Excuse of the day ....................

[Octopus]

A while back I changed a CU for a customer - and knowing she was going to have building works I installed a CU with plenty of spare ways .......

Yesterday I was doing a small change to the socket circuit - and before I changed it I checked the continuity readings .......... these showed a break in the neutral.

So I asked the client to see what the builder / spark had put on their certificate ............. it turns out that they hadn't done any (changes were made to at least 3 circuits).

In the reply they stated:

"Dean said it wasn’t essential as it’s a new circuit board but they will come out and do it for me"

Lazy ................

They don't believe in using wago boxes - a turn or 2 of insulating tape will do ................ nor having earth connections from back boxes to the metal fittings ............. and that's what I noticed without looking!

 

[westward10]

We are fighting a losing battle.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

it always amazes me that people think nothing of paying thousands to builders, kitchen fitters etc but feel robbed at paying for an electrician. They seem to think it is perfectly reasonable to be a builder , electrician , plumber and plasterer and be a jack of all trades. if only they understood the complexities of being an electrician or decent plumber. I have only ever met a handful of people who i would consider truly multi trade to a sufficiently high standard they could excel in either of the trades on there own

 

[Tes369]

Kitchen fitters are the worst offenders

* followed shortly by shopfitters

 

[Pete999]

it always amazes me that people think nothing of paying thousands to builders, kitchen fitters etc but feel robbed at paying for an electrician. They seem to think it is perfectly reasonable to be a builder , electrician , plumber and plasterer and be a jack of all trades. if only they understood the complexities of being an electrician or decent plumber. I have only ever met a handful of people who i would consider truly multi trade to a sufficiently high standard they could excel in either of the trades on there own

Problem is Gavin, Mr and Mrs Average only see. visualise the end result, nice set of akitchen cabinets, nice sockets and switches, they don't or won't see the work that goes into a decent job, that;s why Builders get away with things, it's all covered up by paster.
Don't try and tell me any different, beenin this work to many years to be kidded by Cowboy Builders, not all are Cowboys, there are some good ones, but very few and far between, tin hat on.

 

[Octopus]

I did meet them when the works were going on..... They wouldn't move a BT extension socket .... So I did

They did have a scheme logo on their van....

 

[SparkyChick]

I'm involved with an ongoing project involving renovations at a property in Newport. The first big block of work was to install some new circuits and make the required changes to the first floor lighting circuit.

Knowing this was eventually going to be inaccessible from above due to a pending loft conversion I took the time to work through the entire circuit removing all the botched terminal block and tape connections.

At the end, there was one old junction box which was due to be removed in the next phase of work, everything else was sensibly located maintenance free junction boxes.

When I went back the next time, the b*****d builders had boarded the loft... damaged some of my new cables, chopped one and joined it in a terminal block wrapped in tape and had disconnected a socket by simply sticking a terminal block on the end of it, wrapping it in tape and then stuffing it back in the cavity before filling the void left by the socket with expanding foam trapping the cable in it's sticky clutches.

I also noted they'd used expanding foam to fill a cable chase and instead of just pushing the smoke alarm cables into the roof space when they boarded the ceiling, they took my temporary metal backbox down from a joist, cut a notch in the joist and sank the backbox in so it didn't protrude through the plasterboard. Never heard of a dry lining box lads????

Suffice to say I lost my ----. Thankfully the customer wasn't at home.

Another pet peeve is spending the time working out locations for holes in joists and then getting back on the job for the next phase only to find the builders have stuck holes where ever was easiest. Grrrrrr

 

[Wilko]

... Mr and Mrs Average only see. Visualise the end result, nice set of kitchen cabinets, nice sockets and switches, they don't or won't see the work that goes into a decent job...

Pete - it reminds me of the saying : (they) "know the price of everything and the value of nothing".

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I did meet them when the works were going on..... They wouldn't move a BT extension socket .... So I did

They did have a scheme logo on their van....

ah the scheme logo.. they must have been competent then and know what they were doing...

 

[Octopus]

I'm just amazed that they would think that a fuseboard, fitted about 9 months earlier meant they didn't have to any tests or certificates ....

I just think why do I bother with doing it properly, doing testing, keeping up with the regs etc.

