Just when you think there's no more surprises.

[Specialist]

Just been to look at a repair for a friend of a friend, flat over a shop with electric tripped out & won't come back on.
Went to the shop 1st to see landlord & found shop half in darkness with staff in a flap as all breakers were OK etc.
Told them I'd be back & went to sort out flat, Tennant had plugged in kettle & RCD tripped then wouldn't re-set or so they said. I unplugged the kettle & re-set the RCD but still no power on, used non contact tester on tails & found no live.
Started following tails & found another RCD on the opposite wall that had tripped, re-set and yes we have power.
Great I thought, then the landlord arrives to say that all shop power is back on.
Cut a story short: On checking above the suspended ceiling at the back of the shop, turns out the back of the shop was converted from a storeroom a few months ago & the "sparky" had added the new lights & sockets onto the flat circuits via a big nest of junction boxes in the ceiling void.
Have told the landlord how dangerous it is & given him the numbers of 2 good contractors, told the Tennant she needs to ask for a refund on her electric too.

Traced the flat supply too: Comes off a separate meter in the shop then via about 10m of tails to first RCD in the flat, from there to a Sentry split load CU on the opposite wall.
Gets interesting in there, tails to main switch then out into RCD all MCB's are then on RCD side. What a lash up.

 

[Specialist]

No good Wilko, I was thinking covert.

 

[Paul228]

I always take pics of dodgy stuff I come across.
Especially you work for iffy landlords.
A. It protects me, just in case someone says you where the last guy here.
B. To tell the landlord it needs rectifying and if he doesn't get it sorted I'll be informing building control or the HSE.
All landlords then say...
How much can you put it right for?

 

[Specialist]

I just found a covert camera built into a pen & ordered one, will see what the pic quality is like when it arrives.
Only one I could find built into a torch was £100, bugger that for a game of soldiers.
Lot of people down here point blank refuse to let you take pictures.

 

[Paul228]

Being a 6ft5 Yorkshire guy, they won't be stopping taking pics of dodgy works and my own " not as dodgy" works.
To quote my neighbour John Prescott. I say what I like and I like what I say

 

[Rpa07]

I took a photo of some cracked rendering before I drilled from in to out for an exterior light fitted yesterday. The customer insinuated until I told him about the photos taken beforehand - he soon shut up. Well worth it to protect yourself. It also helped me to put the jigsaw back together again, it was more watertight when I finished!

 

[Specialist]

Problem is Paul, it's their property so if you ask then they can legally refuse or if they catch you without permission you can be thrown off site.
Just cancelled my order for the pen cam, it's only got a short record time & doesn't do single shot. Bugger

 

[Paul228]

Did you stick it back to the wall using plumbers friend...ie silicon.
Top tip, there's a thread on here saying it can be used to waterproof joints

 

[Paul228]

Specialist.
Just tell them as you are working on an existing system you need to record your work in case there are issues in the future.
Just say it's part of your trade indemnity insurance.
They always buy it...And strictly speaking it's not porkies either.

 

[Specialist]

Might take my tablet in future, takes better pictures than my phone.
Will give that a try Paul & see what reaction I get.

 

[Rpa07]

Crafty @Paul228 - me likey! I'd just take a snap when they're not looking - use the torch on the phone and accidentally press the shutter!
Grip fix was my glue of choice worked quite well, was better than the Easter egg effect cracks but not as good as fresh render but it was 4.10 on a Friday!