Botchit and scarper

[ed-ectrician]

Had a job today. Bloke says 'my downlight in the bathroom doesnt work'

The muppet who installed the electrics has just stuck normal ip20 downlights in, including in zone one. At least they're SELV. Open one up and find this...



Oh blimey that doesnt look healthy now does it. I reckoned it was moisture causing a dead short. The transformer was fine.

Went to the kitchen and, instead of junction box for under cabinet lights they just terminal blocked them and screwed terminal block to underside of cabinets. No- they were not selv, they were 230v!!

Mental the stuff people do. Do u think they are unaware or consciously doing it?!?!

Ed

 

[Dipzy]

use a magnet to find screws/nails in a ceiling....... what a good idea, thanks for that.:yes:

 

[telectrix]

Nothing wrong with Halogens....

BTW, better than drilling holes to find the joists, go along the ceiling with a magnet to find the lines of nails/screws.

hope the builders dont read this post. they'll start using copper nails.

 

[ackbarthestar]

if in doubt, i drill a series of 3mm holes. if i find a joist, i then move across a bit. once you've found a joist or 2, you can then replan the positions. then a few small blobs of filler. job's a good 'un.

I use a similar method but after you've established where the joists are you end up cutting the hole and hit a nogging half way up the joist and across the place where your light fitting is going to go....a right pain sometimes. So I now use a long terminal screwdriver and have a good wiggle around where I want the fitting to go.

I gave up on ELV MR16 halogen fittings over 5 years ago for the reasons stated above and used GU10 IP rated bathroom fittings.

Always worried me about the amount of heat generated by those fittings after a couple of fires caused by labourers stuffing the spaces above with thermal insulation, and have changed over to GU10 LEDs which seem to compensate for all the negatives

- - - Updated - - -

if in doubt, i drill a series of 3mm holes. if i find a joist, i then move across a bit. once you've found a joist or 2, you can then replan the positions. then a few small blobs of filler. job's a good 'un.

I use a similar method but after you've established where the joists are you end up cutting the hole and hit a nogging half way up the joist and across the place where your light fitting is going to go....a right pain sometimes. So I now use a long terminal screwdriver and have a good wiggle around where I want the fitting to go.

I gave up on ELV MR16 halogen fittings over 5 years ago for the reasons stated above and used GU10 IP rated bathroom fittings.

Always worried me about the amount of heat generated by those fittings after a couple of fires caused by labourers stuffing the spaces above with thermal insulation, and have changed over to GU10 LEDs which seem to compensate for all the negatives

 

[Stroppy]

use a magnet to find screws/nails in a ceiling....... what a good idea, thanks for that.:yes:

I use one out of a computer hard drive - they are extremely powerful, and as they are bolted together in pairs they come with handy holes to attach them to a bit of wire so are useful for fishing with in inaccessible places. But yes, copper nails would be rubbish, from both trades point of view!

 

[Dipzy]

Don't think many builders will use copper nails to hang plasterboard with as the drylining screws will be cheaper and are widely used these days.

 

[Stroppy]

I can't imagine anyone using copper nails on account of their softness - they would be hopeless.

 

[telectrix]

you have no choice on boats. copper or brass. anything else will rot away in no time. especially marine.

 

[Stroppy]

Do they have plasterboard ceilings and joists on boats?

 

[telectrix]

no, but they have copper sheathing nailed to the hull with copper nails. inside the hull, the ribs could loosely be described as joists. the hull planking is attached with, guess...... copper nails.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Do they have plasterboard ceilings and joists on boats?

Some do, canal/house boats for instance.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Do many people fit downlighters to the underside of their hulls?

 

[Stroppy]

You took the words from my mouth (fingers), Archy!

 

[telectrix]

they'd have to be water rated, not fire rated.

 

[Silly Sausage]

IP68, come on!

 

[telectrix]

was waiting for that.

 

[Silly Sausage]

OK, the Brandy & Baileys is starting to work...

 

[Robotstar5]

no, but they have copper sheathing nailed to the hull with copper nails. inside the hull, the ribs could loosely be described as joists. the hull planking is attached with, guess...... copper nails.

There's going to be a few folks with wet feet when the pikeys find out

 

[PEG]

Nowt wrong with copper,Romans could harden it and made tools,used them on roofing builds and no problem sending them in. I would suspect anyone who used them for a bathroom ceiling to have took the trouble to have a decent electrical install to match.

 

[grantr37]

are you sure that this is the work of Botchit and Scarper and not maybe the work of Drunken and Burney ?

 

[SparkyJoe]

Use a stud detector myself saves mess, and messing about with magnets.. lol

 

[Stroppy]

You have to wave both over the ceiling/wall to establish where they are, and my magnet never runs out of batteries!

 

[snowhead]

Do many people fit downlighters to the underside of their hulls?

Only once.