iNSPECTION

[hood2]

hello

I've just done the DISQ course at the NICEIC headquarters in Dunstable, which was very intense but on the whole very good. I've now completed my jobs and awaiting an inspector to come and look over 2 of my jobs, i have all the releant books and paperwork in order.I wanted to know how thorough the calculations for circuit design have to be to prove that on paper these circuits will work. On a property where i have just built an extension and now need to install a new bigger consumer unit to incorparate old and new circuits, do i need to prove that all old circuits work on paper. Just getting a little conserned that all is in order and don't look like a complete novice. Thanks ben

 

[High Tower]

Please dont take this as a negative as its really not ment to be, but, i assume that you are a newly qualified domestic installer that has completed a short course. A question such as the one you have posted is not easily answered, and it is for this reason amongst others that sparks spend 3 years at college.

Possibly the best course of action is to go to waterstones and buy a copy of one of the many electrical calculations books that are available and start working through them, there is quite a amount to learn.

 

[hood2]

You are correct i have just done a short course and so newly qualified.This was my concern about the course which i found difficult to understand that just because i was prepared to pay for it i could do in 5 days what people take years to learn.But i told them my past experience of working with a approved contractor for 5 years and now requiring to pass off my own jobs. They assured me this was the course for me. On my course i covered the calculations procedure for which i feel resonably comfortable.It's just in my past experience none of the electricans i have worked with have physicaly sat down and worked circuit design on paper. I suppose they just know limitations from past experience. So was just wondering do the inspectors always want to see circuit design calculations for every job. Thanks for any input i just need pointing in the right direction.
ben

 

[electricAl]

It's just in my past experience none of the electricans i have worked with have physicaly sat down and worked circuit design on paper. I suppose they just know limitations from past experience. So was just wondering do the inspectors always want to see circuit design calculations for every job.

Your experience is pretty representative then...

But they don`t know from past experience - they just know! Sillyboy!

2.5mm for ring mains, 10mm for shower, 16mm for 15kw cooker

& if its a spark that does your assessment, the very last thing he`ll want to look at are your cable calcs!



& welcome to the forum BTW

 

[hood2]

Cheers.
Just wanting to clarify things as bricking it about my inspection. not very good went put on the spot at answering questions.

 

[electricAl]

Seriously Ben, they will allow for that.



Re: your quals... did you not attend college during those 5 years then?
Even if you hadn`t, you`d still be better placed than many who come off those courses (having spent some time working in the industry)
The only people served by em are those running em. £££s
Neither the £££ the poorer trainee who`s about to find out the real truth, not the time-served spark having their wages undermined, & certainly not the customer who`s about to have their installation bodged.
So, not too much approval of 5 day courses on here - i`m sure you understand why.
Its not that real sparks feel challenged by the `newly qualified` its just they`ve every reason to doubt their credentials as `qualified` atall.

 

[steamboatwilly]

Cheers.
Just wanting to clarify things as bricking it about my inspection. not very good went put on the spot at answering questions.

Soldier on hood2, it's not unusual for people to get uptight about the inspections (I certainly do for WEEKS beforehand). The inspector will not want to fail you especially on your first visit. I've had 2 different inspectors and both were extremely supportive.

One things which might help you. The inspection is NOT an exam. You can take any books or references you like with you and take as much time (within reason) as you like to answer. For your first inspection they'll be more interested in whether you have the right insurances, tools, testing equipment, etc. Make sure you rehearse your circuit tests and look up what the readings should be. Make sure you do proper isolation and have lock-out kits, signs, etc.

Finally, forget the calculations, use an online calculator such as Doncaster Cables - Cable Size Calculator or download an App if you have an iPhone.

 

[hood2]

Thanks for the re-asaurance steamboatwilly. I do have an iphone any idea of an suitable app which will do the job.I'm confident in my work as it's in my interest for it to be right as all my work comes from recomendations as i do not advertise, it's purely knowing facts and figures and being able to recall the relevant information from the suitable table in the books.

 

[steamboatwilly]

You can bookmark the tlc and Doncaster cables calculator web pages. Also, search for electric & tools on the free App iTunes section. There are a few.

....sorry, here's the TLC web page which might help. There are others on this site.
Voltage Drop Calculator

I have some reference pages takes from the red book and the OSG (mostly)....keep those books with you for the inspection but the reference sheets tend to make it quicker to get your answers out and you can edit out all of the items you're not interested in.