Been told my install is dangerous! Is it? (with pic)

[cable_guy]

Hi all,

I'm new here, so hi!

I know nothing about electrics, but am thinking of selling my house and I'm hoping someone can help me please.

A couple of years ago I had my electric shower fixed, and in doing so the electrician saw my main install and said that he shouldn't really touch it as it's too old. Don't think he was trying to con me as the electric shower was an insurance job so he knew he wasn't going to get any money out of me etc......

Does this look like I should get it upgraded please?

If so, any idea how much it'd cost me to do?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[cable_guy]

Possible nick but i would suggest if you look realy hard i think that its a twin and you can just see it pass the top corner of the cut out fixing board and continue down the celing.

But hey im sure it wouldnt be the fist time either us have traced a cable wron.

Jim

is this picture any better? sorry about the shoddy pic its quite hard to take photos in there!

eskimo39 - There aren't any green or yellow cables I can see, and I live in the middle of a city. £400-600 best case bang goes my recessed spot lights I think then!!!

 

[nickblake]

Well there is one thing i will say ,call your electrical supplier and get them to check see if the earth has been installed its labled as a PME (TNCS) so it should be ,there is no visable earth comming from the cutout , but seeing the closer picture and with the old obsolete RCD im now sure its a TT system ,having said that the main cable looks like its relativly new ,concientric type

 

[nickblake]

Black rubber if your house has it ,unfortunatly it will need a rewire , black rubber disintegrates rapidy , it tends to get brittle and basically crumbles away , may be perfectly alright , but in the many cases ive seen it may not

 

[Des 56]

Its good luck with that photo
The pme earth is available,which is a very good start

4.5 and 6 hundred for a consumer unit change

I am shocked as well.you wouldn't get those sort of prices in my 3rd world area
250 maximum,city slicker cprices "say another ton"

My I sometimes wish I lived in a city
In answer to the cable type

They are now trying to frighten your bank manager

If it is Vir,then the installation will become an expensive pain
I suspect the shower spark would have told you if that were the case
An onsite assessment by a local spark may be your best way forward

I dont go much for your method of looking for a spark
Perhaps go on the competent person website and search for an electrician who is registered for Periodic inspection by the schemes

 

[NEsparky]

Im affraid the electric board are no better than the rest of us if they fitted it on a friday and its all they had in the van it is more than possible you have a TT and a TNCS cut out.

Your visible cables look painted at top of CCU (fuse box) so you may not be able to see them.

Im affraid they are all right though you need a sparks to have a look at it try and find one recommended by a friend.

Good luck

Jim

 

[cable_guy]

I dont go much for your method of looking for a spark
Perhaps go on the competent person website and search for an electrician who is registered for Periodic inspection by the schemes

Hi Des, thanks for the advice. I'm not sure what you mean, is there some sort of registered professional electrician website I've not seen?

I have submitted my tender to ratedpeople.com to get sparkies out to have a closer look at it to see what they will charge, do you think thats a good idea?

 

[nickblake]

Hi cable guy if you go on the elecsa nic napit websites you can search for a regestered spark have alook may be helpful

 

[cable_guy]

Hi cable guy if you go on the elecsa nic napit websites you can search for a regestered spark have alook may be helpful

cheers, a lad from a firm in crewe has got back in touch with me already about coming to have a look on Wednesday, but searching for his company's name on NICEIC doesn't say that he's on there!! Should I ask to see any of his papers etc if I want him to do the work?

 

[BluSparx]

cheers, a lad from a firm in crewe has got back in touch with me already about coming to have a look on Wednesday, but searching for his company's name on NICEIC doesn't say that he's on there!! Should I ask to see any of his papers etc if I want him to do the work?

He may be registered with another body i.e. Elecsa or Napit these are similar to NICEIC only the NICEIC are more known however as long as he is registered for one of these schemes for any work carried out if you agree for him to put right anything that needs doing otherwise you will have to pay for Local Authority Building Control to check the work complies with Part P regulations.

Check out my website for more info on Part P or visit Welcome to ELECSA or Part P | Electricians | Building Regulations - NAPIT UK

 

[Des 56]

cheers, a lad from a firm in crewe has got back in touch with me already about coming to have a look on Wednesday, but searching for his company's name on NICEIC doesn't say that he's on there!! Should I ask to see any of his papers etc if I want him to do the work?

The niceic is just one of the schemes
Look at the communities and local government website for competent persons
State where you live and a list of people from the 3 main schemes will be available
Click on the individuals name and check thier scope with the scheme providor as to whether they are covered for test and inspection(pir)

There are various levels of competence
Full scope(they can install and self certify all domestic installations
Full scope with Pir approval (they can do a pir under the banner of the scheme)
Defined scope These are other trades who can do work associated with their tade example Plummers kitchen fitters etc
The defined scope members are prone to taking on work they are not permitted because "they have their part p" or some other useless jargon that theys spout

The main schemes are niceic,napit,elecsa(eca)

If you employ someone who is not registered then by law you have to inform bulding control and follow their procedure as regards notifiable work under part p of the building regs and pay a large fee
If they are not listed, then they are not registered,so chose carefully

 

[nickblake]

i know this may sound a daft question but what do your light switches / sockets look like

 

[cable_guy]

i know this may sound a daft question but what do your light switches / sockets look like

no not like that, white plastic ones, what I'd call normal switches/sockets!!

Thanks for the info, are they called professional bodies, or just called "electrical schemes"

 

[ezzzekiel]

agree totally with Des,

just because its old dont mean its a problem a full inspection would need to be carried out, the voelcb are no longer approved

 

[icecoolwas]

Hi all,

I'm new here, so hi!

I know nothing about electrics, but am thinking of selling my house and I'm hoping someone can help me please.

A couple of years ago I had my electric shower fixed, and in doing so the electrician saw my main install and said that he shouldn't really touch it as it's too old. Don't think he was trying to con me as the electric shower was an insurance job so he knew he wasn't going to get any money out of me etc......

Does this look like I should get it upgraded please?

If so, any idea how much it'd cost me to do?

Many thanks in advance.

No idea, I have the exact same electrical layout in my garage though

 

[JUD]

cheers, a lad from a firm in crewe has got back in touch with me already about coming to have a look on Wednesday, but searching for his company's name on NICEIC doesn't say that he's on there!! Should I ask to see any of his papers etc if I want him to do the work?

Try searching on HERE.

This covers all the schemes