paying sparkies to do things wrong

[marc8]

Hello All

Last week had a small bathroom to install new down lights, 3 down lights, install shaver (box in wall already & switch box outside) connect RCD unit inline & install shower pump RCD.
Hatch in bathroom & no more than 2.5 meters square, down lights marked & could get into loft standing on 3rd step did not even need to get in there. allowed 1 day for works (probably a bit generous really given size)
sent in sparks to do works on my behalf, get call that night LED's flickering & that had busted out the pot on the side of the dimmer module. Customer ok as a friend so i called round at weekend, took switch live out of dimmer touched onto the live & still flickering * don't take a rocket scientist to work out something wrong on the circuit.
anyway set up was put old loop in loop out into the supply side of RCD unit & output for the new bathroom lights, simple you would think almost as if you had a new circuit just for the bathroom.
investigation found 4 junctions boxes with 8-10" of each other think to myself strange but i did not install the circuit so give benefit of the doubt, start to undo works & what did I find ....................................
the supply for new circuit from a junction box old in & out joined & the new live going to the RCD unit take a closer look & then i see it has joined all together except for the Neutral.
sent Picture to the sparkie concerned answer can't see the problem myself surely it all works & just the dimmer module.
anyway after taking out 3 junction boxes running new line to RCD as it was like a guitar string & taking time to tidy up & remove more cable being to short & the bits not required to run the new lighting circuit & a few hours of my time plus new dimmer & then what do i find that can't even read the RCD in & out properly, fused the Neutral clever this guy.

anyway had decided to let this guy go after a few cock ups & mentioned the money & time for this little problem to see what would be agreed he could not even see it.

finding this more & more so called I am qualified I can do that & they simply can't do it.
I can't be the only one surely.

anyway rant over

 

[dansk]

It's the old adage "want a job doing right then your better off doing it yourself" of course in the real world life is busy and subbing out work is part of it, I'm super cautious who I sub to and only pass work or reccomend anyone who can maintain my standard.

 

[Welchyboy1]

Its why i only work for myself and by myself now

so many 'sparks' moan about low rates, most of the ones ive come accross aint even worth that, its dire out there

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

Do we get any picture to see what was done before you corrected it.
Being still new, not seen a lot of old ways of doing thing or some cowboys ways.

Pointed out to work/college that if its not the right way to do a job, then dont teach me it, Good habbits.
But i would like to learn what i am looking at for some of the bad habbits i will come across in this life

 

[Marvo]

We've had similar issues in the past. I take plenty of photos and deduct for my time the same hourly rate that he charged me from the payment agreed for the installation and don't use that contractor again.

 

[marc8]

We've had similar issues in the past. I take plenty of photos and deduct for my time the same hourly rate that he charged me from the payment agreed for the installation and don't use that contractor again.

Let him go after that, Nice guy but just could not do the job, local work & good money & still managed to f... it up. Worst part is now other things are coming to light on site, he wired a ring in 1.5mm 3core & earth then asked a colleague to remove it. playing football for 3 hours with apprentice.
all comes to light when you let them go.
my stance now is to let them go after 1 f... up unless they put it right out of own pocket.
it's amazing just begs belief

 

[shanky887614]

Do we get any picture to see what was done before you corrected it.
Being still new, not seen a lot of old ways of doing thing or some cowboys ways.

Pointed out to work/college that if its not the right way to do a job, then dont teach me it, Good habbits.
But i would like to learn what i am looking at for some of the bad habbits i will come across in this life

your right there, i did a cracker today, absolute awful job, i dont like having to put multiple sets in one piece of plastic, it never looks right

 

[Welchyboy1]

Let him go after that, Nice guy but just could not do the job, local work & good money & still managed to f... it up. Worst part is now other things are coming to light on site, he wired a ring in 1.5mm 3core & earth then asked a colleague to remove it. playing football for 3 hours with apprentice.
all comes to light when you let them go.
my stance now is to let them go after 1 f... up unless they put it right out of own pocket.
it's amazing just begs belief

Ive actually wired a ring in 3core 1.5 before....oops

 

[shanky887614]

Ive actually wired a ring in 3core 1.5 before....oops

lol its funny when people do that cause they dont look at the cable before they pull it in.

as an apprentice i was told to wire the lights.


supervisor: go wire the lights in singles
me: we havent got any 1.5 singles, used it the other day.
supervisor: i said wire the lights, use the cable we used yesterday.


anyway i wired it in 2.5 tri-rated (click roses)


XD supervisor went off his rocker when he found out.

supervisor: what did you wire the lights in
me: 2.5
super: why the **** did you wire it in 2.5 when we have 1.5
me: i told you we dont have any, we used it up two days ago and you said wire it in what we used yesterday XD
super: why didnt you tell me
me: i did you didnt want me to order any

 

[marc8]

had a look at the picture not that great, but i can give the hint in a 4 way JB,
first termination point two reds joined & then brown in with them,2nd termination point 2 blacks joined on there own, 3rd termination point blue on own, 4 termination point earths joined altogether.
see the problem.

 

[Richard Burns]

I believe it is customary to have a continuous neutral on a circuit and not use a load as a neutral!:90:

And he still could not see the problem? There is no hope.

 

[Nightmare1308]

Thease are reasons i think we need a simular scheme as the gas saftey register, where you have your own card, number, and test as ive had so much s++t work under me its a joke, i had people wire new builds wrong, sorry but you cant get much simpler, my apprentice has more skill and knowlege than most "electricians" ive crossed.
Wish there was a way to eliminate so called "electricians"
On the other hand they create us more work and laughs.

 

[Welchyboy1]

Thease are reasons i think we need a simular scheme as the gas saftey register, where you have your own card, number, and test as ive had so much s++t work under me its a joke, i had people wire new builds wrong, sorry but you cant get much simpler, my apprentice has more skill and knowlege than most "electricians" ive crossed.
Wish there was a way to eliminate so called "electricians"
On the other hand they create us more work and laughs.

i personally like it the way it is, i have no plans to ever employ any one again, and with the amount of bad electricians about, it makes standing out pretty easy, and it keeps me crazy busy

god help the day i actually have to compete for work

be careful what you wish for!!!

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

Why not grade them from their qualifications.

2356/2357 should be someone who has been around a bit, a bit of of clue on whom they are worked for (make sure they having been out of the trade for too long 3-5yr)
/\ hands on work, while learning /\

2330/2365 mm so so, again find out work they have done and such (mmaking sure they aint been out for TOO long 2-3yr)
/\ NB i come under this bit /\ /\ paid for it themselfs over time tho i think you can do it quicker so look at place of education /\

2397 more on there work load (if they havnt gotten that much work or been out for 1-2yr then i wouldnt)
/\ Quick Fix for qualiications /\

added Qualificiations, if they have kept up working , trying to improve there is something there...
/\ im also here THO i did Logic/EAL so i would rate it a bit lower than someone with C&G versions 2394/5 /\

 

[Dave OCD]

Competence and safe,quality installation work has more to do with experience and the knowledge gained from it +the attitude of the electrician than a ream of certificates IMO, although obviously certain qualifications are essential.