Pain the backside job

[Sparky with a beard]

Evening all,

I went to a job this tonight to replace a socket that had supposedly blown the main fuse on the house. The energy supplier had been out to change fuse but refused to reconnect the house until this socket with an alleged earth fault had been replaced. The socket was wired correctly but it was cracked so I replaced it I also found other faults that I rectified. Then I tested the circuit but when it came to IR I was only getting 0.4Mohms, the house was built in the 70s and I’d say the electrics aren’t much younger if at all. I refused to sign off the electrics as safe and recommended a full rewire, leaving them with no power at all. I feel awful but in my opinion it wasn’t safe, what would you have done?
Cheers,
Phil.

 

[Charlie_]

For jobbing sparks that get a lot of these;
perhaps have a cu with tails and sockets on a piece of plywood ready for such emergencies..

 

[Squid]

I just feel for the 98 year old widow with no power to her Stannah stairlift who can't even make a brew............

 

[Squid]

Phone them up and say you had a think about the job and you would like to try something to at least to get them live, you may not earn/get paid for it but for an hour of your time and giving "added value" may reward you in the future, plus it's a £1 in the Karma Bank of Life.

 

[peterhyper]

In fairness, in many instances I have recommended rewires over the years without doing a PI..
Waste of money that can go towards the cost of the rewire

I do agree with you in some cases, but certainly not on the basis that one circuit or even all are from the 1970s, as that's no grounds to recommend a full house rewire.

 

[Toneyz]

Was this socket on an RFC? If this house was from the 70's and still got Wylex rewirable C.U. could have inserted 16A fuse wire and left two radials (following loop test etc).
What was the wiring? as our house was built and wired 71/72 where the 2.5 T&E has 1.0mm cpc (most of it been rewired/circuit alterations now but some parts original) but the 70's was a strange time for wiring there was a copper shortage when aluminium was used the green goo problem also.

 

[peterhyper]

I just feel for the 98 year old widow with no power to her Stannah stairlift who can't even make a brew............

Maybe he can drive her to the bank tomorrow to withdraw the £10,000 she needs to pay him for a full rewire.

 

[Sparky with a beard]

Morning all,

I’m new to this game I ----ed up on my testing, it’s now been corrected and they are waiting for the electric company to refit the main fuse. I got it wrong and left them without power over night (inconvenient) at least I didn’t get it wrong and kill them. The fuse board contained 2x5amp lighting circuits and 1x 30amp ring main. There was some interesting DIY electrics which I repaired. I have also fully refunded the customer because I’d rather be the honest guy who made a mistake than a cowboy who doesn’t care. Thanks for your comments and scoldings, although embarrassed I won’t make that mistake again.

 

[Charlie_]

Was this socket on an RFC? If this house was from the 70's and still got Wylex rewirable C.U. could have inserted 16A fuse wire and left two radials (following loop test etc).
What was the wiring? as our house was built and wired 71/72 where the 2.5 T&E has 1.0mm cpc (most of it been rewired/circuit alterations now but some parts original) but the 70's was a strange time for wiring there was a copper shortage when aluminium was used the green goo problem also.

Stole my thunder.. was just about to mention the green goo (greening).
I looked at a job last week it was oozing out all over the place..

I’ve not done any tests yet..
They have just bought the house, survey done, electrics were given the all clear..
Currently in the process of doing a kitchen refurb..
I made safe the existing circuits..
New circuits going on for kitchen power and cooker..
The rest of the house will be tested.
Is it a standard recommendation to rewire when greening is observed?

 

[Squid]

Stole my thunder.. was just about to mention the green goo (greening).
I looked at a job last week it was oozing out all over the place..

View attachment 49052

I’ve not done any tests yet..
They have just bought the house, survey done, electrics were given the all clear..
Currently in the process of doing a kitchen refurb..
I made safe the existing circuits..
New circuits going on for kitchen power and cooker..
The rest of the house will be tested.
Is it a standard recommendation to rewire when greening is observed?

Who did the survey on the electrics as I'd be checking their indemnity insurance......

 

[Squid]

Maybe he can drive her to the bank tomorrow to withdraw the £10,000 she needs to pay him for a full rewire.

She won't be able to charge her mobility scooter though......... to get to the bank......

 

[Midwest]

Is it a standard recommendation to rewire when greening is observed?

If your enquiring, googling etc green goo will give you some info;

What is the green goo coming out of my twin and earth cable? - https://www.whyprysmian.co.uk/news-green-goo.html

If it were my house, regardless of any tests, I'd look to rewire. But thats just my personnel opinion.

 

[Charlie_]

Yes I’ve come across it quite a few times and always recommend it to be rewired, regardless of test values..
Just checking to see what others opinions are on the matter

 

[Squid]

If your enquiring, googling etc green goo will give you some info;

What is the green goo coming out of my twin and earth cable? - https://www.whyprysmian.co.uk/news-green-goo.html

If it were my house, regardless of any tests, I'd look to rewire. But thats just my personnel opinion.

But you are a sparks, if a plumber said it was a full re-plumb job with a system boiler and a mega flow for £5k would you just say yep, go ahead and don't skimp on the controllers...... ;o))))

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Yes I’ve come across it quite a few times and always recommend it to be rewired, regardless of test values..
Just checking to see what others opinions are on the matter

Of your finding the green goo in one spot the insulation on that section or circuit, whole circuit or whole installation if wired at the same tine is probably goosed. Rare your going to get great IR reading and the average reading your getting at the time of inspection and likely to rapidly decrease.

Recommending a rewire is a fair call in my opinion, i would give them a time frame to fit it in though such as when they go on holiday within the next 6 months or whatever.

 

[Devonchris]

Morning all,

I’m new to this game I ****ed up on my testing, it’s now been corrected and they are waiting for the electric company to refit the main fuse. I got it wrong and left them without power over night (inconvenient) at least I didn’t get it wrong and kill them. The fuse board contained 2x5amp lighting circuits and 1x 30amp ring main. There was some interesting DIY electrics which I repaired. I have also fully refunded the customer because I’d rather be the honest guy who made a mistake than a cowboy who doesn’t care. Thanks for your comments and scoldings, although embarrassed I won’t make that mistake again.

Full marks to you for going back, and giving a refund, and admitting your mistake and coming back here and letting us know the outcome.

The measure of a good company its not just how often they make mistakes its also how they deal with it on the odd occasion that they do.