How far should i go?

[Forza]

I have a customer whose socket has a cracked front plate on it. The house wiring is still original and as such has a wylex fusebox and undersized bonding conductors. I have replaced the front with a new one and tested that circuit as I saw it as an immediate danger and have then told the customer tat she needs to have the house wiring inspected and that it would lead to a new consumer unit and main bonding having to be installed.

Did i go too far? Thing is when it comes to domestic work i don't want to mess around. There are too many stories of fines and imprisonment over such things. Much prefer industrial work.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mnmwill]

What tests did you carry out, and how were the results? I would prob suggest a PIR and then go from there.

 

[Forza]

I carried out an r1+r2 fig 8 test, IR, polarity, PSCC & Zs test on the socket circuit and at the supply i carried out a Ze, PSCC and polarity test. All of which were satisfactory. The point being that realistically should i have corrected the bonding conductors and installed an rcd on the circuit before replacing the socket front?

 

[Spudnik]

If you were just replacing a broken socket front, then you didnt need to go any further, except make the client aware of the potential dangers.

 

[oldtimer]

There is a balance to this as the customer wants the socket fixed and you are doing your job by highlighting that her system has come to the end of it life.

The only problem is she may think you are trying the hard sell on her ie the old adage of going into a well know lets just say a "Tyre replacement company" with a puncture and you come out with 4 new tyres new shocks and a battery its not until you get home and feel "was I ripped off"

So best thing to do is if the customer wants a replacement socket plate then you can either do the job and highlight the rest or give the installation a quick check then inform the customer either way its their decission.

If you push it they may feel under pressure and get someone else. I was asked to quote for a new CU for an old biddy the only problem was that the VIR cables in the fuseboard were crumbling so I pointed out that the house neeeded a complete rewire and highlighted that I did not quote for rewires and that just changing the CU would just cause more problems. I was thanked for my honesty from her and her daughter so yep I lost a job but built a reutation.

 

[mogga]

IMO replace socket front and advise a PIR as you have visualy observed things which concern you remember that the installation was done before the 17th and probably the 16th and Could not "Would" need a new CU put your recomendation to PIR in writing with a quote for doing PIR