D.I.Y. REWIRE-- A Step By Step Guide.

[telectrix]

1. Remove all heavy furniture from upstairs. Place in Storage.

2. Roll up all upstairs carpets. Ditto.

3. Lift floorboards to enable cable routing (not the ones that the plumber has wrecked, fitting central heating)

4. Move all downstairs furniture to centre of rooms and cover with dust sheets.

5. Cover all ground floor carpets with polythene sheeting.

6. Chase out from ground floor ceiling vertically to every point you require a fitting/accessory.

7. Now that you've realised that you are totally out of your depth, get on the phone to a qualified Sparks.

 

[rsmck]

Sometimes you will come across small lengths if cable ends used with 2 clouts (a bit like a staple) to fix wiring but its just easier and better to get a box or 3 of tower clips.........

I think the two cables I found with a nail straight through them were probably the most surprising... they'd probably been there since the original installation in 1953 and did seem to be working when we moved in and before we discovered it (!)

 

[rsmck]

I am sure jamesbrown wasnt refering to a thread i had posted regarding vertical runs and clipping but just a thread he had seen in regards to the subject....why dont you ask him?

I have amended my earlier post, apologies for the misunderstanding.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

No probs mate...Thing with me is i hate seeing s**t work (not implying anything towards your work) But crap we come across when out working:real yul brynner stuff some of it......take a look through the archives on this forum....plenty of pictorial evidence to choose from (it would be funny if it wernt damn right dangerous some of it)...........

 

[rsmck]

No probs mate...Thing with me is i hate seeing s**t work (not implying anything towards your work) But crap we come across when out working:real yul brynner stuff some of it......take a look through the archives on this forum....plenty of pictorial evidence to choose from (it would be funny if it wernt damn right dangerous some of it)...........

That's true in every line of work sadly... Although not my full time job I spend a lot of time working as a theatre/events tech there's a group on facebook entitled "Dodgy Technicians" and "Lighting Wall of Shame" which shows the standard of some of the things - many electrical - you see in that industry too

I can only imagine some of the stuff you see (i've looked through some of the threads!) likewise some of the things I've come across in venues - lights with no safeties, truss deflecting by stupid amounts due to the weight, socapex (an 18 core cable carrying 6 lives, 6 neutrals on a multipin connector often on different phases) wrapped around a chain for a chain hoist, a kettle with the plug cut off and the bare ends inserted into a 63A 3ø outlet on a generator....

It's amazing what people will try and do - or will do without even thinking about it

(Almost as amazing as how off-topic this has gotten )

 

[GLENNSPARK]

We went to a factory one time where the director was gettin in a flap as a guy he had blown out was threatening to report him. When we got in there we found loads of 2 cores just hanging down without any termination or isolation (all energised stuff) and a 3 phase panel with loads of blanks missing plus a 3 phase starter with no front on it! Loads of other code 1s in there n all: we were there ages man just recording s**t.........the only motive for this kn**head to get it sorted was the elf n safety guys coming in and padlocking the lot after the sacked one had carried out his threat...unbelievable.........

 

[ruston]

Well the kettle is important you know. You have to do a risk assessment and priorities at times.:coffee:

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Perhaps the generator in question was undergoing the "kettle test" (check out a previous thread about a month ago courtesy of marie-clare)..........

 

[ruston]

I test the kettle regularly ,just in case!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Yep, Its got to boil regularly and on time with about a mug full of water (just for load test of course).........

 

[ban-all-sheds]

7. Now that you've realised that you are totally out of your depth, get on the phone to a qualified Sparks.

No - 7 is

Now that you've realised that you are totally out of your depth, start asking for bits of advice on DIY sites with the story that you are of course using an electrician but he's on holiday/off sick/been abducted by aliens right now and can't be reached....

 

[rsmck]

No - 7 is

Now that you've realised that you are totally out of your depth, start asking for bits of advice on DIY sites with the story that you are of course using an electrician but he's on holiday/off sick/been abducted by aliens right now and can't be reached....

Or go to your local orange shed where staff will happily tell you how to do it ( was in said store today to pick up some timber which is also horrifically overpriced ) but on walking down the electrical section there was a member of staff explaining to someone how to fit a consumer unit and that these breaker switches (yes, that's what they called them) were used instead of fuses making it much safer.. There's even a helpful 'wired' one with diagrams on the wall for them to use to illustrate...

Whilst I appreciate I'm no electrician myself even the thought of that customer, or that staff member, replacing their consumer unit is a bit scary :-/

(of course - given the benefit of the doubt - the customer could be competent and, like myself, just found his explanation entertaining )

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'd be more inclined to agree with you if mistakes in electrical installations didn't cost innocent people their lives. Installing electrics incorrectly can cause people to get shocked or houses to burn down and it's not just the life of the DIY'er that's at stake.
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All I'm trying to say is that if or when you start getting replies that it's time to call a qualified electrician then it's probably just that.....it's time to call an electrician.

Mods please use this post as a sticky that members can use to post to Mr DIYer. Spot on mate.

Do you get many DIYers asking for help here?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

By the way.....did you manage to find a straight bit of wood whilst there or it that truely extinct now at "orange shed"?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Or go to your local orange shed where staff will happily tell you how to do it ( was in said store today to pick up some timber which is also horrifically overpriced )

Yes, but if you want to make an aircraft propellor where else are you going to get timber which is the right shape to start with?

but on walking down the electrical section there was a member of staff explaining to someone how to fit a consumer unit and that these breaker switches (yes, that's what they called them) were used instead of fuses making it much safer..

Was this him:

?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Looks like lenny.......!