New Consumer Unit Installation with Choc Box connectors

[Pellet]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and not an electrician so excuse the daft questions!

I had a new Consumer Unit installed in July 2010 by and NIC EIC electrician. I recently had a different electrican round to quote for new lights in my lounge and he had a look inside this new fuse box and spotted that chocolate box connectors had been used to join wires together. He told me that this was not correct and was not safe and that at least crimped type connectors should be used.

Can anyone tell me if this is correct before I contact the original installer please?

Cheers.

 

[Amp David]

Do you mean the cables are connected with 'choc block' connecters, then placed into the 'choc box' the shrouds them?

Its not against the regs, as the join is accessible for any maintenance required, i've seen it loads of time, but don't do it personally as it looks cheap and rough. I would of used through crimps if any cable required extending with a consumer unit

 

[Amp David]

One to check though is that he has used the correctly rated chock blocks for the circuits

 

[Pellet]

Thanks Amp David - the connectors are wrapped in electrical tape so I can't tell what has been used....

 

[kenny7askew]

hi pellet,connectors that are in enclosed places such as under floors ect should be maintenace free ie crimps, connectors with screw terminals should only be in places where they can be checked from time to time incase the screws come loose.Because they have been used in the consumer unit wich is an accesible enclosure they are probably ok though not good practice.maybee more expperienced members will give better advice.

 

[Amp David]

Thanks Amp David - the connectors are wrapped in electrical tape so I can't tell what has been used....

Thats even more of a John Wayne job than if they weren't taped up!

 

[Pellet]

Yep!

This is the same company that were engaged to make sure the house was properly earthed on and safe - they did the required work and issued a safety certificate only for us to discover that they hadn't connected up the earth to any of the lights ..... (again excuse my terminology please!) ;-)

 

[Dan23584]

There is no deviation from the regulations here just a bit of poor practice.

I would recommend asking the electrician you have installing your lights to re-make the connections with through crimps. It shouldn't take very long at all (only a small fee), unless every circuit has 'choc blocs' on them and you have a lot of circuits.

But if you do not want to pay for any additional work then there is no requirement for you to do so.

 

[Amp David]

Amazing mate!

I presume when they fitted the new consumer unit, they issued an Electrical Installation Cert and not a Safety Cert, as there is no such thing.

As long as all tests were actually carried out then everything should be ok. Upload a copy of the cert for us to look at

 

[Pellet]

Indeed, nothing surprises me with this company any more!

I'll scan in the EIC tomorrow and up load it (you are spot on of course! not a safety cert.... ;-))

 

[trev]

You could contact NICEIC under their complaints procedure but your first port of call is the installing spark. Rough but not contrary to the regs as others have advised

 

[Phil]

Indeed, nothing surprises me with this company any more!

I'll scan in the EIC tomorrow and up load it (you are spot on of course! not a safety cert.... ;-))

when you scan the eic just remove any addresses phone numbers and personal details if you would don`t want them all over the internet nuisance phone calls etc.

 

[DaveyD]

I would love to open a box and find little chocolate boxes inside. Im excited just thinking about it !

 

[Dan23584]

I would love to open a box and find little chocolate boxes inside. Im excited just thinking about it !

Get yourself an advent calendar then, you can re-live that experience every day! lol

 

[Engineer54]

Amazing mate!

I presume when they fitted the new consumer unit, they issued an Electrical Installation Cert and not a Safety Cert, as there is no such thing.

As long as all tests were actually carried out then everything should be ok. Upload a copy of the cert for us to look at

How could they have been ''actually'' carried out, if none of the earths were connected on the lighting circuits??