I do wonder how scheme membership numbers will change with the impending 18th edition...

 

[Pete999]

I'm just amazed that they would think that a fuseboard, fitted about 9 months earlier meant they didn't have to any tests or certificates ....

I just think why do I bother with doing it properly, doing testing, keeping up with the regs etc.

I do wonder how scheme membership numbers will change with the impending 18th edition...

It will probably get richer Mate, what with all the new courses, etc

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I'm just amazed that they would think that a fuseboard, fitted about 9 months earlier meant they didn't have to any tests or certificates ....

I just think why do I bother with doing it properly, doing testing, keeping up with the regs etc.

I do wonder how scheme membership numbers will change with the impending 18th edition...

Hi Murdoch,

A few of your posts mention that you get a bit disheartened and question the point in doing it well when you see so much crap. I've felt like this once or twice already in the 5 years I have been in the electrical business but I expect you have been doing it a lot longer so have seen a lot more poor quality work.

I know it sounds a bit hippy, but part of your payment is going home knowing you've done the best you can (it feels good), so whenever I feel like cutting a corner because 'everyone else does it', I remind myself I'll regret that decision as I know I'll feel bad about it later.

 

[Octopus]

^^ My main "beef" with such chancers is that they claim to do electrics yet don't do them properly.

In this case he's got all the sockets on 1 circuit ............. rather than add a new dedicated circuit for the kitchen and utility ............ so when the RCBO trips - they will lose all the sockets in the house...................

Not ideal and just demonstrates why the so called "schemes" are not adding anything to the situation .............

 

[telectrix]

the schemes are only interested in ££££££'s. why else would they accept Electrical Trainee s with as much experience and competence as a piano player's monkey?

 

[sparksburnout]

I'm just amazed that they would think that a fuseboard, fitted about 9 months earlier meant they didn't have to any tests or certificates ....

I just think why do I bother with doing it properly, doing testing, keeping up with the regs etc.

I do wonder how scheme membership numbers will change with the impending 18th edition...

How do you mean about membership numbers, do you think it will make a difference? Why would it?

 

[Toneyz]

What you also have to remember that there is a lot of electrical work that can be undertaken that is not required to be notified and therefore no need to belong to a scheme. Another question is when work is done by unscrupulous so-called electricians even when an EICR is done dodgy joints etc hidden away does not come to light until something happens.

 

[Octopus]

How do you mean about membership numbers, do you think it will make a difference? Why would it?

When some people work out all the costs of getting the 18th they may think again - if they are "other" trades, they may not feel its worth while ............

 

[sparksburnout]

When some people work out all the costs of getting the 18th they may think again - if they are "other" trades, they may not feel its worth while ............

I might be one of them, am I missing something? Why is it going to make such a big (expensive) difference?

 

[telectrix]

£300 for the 18th. £150 for new regs. etc. that's 3 months supply of beer.

 

[sparksburnout]

£300 for the 18th. £150 for new regs. etc. that's 3 months supply of beer.

Are we saying that there will be an actual 18th qualification required now then? As in a C&G's exam?

 

[telectrix]

of course there will. although 17th will still be recognised for a while, you'll see vacancies advertised demanding 18th within months.

 

[Octopus]

What you also have to remember that there is a lot of electrical work that can be undertaken that is not required to be notified and therefore no need to belong to a scheme. Another question is when work is done by unscrupulous so-called electricians even when an EICR is done dodgy joints etc hidden away does not come to light until something happens.

They should still be installing to the latest version of the regs .......

 

[Octopus]

Are we saying that there will be an actual 18th qualification required now then? As in a C&G's exam?

Just google BS 7671 and see what 's listed!

 

[westward10]

£300 for the 18th. £150 for new regs. etc. that's 3 months supply of beer.

Pair of shoes for me

 

[sparksburnout]

Just google BS 7671 and see what 's listed!

I just did. As a side issue, one of the top results was an advert for "Landlords Certification". On the associated website was the following:
"We are highly regarded as one of the best for consultations with landlords and handling landlords electrical certification and valuable information regarding their properties we take great pride and we are in are prime growth stage to deal with all issues that landlords occur with electrical diagnosis repair and inspection our engineers will solve any issue and give a landlord paperwork"

I just despair to be honest, these wonderful people are not even capable of basic English. I wonder what nationality they are.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Are we saying that there will be an actual 18th qualification required now then? As in a C&G's exam?

