Board changes, customers and EIC's

[dtec dave]

Evening..I just wanted a bit of advice on the procedure to follow with regards to consumer unit changes, advice to customers and how to fill in an EIC. I have recently changed a consumer unit and I informed the customer beforehand that there may be faults on the system when the cables are checked. Low and behold when I checked the insulation resistance there was a cable down on a circuit. I have told the customer about it and told them I can investigate further, they then told me that they couldn't afford me doing remedial work and they would sort it out at a later date. How do I then fill out the EIC knowing there is a fault on the installation?

 

[dtec dave]

The problem is people post here and not use the tech lines of the schemes. You need to grow up.

Then what is the point of the forum? is it just a social thing? I Think I may have misunderstood the purpose of it. I have learnt loads more on here than I would have done ringing up the helpline, had some good advice in the past, but not without the obligatory 'muppet' jibes!

 

[Octopus]

Then what is the point of the forum? is it just a social thing? I Think I may have misunderstood the purpose of it. I have learnt loads more on here than I would have done ringing up the helpline, had some good advice in the past, but not without the obligatory 'muppet' jibes!

So how many times have you called Elecsa?

The problem with forums is that you WILL get a variety of opinions, and opinions are exactly that, opinions. When you next get to your Elecsa assessment you will be asked questions and saying that you do something because you read it on a forum will NOT earn you brownie points with your assessor.

This thread is a typical example of how opinions vary.

 

[Kate]

Its social and debate. Not a tech helpline

We help if we are asked nicely lol.

 

[telectrix]

your OP may have been badly worded, you got to accept some stick on a forum, same as you'd get on site. christ, i've been called worse things than muppet in my time, but having spent my early years being brought up in the shadow of the knotty ash jam butty mines, it's like water off a mersey duck's back. ( that's if a duck can survive in the mersey with all that polluted water coming down the manchester ship canal with archy's turds floating in it).

 

[Guest55]

but some of us are just starting out and just want to know how to get things 100% right.

by working along side someone more experienced for at least a year instead of rushing out as a 1 man band with a fist full of part p tickets.

 

[Des 56]

To be fair to dtec dave,I like his attitude

Quote
The muppets out there are the ones NOT on here asking questions but are going hell for leather, installing god knows what!!
Well said dtec dave

Quote
just want to know how to get things 100% right.
Your aims are commendable

 

[Guest55]

Then what is the point of the forum? is it just a social thing?

for many of the long term members , yes.

 

[micknew]

Completely agree with Murdoch.
Best you phone ELECSA if your fed up with the advice you have got.
They're very helpful, don't know why you didn't do that in the first place.

 

[dtec dave]

Completely agree with Murdoch.
Best you phone ELECSA if your fed up with the advice you have got.
They're very helpful, don't know why you didn't do that in the first place.

Because it wasn't a technical question I was asking, it was a question asking experienced electricians how they go about doing a board change in relation to finding faults when doing the EIC after the board change. I thought it was a decent question to ask and amongst all the flack I've had I have actually got some decent answers, which I thank everyone for. I'm not sure I would of had a decent answer from Elecsa on this subject.

 

[micknew]

Because it wasn't a technical question I was asking, it was a question asking experienced electricians how they go about doing a board change in relation to finding faults when doing the EIC after the board change. I thought it was a decent question to ask and amongst all the flack I've had I have actually got some decent answers, which I thank everyone for. I'm not sure I would of had a decent answer from Elecsa on this subject.

Why slag off the forum members then?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Here is a thread I started recently which you might find useful http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...ectrical-forum/83094-cu-change-checklist.html also pop in 'cu changes and you' into the search bar and a thread by Jason will come up which is very useful.

I would always do at least a global N-E IR check on the pre-work visit as it will show up any possible faults which will trip your sparkly new RCD's, you can then warn the customer before hand and avoid any embarrasment. I didn't do this on my very first CU change (not that long ago) and there was a fault and panic set in!!!

You dont have to spend 2 hours testing for free before hand but I would certainly do everything on the above check list (perhaps 1/2 hour in total) .

As the others have said 7Mohms is well within the regulations.

 

[ArseyDee]

Because it wasn't a technical question I was asking, it was a question asking experienced electricians how they go about doing a board change in relation to finding faults when doing the EIC after the board change. I thought it was a decent question to ask and amongst all the flack I've had I have actually got some decent answers, which I thank everyone for. I'm not sure I would of had a decent answer from Elecsa on this subject.

Mine was the best answer though............and the shortest..........and the most friendly!

 

[NJG28]

Evening..I just wanted a bit of advice on the procedure to follow with regards to consumer unit changes, advice to customers and how to fill in an EIC. I have recently changed a consumer unit and I informed the customer beforehand that there may be faults on the system when the cables are checked. Low and behold when I checked the insulation resistance there was a cable down on a circuit. I have told the customer about it and told them I can investigate further, they then told me that they couldn't afford me doing remedial work and they would sort it out at a later date. How do I then fill out the EIC knowing there is a fault on the installation?

This Q was asked at an open forum at Elex2013in Coventry. The panel consisted of guys from NIC Elecsa & Napit. They were all a bit sheepish & mumbled it was "difficult". When pressed the best they came up with was to include a clause in contract stating acceptance of quote/ contract also included acceptance of requirement for remedial work apparent when CU completely tested at additional cost.

Whether this would hold water in court I have no idea but its better than nothing.

I sympathise as I find INSISTING on FULL EICR prior to board change, as some advise, effectively prices you out of the job. However the ESC best practice guide on this subject recommends minimum tests that won't take long & will help with some installs upfront.

I did CU change once & found massive continuity readings on 1 light circuit. I had done work for customers before & had explained as you had re unknown issues. Customers weren't bothered & said "don't issue cert then, no one ever has in past electrical work we've had done" Had a stand up row & eventually they accepted. Took me a day crawling in attic to find 2 old roses used as JBs where cables simply fell out with slight tug.

After that I put clause in contract as above.

Guess in your case you can only put comment in EIC as suggested earlier if customers refuse remedial.

However I agree with others - would be smiling & presenting my invoice at 7Mohms

 

[Hawkmoon]

That's 7000 ohms you do know yeah? Good for a while yet, let the guy who does the EICR in 10 years worry about it!

Should you even be doing electrical work??

Stop before you kill someone!!!


:wink_smile:

 

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for the constructive criticism, are you one of those members that answers questions to try and look good in front of other members by insulting people just starting out?

We all had to start somewhere but the view held by most in this forum is that someone 'just starting out' should be supervised until sufficiently competent.
Oh and I don't believe the responses are 'to look good' to others because we all know we are a pretty ugly bunch!