Checking other circuits after fitting outdoor socket?

[Frimley111R]

Hi All,

Firstly, I am not an electrician but, two of us are starting a electrical contracting business in a niche product area. Our newly qualified electrician is saying that if he fits, for example, outdoor sockets, that he has to do a ton of testing of other circuits in the house to verify they are ok too. This could make a one hour job a long as three hours.

As much as we trust him we are concerned that he may be being a little over cautious. Can anyone provide me/us with a little advice regarding this please?

Thanks

 

[telectrix]

if a socket is fitted to an existing circuit, that circuit must be tested to ensure it's safe to add to. also earthing and bonding need to be checked and rectified if needed. other circuits don't need testing, but if there are any obvious signs of danger, this needs to be entered on whatever certificate is prepared.

 

[Pete999]

If "your newly qualified Electrician" installs a new circuit to an existing installation, he will need to ensure the following?
RCD protection
Main bonding is in place
And he will need to provide a Electrical installation certificate for the new circuit.
Being "newly qualified" he should already know this

 

[westward10]

Get away with Minor Works for tagging an external socket to an existing circuit.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Main bonding and additional protection are likely to be your main worries. These must be verified and if necessary rectified before even minor works are undertaken. Both can add considerable cost and time to a small installation. Whatever your 'niche product area' involves you will need to put a system in place to verify the above before work commences or you will come a cropper.

 

[Rpa07]

As long as that 'niche' isn't sinking plastic exterior sockets into brickwork then I think you'll be ok. Sounds like a funny set up that I'd like to know more about - no one can hear, tell us a little!

 

[Pete999]

Get away with Minor Works for tagging an external socket to an existing circuit.

That way he would have to test the circuit he is coming from, more than likely a RFC which could prove difficult for the newly qualified Electrician.

 

[Octopus]

Hi All,

Firstly, I am not an electrician but, two of us are starting a electrical contracting business in a niche product area. Our newly qualified electrician is saying that if he fits, for example, outdoor sockets, that he has to do a ton of testing of other circuits in the house to verify they are ok too. This could make a one hour job a long as three hours.

As much as we trust him we are concerned that he may be being a little over cautious. Can anyone provide me/us with a little advice regarding this please?

Thanks

Hum... sounds an unlikely path to success and glory............ but there are times when what appears to Joe Public to be a simple job, is "complicated" by the regs and we are obliged to follow.............. which Bob the Builder won't bother with.

Whats your niche market?

 

[westward10]

Hot tubs??

 

[Pete999]

Hot tubs??

Dedicated circuit then Westy? no spurring off a RFC for that.

 

[Frimley111R]

If "your newly qualified Electrician" installs a new circuit to an existing installation, he will need to ensure the following?
RCD protection
Main bonding is in place
And he will need to provide a Electrical installation certificate for the new circuit.
Being "newly qualified" he should already know this

Yes, I am sure he does but he talked about, seemingly, testing a whole range of circuits etc for every installation and we just weren't sure if this was just him being a little overly cautious (not that any corners etc should be cut with electrics of course)

 

[Frimley111R]

H
Whats your niche market?

Home EV Car Charging Points

 

[Pete999]

Yes, I am sure he does but he talked about, seemingly, testing a whole range of circuits etc for every installation and we just weren't sure if this was just him being a little overly cautious (not that any corners etc should be cut with electrics of course)

Not being overly cautious Frimley111R, more likely unsure of what he is doing, being"newly qualified".
He would need to ensure what he is connecting to is correct and providing he is running a new circuit there would be no need to test anything else, if on the other hand he is going to add this socket to an existing circuit he will need to ensure the the circuit he is extending meets the requirements of BS7671.
If he notices any glaring departures from BS7671 he should note these departures on the EIC or MNWC he issues, depending on whether it's an addition or a new circuit.

 

[telectrix]

what's the load of these ev chargers? ( amps).

 

[Pete999]

Home EV Car Charging Points

That will be a dedicated circuit then,and some more rules to adhere to, a different ball game than jus

Home EV Car Charging Points

The "Newly Qualified Electrician" would need to comply with this code of practice

Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation - The IET - http://www.------.org/resources/standards/ev-charging-cop.cfm