Cant find fault!

[rob121]

Hi All,
First just wanted to say I passed my domestic installer a couple of weeks ago, so a big thankyou to al those who gave me advice and helped me out when I was a bit puzzled. So again thankyou!

Anyways back to the post, got callled to a job yesterday where the landlord had told me the tenant had complained that the "low level sockets" in the kitchen had stopped working. Anyways turns out its the sockets that supply the dishwasher and fridge/freezer. The house has only one ring supplying all sockets (built in 2004, new builds for you!), then off this ring theyve put a three gang switch, which supplies them and the washing machine.
So plugged my socket tester in and everything seemed okay, plugged dishwasher in - everything okay. So done IR tests, rcd trip test, cont test - again, everything fine. Took the switch and sockets off, no dodgy connections or anything untoward.
I cant see the customer had made a mistake either because he told me he left it for 10 minutes and still nothing, so hes pulled the dishwasher and fridge out, connected above worktop and volla it worked.
Has anyone got any ideas what it could be?

The only fault I found was that the three gang switch was rated at 20AMP fed of the 32A ring. Maybe its getting a bit warm inside and theres a dodgy connection inside?! Oh and forgot to mention that the dishwasher AND fridge went off both at the same time, and theyre fed seperately from the switch.

Interesting to see a new build with a 10mm main earthing conductor on a PME aswell :hurray:

Regards,

Rob

 

[rob121]

HSBC??? they're a bank. wouldn't trust a bank's guarantee as far as i could throw topquark.

:stuart: Thats what I meant! Lucky I asked you and didnt walk into there nearest branch :13:

 

[topquark]

is there any limit to your knowledge?:wings: lol
Most definately, it's inversely proportional to the amount of real ale (or dodgy lager) consumed!

I think that clears that up
Thanks for the help.

Rob

Had to look the detail up, but knew it all changed after the first couple of years, coz I had some problems here not long after moving in

 

[rob121]

Interesting to know though, but surely the electrical contractors warranty is still valid till the 5th year? Although somehow I cant see many sparks going back 5 years later!

 

[Des 56]

Interesting to know though, but surely the electrical contractors warranty is still valid till the 5th year? Although somehow I cant see many sparks going back 5 years later!

http://www.sbhonline.com/St-Barts-bb/fbbuploads/1309286491-flogging_a_dead_horse.jpg

 

[topquark]

Interesting to know though, but surely the electrical contractors warranty is still valid till the 5th year? Although somehow I cant see many sparks going back 5 years later!

If they've been provided with a separate warranty, then yes. If the home owner only has NHBC then no. TBH NHBC doesn't cover an awful lot in reality after the first two years. Just have a scan down that list on the link I posted. Most things are not covered (apart from structure) beyond year two.

 

[topquark]

I think Des's link pretty much sums up NHBC in my experience.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Couldn`t you remove the switches and do an R2 across them and operate them a few times...wont that confirm that they are opening and closing properly? Maybe thats already been mentioned here.....what about replacing with switched FCUs?....Could it not be a damaged conductor maybe? You could try making em off again if theres enough there......

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I once installed a light switch that had been supplied by CEF.
Worked fine, then it wouldn't turn off.
Removed switch, and it worked fine.
Re-installed switch and after a while, it again wouldn't switch off.
Returned switch to CEF, and obtained new one. Next day returned switch and obtained another new one.
Not sure if the guy behind the counter was joking when he said it had packed up because we kept on using it?

 

[bugsy]

Having read all the posts I think it's more likley to be the switches , and dont forget they should be derated when grouped on a grid switch
--------------wait for the flak!

 

[rob121]

Couldn`t you remove the switches and do an R2 across them and operate them a few times...wont that confirm that they are opening and closing properly? Maybe thats already been mentioned here.....what about replacing with switched FCUs?....Could it not be a damaged conductor maybe? You could try making em off again if theres enough there......

Thanks for your input Glenn. That was the advice I gave to the customer to replace with FCU's. All tests on switch came back fine, anyway its all up and running now so im sure the next time it plays up ill get called out to change it.

Spinlondon, not sure what brand this is as it didnt have any name or logo on it (was bs though) but im sure it was cheap.

You said it not me bugsy! lol RIP I had mentioned that earlier but apparently its 20A for each of the 3 circuits. I was under the impression the switch was rated at 20 A as a whole, but will have a look into this.

 

[telectrix]

each switch is rated at 20A (max.).

 

[JUD]

I was under the impression the switch was rated at 20 A as a whole, but will have a look into this.

A 3 gang grid switch is not a single unit. It's made up of 3 separate modules, each rated at 20A.

 

[malcolmsanford]

So its definately not the switch then?
:59:

And while you lads are here, you wouldnt know if a HSBC 10 year guarentee on a new build would cover the undersized earth would you? I dont do much work on new builds so wouldnt even think about going down that root but landlord was wondering if that would cover it? Got to be worth a try. Although I did point out most electrical contractors only offer a 5 year warranty.

What makes you think that the earth is undersized Rob?

 

[Knobhead]

What makes you think that the earth is undersized Rob?

mg_smile: It’s over populated, blame the Chinese. mg_smile:

 

[topquark]

Ipon seoi nage, Osoto gari?

Here's a good example of Ippon seoi nage:

[video=youtube;4m8Qf3X-eW4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8Qf3X-eW4[/video]