DIY'ers and Earth wires.

[Tiny Spark]

Ime sure most of you see this on a day to day basis but as I dont do house bashing this still annoys and baffles me....

What is it with DIY'ers and the general lack of care when it comes to earth wires?

Went to change one of my lights this evening, Changed a few sockets and switches but not needed to do a light until now. Thus far everything I have worked on has been fine.

So I take the old light down which I thought would of been changed by the previous owner due to its odd fit in the room and sure enough I pull out 3 T&E's all twisted together and wired into choc blocks except of course the earths which for some unknown reason the individual thought ok to twist together and wrap in tape.
No choc block, No crimp, No Wago not even a dab of solder - NOTHING!

WHY!!???

What is it with people that think the wire thats there for safety doesnt matter?

I have seen it a few times in various houses I have worked in but it still suprises me and generally gets on my wick.

Needless to say its now been done properly and I think I may have to check a few other things.....

 

[Silly Sausage]

WHY!!???


Because they is thick!

 

[R G]

I was working in one house with a kitchen fitter and he thought the primary reason for the earth wire was to aid stripping the cable ....lol...

 

[telectrix]

I was working in one house with a kitchen fitter and he thought the primary reason for the earth wire was to aid stripping the cable ....lol...

isn't it?

 

[ipf]

WHY!!???


Because they is thick!

WHY???

Cos it works ok without....

 

[ipf]

isn't it?

No....it's for usin as a switch wire if ya need one.

 

[polo1]

..... and because its not insulated, it cant be that important :<)

 

[R G]

isn't it?

Well I did ask him what its for ...LOL..

Comes in handy when converting to 2 way like..

 

[Silly Sausage]

..... and because its not insulated, it cant be that important :<)

Just heat shrink Red tubing on it, they may take it more seriously then.




On 2nd thoughts, maybe not! :smilielol5:

 

[Tiny Spark]

Hmm some interesting ideas there...

Out of interest anyone actually know why the E is not insulated? Never really thought about it till now lol

 

[Silly Sausage]

Hmm some interesting ideas there...

Out of interest anyone actually know why the E is not insulated? Never really thought about it till now lol

It's a protective conductor to take away a fault, the last thing you want is it being covered up (I think! )

 

[davesparks]

Hmm some interesting ideas there...

Out of interest anyone actually know why the E is not insulated? Never really thought about it till now lol

Because it is cheaper to make it uninsulated than it is to insulate it.

 

[amlu]

Hmm some interesting ideas there...

Out of interest anyone actually know why the E is not insulated? Never really thought about it till now lol

because it will make stripping the cable a pain.
its insulated in flexible cables and swa.

 

[davesparks]

because it will make stripping the cable a pain.
its insulated in flexible cables and swa.

In flexible cables it needs the insulation to hold the strands together.

It's not insulated in SWA, you only have the sheath around the armour it has no insulation layer around it.

 

[Tiny Spark]

Because it is cheaper to make it uninsulated than it is to insulate it.

I was thinking for this reason myself.

As for the PITA to strip, well it dont stop other cable types from doing it!