Mistakes you have made

[James]

Just thought I would put a thread up to admit to some of our mistakes.

Like uncoiling a run of twin and earth off the side of the reel and finding out it has become a tangled mess.

Wiring a motor up so it turns into a large lump of mixed metal scrap.

Many years ago when I knew I was perfect, I have made both of these mistakes and more.
Anyone got some good tales to tell?

 

[radiohead]

Ok I'm going to add a cautionary tale.
A while back my head was in a bad place for various reasons and I had just started taking prescribed anti-depressants. There was a period of a few weeks once I started on the pills where I made some monumentally bad decisions at work under pressure, not mistakes just bad calls. I wont go into details but one of those decisions in particular still brings me out in a cold sweat when I recall it.
It taught me a real lesson, that medication can seriously impact your decision making process and judgement.
So for anyone who may find themselves in a similar predicament be warned and think twice....three times until your head is straight again.

 

[123]

Wired entire lighting circuits in a house in twin brown. 2nd fix was interesting.

 

[buzzlightyear]

while back my head was in a bad place for various reasons and I had just started taking prescribed anti-depressants. There was a period of a few weeks once I started on the pills where I made some monumentally bad decisions at work under pressure, not mistakes just bad calls. I wont go into details but one of those decisions in particular still brings me out in a cold sweat when I recall it.
It taught me a real lesson, that medication can seriously impact your decision making process and judgement.
So for anyone who may find themselves in a similar predicament be warned and think twice....three times until your head is straight again.

One flew over the cokoo nest comes to mind lol.

 

[radiohead]

One flew over the cokoo nest comes to mind lol.

Tell you what Buzz it was scary, which was why I posted it up. Those tiny little tablets caused havoc for a few weeks.

 

[Baddegg]

Tell you what Buzz it was scary, which was why I posted it up. Those tiny little tablets caused havoc for a few weeks.

Ha ha yep I’ve been on them tablets a while now and it’s a good job I’m me own boss cos I’d definitely have been sacked by now ?....the upside is the tablets also enable you to not give a f&@k ??

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I genuinely don't make many mistakes (I can hear you all cringing and saying 'what a tXXt' ). I spend far too long thinking about everything and drawing out diagrams. The builders cant believe how long I take drawing accurate diagrams of all the joists so I know where to drill for my downlights etc etc...

However....

A good few months back I was rushing and under pressure to get a rewire finished. Got it done in time just, the plasterer had neatly plastered and the couple were moving back in very soon. I had my last look around and suddenly got that panicky feeling, although I disregarded it as I thought I cant possibly have made such a large error. I then realised I had! I had completely forgotten the 3 core + E from the hallway switch to the landing switch, so you couldn't switch the top floor lights on from below!!!! God it was horrible.

Always works out though doesn't it. I spent the next few hours getting the cable in and the plasterer was a mate so he didn't grumble at having to come back. Customer was none the wiser and all was well . Ridiculous to forget it though! Rushing is not good.

 

[radiohead]

Somebody in the wholesalers told me he'd wired a whole ring in 1.5mm on a new build once.....which only got noticed during the second fix, don't know what the outcome was but it sounded like a real horror show.

 

[LewisM]

Somebody in the wholesalers told me he'd wired a whole ring in 1.5mm on a new build once.....which only got noticed during the second fix, don't know what the outcome was but it sounded like a real horror show.

Be cheaper to burn the house down at that point

 

[Baddegg]

Somebody in the wholesalers told me he'd wired a whole ring in 1.5mm on a new build once.....which only got noticed during the second fix, don't know what the outcome was but it sounded like a real horror show.

I refer to my Micky Flanagan post ?

 

[buzzlightyear]

I refer to my Micky Flanagan post

A ho what did you do that four ist me micky Flanagan. Last time I saw him, was in mollorca stand at the side waiting for peaple to buy food.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Somebody in the wholesalers told me he'd wired a whole ring in 1.5mm on a new build once.....which only got noticed during the second fix, don't know what the outcome was but it sounded like a real horror show.

Seen it on site with the ring wired in 3 core. Luckily for the bloke who did it it was top floor with a loft space and trunking drops. We didn’t half look confused though when the apprentice asked us what to do with the greys and blacks ?. He stripped every point ready for the sockets before asking us aswell ?

 

[7029 dave]

Somebody in the wholesalers told me he'd wired a whole ring in 1.5mm on a new build once.....which only got noticed during the second fix, don't know what the outcome was but it sounded like a real horror show.

Don't surprise me, somebody on here said their cooker circuit was wired in 4mm.

 

[Let me think]

Not willing to admit any of the 'alleged' mistakes I (sorry I mean any 'friends' of mine) may have' inadvertently' made in a public forum, just encase they are used in court of law advice against me (sorry I mean 'him').

I do recall a 'friend' of mine was helping out another electrician during his apprentice, in which he was knocking into a brick to fit a socket (wall of adjoining house) and brick was working itself loose (unable to dig it out), when asking the electrician what he should do, he was told to just knock brick into the cavity and he'll be able to deal with. So tried knocking brick into cavity and but getting some resistance, expressed his concerns, and told just to hit f'en harder, which he duly did. Only to find a whole family was living in the cavity. Turns out only a single skin wall between houses.....a rather expensive fix....new wallpaper for the cavity family and compensation.
[automerge]1594586086[/automerge]

I’ve always been a fan of the Micky Flanagan approach.....turn up the next and start shouting ohhhh who’s done that!?!

North of border we call that doing a 'Begbie' - All makes sense if you've seen trainspotting - bar scene.

 

[7029 dave]

Not willing to admit any of the 'alleged' mistakes I (sorry I mean any 'friends' of mine) may have' inadvertently' made in a public forum, just encase they are used in court of law advice against me (sorry I mean 'him').

I do recall a 'friend' of mine was helping out another electrician during his apprentice, in which he was knocking into a brick to fit a socket (wall of adjoining house) and brick was working itself loose (unable to dig it out), when asking the electrician what he should do, he was told to just knock brick into the cavity and he'll be able to deal with. So tried knocking brick into cavity and but getting some resistance, expressed his concerns, and told just to hit f'en harder, which he duly did. Only to find a whole family was living in the cavity. Turns out only a single skin wall between houses.....a rather expensive fix....new wallpaper for the cavity family and compensation.
[automerge]1594586086[/automerge]

North of border we call that doing a 'Begbie' - All makes sense if you've seen trainspotting - bar scene.

When he broke through did he say hello .

 

[Let me think]

Trying to do an RCD test the other week.
Kept coming up ERR--- checked the rcd was on, changed my testers batteries....TWICE! Was almost at a loss 5 mins later....
Can you spot my little mistake?

Easily done, if only they had some sort of colour coding to help