Borrowed Live rather than borrowed Neutral

[Leah]

So my first solo job after my assessment turned out to be fun. The customer's plasterer had removed light fittings and switches a pretty much everything had come loose, after much head scratching I realised that the live from the downstairs had been borrowed in the hall switch (I'm assuming because whoever wired it didn't have 3 core on the van that day), this would have been easy to spot if everything had been terminated but with it all out it took me a while.

Anyway with that done could someone advise me on what recommendations I should be giving the customer, is it just that they should where possible make anyone working on these circuits aware of this and that if they upgrade the board (which they are planning to do in the future) then this with throw the RCD's - is there anything else I'm missing.

Obviously I'm hoping to get the job to fit a new CU, should this happen and I right in just quoting to re-wire the 2 way with 3 core rather than putting both circuits on the same RCD?

 

[telectrix]

as you say, far better to rewire with 3 core strappers and get the L from upstairs. the cheap alternative is to put both circuits on the same MCB.

 

[Jabbajaws]

I love this method with the 3 core for the 2 way switching as its much simpler.

My friend who still uses t/e for strappers and singles had this argument with me when l asked him why he didnt use 3 core. Infact l had nagged at him to do someone's extension in 3 core for the lighting until it came to finishing the 2nd fix as there was a 3 gang 2 way switch left.


"okay then bright spark," he said, " i'd like to see you fit all of those conductors into that 25mm backbox"(which could not be altered due to the design).

He then sarcastically added, "Now you know why l don't use 3 core for 2 way switches".

Doh!!! to JabberJaws

 

[gazj82]

Can you still buy 1.5 double insulated singles then? I got some around that came from my retired uncle's old firm, you know just in case

 

[Jabbajaws]

Of course you can. Most electrical wholesalers do them. Obviously they're brown now. Or are you asking about the old red 1.5 singles?

 

[gazj82]

I was on about brown, my old stock is red though
Never thought of asking the wholesalers for it, that's why I didn't know if they did it.

 

[telectrix]

it's not double insulated. it's insulated and sheathed. pedantic i know, but sod it. at 66 i'm entitled to be grumpy. take a whielt o catch up with tony, though. :smilielol5:

 

[gazj82]

Hey I feel grumpy at 30! Learn something new everyday.

 

[telectrix]

30? just out of nappies then. LOL.