up adults trained in professional fields? I sometimes wonder lol

Far too many brain cells but not enough courtesy on here at times!!!

hmm...havn`t decided yet short.....i`l have a think about it.....

 

[alarm man]

alarm man ^ I did!
Through choice.

they say prozac is good stuff..might go with that..