Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views!

[Darkwood]

Right ... Just been nudged to set this up by Paul.M and sounds a good idea following recent threads I've done in the Arms..

Rules....No Offensive material... edit if required before posting as this is the public arena.
Anything to do with the trade or in and around it ...H&S pic's welcome.



I've posted this a few times and this is at a mates house following a kitchen refirb several yrs ago. mg_smile:

 

[SJD]

New consumer unit (sorry, units) for a small 2-bedroom flat.

I particularly like the way the busbar in the top right group of circuits has been bent in a zig-zag to accomodate the 3 different brands of MCB, especially noticable for the Wylex MCB.

There are several MCBs supplying individual outlets - e.g. the cooker hood is one circuit, the shaver socket is one circuit. So many circuits that a third lower garage CU was needed as an extra when all the initial 20 ways were used up.

But then all the internal lights are on one circuit, even though there are two outgoing feeds from the MCB.

If you look closely, you'll see there are only 2.5mm2 and 1.5mm2 outgoing cables. Even though there are two cooker circuits, one supplying a 7.5kW hob.

At least some care has been taken over getting all the N and E wires dead straight in the main units.

8

 

[pc1966]

If you look closely, you'll see there are only 2.5mm2 and 1.5mm2 outgoing cables. Even though there are two cooker circuits, one supplying a 7.5kW hob.

Also is that some 2.5mm or 4mm coming directly of the main switch in the middle CU?

So much promise here, so much disappointment!

 

[Raptor0014]

Not a picture for this. But I’m pre-empting the call out when I will take pics.

I had a guy yesterday that wanted a CU change done. 14 way unit with surge, EICR and a double pole EMIS as there isn’t one in place currently. So I quoted two days work, but said that would likely finish in 1.5 days if no issues from the EICR. Fairly big 4 bed house.

£926 was the quote if it took 2 days. (Materials & EICR were £516 alone)

Chap then a aid it was too high and had been given a quote for £65 for the EICR and £280 fitted for the CU so £345 all materials and fitted.

I said good luck and I hope it’s done to the correct standards, is a like for like full RCBO board with surge protection and you get the EICR, EIC and building control certificates.

But I let him know that if he wanted my signature on certificates which meant I assumed the electrical safety for his installation, that’s the price.

So I’ll wait for him to get in touch in a few weeks after it’s been bodged.

I don’t know how any electrician could do that job for £345?

The board alone will have 11 circuits in use and only 3 will be spare.

I’m guessing it will be a Screwfix special board with a RCD main switch covering the whole installation.

 

[James]

This morning’s find when installing a machine from existing board.
took me a moment to process why my eyes were arguing with my brain!

edit.
the blue is actually a N so I presume the same person has connected both ends.

 

[SparkySy]

I had a similar wtf moment a few days ago!

 

[pc1966]

This morning’s find when installing a machine from existing board.
took me a moment to process why my eyes were arguing with my brain!

edit.
the blue is actually a N so I presume the same person has connected both ends.

WTF? I can only assume it is someone totally ignorant of the old colours improvising instead of asking or looking it up. But such a person has no bloody business working on that sort of system!

 

[Raptor0014]

What should have been a simple job is going to be a lot more involved.

Tiled walls and the CPC of one leg of the ring is broken in the kitchen in such a way that it can’t be fixed easily. Oh and the whole house is on one ring.

 

[James]

What should have been a simple job is going to be a lot more involved.

Tiled walls and the CPC of one leg of the ring is broken in the kitchen in such a way that it can’t be fixed easily. Oh and the whole house is on one ring.

View attachment 96316

Oh dear you have just opened a can of worms!!

 

[Dustydazzler]

Can you yank an inch of cable down and get a wago on the end for a quick fix ?

 

[pc1966]

Can you yank an inch of cable down and get a wago on the end for a quick fix ?

It has that horrible plastered-in look to it!

The existing blue/red crimps suggest some cable length issues already.

 

[Raptor0014]

Oh dear you have just opened a can of worms!!

I do like a challenge. Was supposed to be a straightforward EICR

Plan is to remove the back box and try and crimp a new bit of CPC to it. But if not I’ve told the client they will need the tiles etc removing and the cabinet as will need to chase out part of the wall.

It’s either that or rip up their oak flooring in the bedroom upstairs.

I know which option my money is on.

 

[Raptor0014]

Can you yank an inch of cable down and get a wago on the end for a quick fix ?

There is no slack at all. Already tried that.

 

[pc1966]

Could you cut out another backbox above it, so they have a 2-up & 2-down pair of sockets? Might free enough cable for properly joining it all up, minimum tile damage, and extra sockets!

Everyone needs extra sockets!

 

[pc1966]

I was going to suggest soldering to the CPC and putting over some heat-shrink, but I fear you might simply damage the T&E insulation in the process.

 

[Raptor0014]

Could you cut out another backbox above it, so they have a 2-up & 2-down pair of sockets? Might free enough cable for properly joining it all up, minimum tile damage, and extra sockets!

Everyone needs extra sockets!

Not really. It’s underneath a wall cabinet in the kitchen.

But I’ll suggest it to them as an option that will be cheaper than damaging the floor upstairs.