I really don't think you need to start worrying. It took my scheme 3 years before they asked me to take the 17th. In addition, there's going to be lots of talk for the next few months about the 18th and all the changes but until it happens we won't really know how it affects us. Also, if we are required to make any bigger changes (which I personally don't think will happen, i.e like metal consumer units) then I would like to think there will be an overlap between the 17th/18th to allow us time to adapt.

As for the 18th edition exam/course (if there is going to be one), then like the 17th, you just do a bit a revision with the new BS7671 to make sure you can work your way around the book and then you pay to take the exam only (approx £100), rather than approx £300 for a course.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Hi Murdoch,

A few of your posts mention that you get a bit disheartened and question the point in doing it well when you see so much crap. I've felt like this once or twice already in the 5 years I have been in the electrical business but I expect you have been doing it a lot longer so have seen a lot more poor quality work.

I know it sounds a bit hippy, but part of your payment is going home knowing you've done the best you can (it feels good), so whenever I feel like cutting a corner because 'everyone else does it', I remind myself I'll regret that decision as I know I'll feel bad about it later.

And good on you HHD. I remember my lecturer at college saying that with electrics the job "will take as long as it takes", and don't let anyone make you cut corners.

The main thing that p15se5 me off with part p is the change 2-3 yrs back when the range of notifiable works was reduced rather than increased. When that happened I did mutter to myself what's the ©¢=#ing point....

 

[Toneyz]

What you also have to remember that there is a lot of electrical work that can be undertaken that is not required to be notified and therefore no need to belong to a scheme. Another question is when work is done by unscrupulous so-called electricians even when an EICR is done dodgy joints etc hidden away does not come to light until something happens.

They should still be installing to the latest version of the regs .......

Of course, any electrical installation should be.

 

[StephenRowley]

I think a lot of the time it's not that people feel hard done by paying for electrical stuff it's two reasons
1. There Builder tells them they know what they are doing and they beleave
2. They just dont know what certification they need or what qualification they need from the electrian.

 

[Squid]

Pair of shoes for me

 

[Spoon]

View attachment 41254

That has to be photoshopped....

 

[Squid]

That has to be photoshopped....

I attach a Go Pro to the end of mine........

 

[Spoon]

I attach a Go Pro to the end of mine........

Do you think they are overcompensating for something??

 

[Rpa07]

That has to be photoshopped....

Apparently not! Why Oh why I keep asking myself!

 

[Spoon]

Apparently not! Why Oh why I keep asking myself!

I suppose it's better than going round with my pants round my bum... but then again there are always 'fashions' that come out, to go against the 'norm'.. and the kids like to follow these as they are all different... haha.. I did it with punk stuff so I can't whinge too much..

 

[Rpa07]

To buy jeans ‘with’ rips in the knees is just mindless in my opinion and that’s not me being old or anything. It’d be like buying and old stock roll of VIR and expect to install it.
Just buy new jeans until they wear at the knee then become a trend setter or get them repaired.
It is me, it must be!

 

[Spoon]

To buy jeans ‘with’ rips in the knees is just mindless in my opinion and that’s not me being old or anything. It’d be like buying and old stock roll of VIR and expect to install it.
Just buy new jeans until they wear at the knee then become a trend setter or get them repaired.
It is me, it must be!

But girls look nice in ripped jeans..
I suppose you have the same thoughts about 'stone wash' jeans?
I think I'm used to the 'ripped' look cause of the punk think again..

 

[Wilko]

View attachment 41254

Driving must be fun

 

[telectrix]

But girls look nice in ripped jeans..
I suppose you have the same thoughts about 'stone wash' jeans?
I think I'm used to the 'ripped' look cause of the punk think again..

girls maylook nice in ripped jeans, but you'll be in court for sexual harrassment for ripping them.

 

[Spoon]

girls maylook nice in ripped jeans, but you'll be in court for sexual harrassment for ripping them.

They wouldn't do that to me... They all love me...