Periodic one of them. i hate my job some times !!!!

[nickblake]

Dont you just know it when you get the call ive no earth on my sockets i would like my electrics tested , walk through the door and greeted by an elderly lady and the first thing you see is a round bakalite switches dating back to the 40's old wylex CDU with ceramic fuse holders ,VIR meter tails that crack nicly when moved, VIR cables every where kitchen sockets tapped off a VIR cooker supply wired in 2.5mm ,shower 9kw installed by a plumber 4 mm cable so sign of where its connected , old round pin sockets ,ring main installed in lounge sockets metal clad surace all wired into the lighting circuit , fuse wire for that circuit 15 amp , no cpc's in the lights metal clad fittings , house nicely decorated and then they ask is it dangerouse and illegal , argghhh where do they get the illegal bit from !!!!!!!! poor old dear got to have the house rewired top to bottom walls chased ,and her son uses the garage as a work shop supply wired in 6mm YY flex under the ground beautiful garden , and the wiring well DN had to be issued TWE cable stripped off and then wired into a light catching the garage door when opened , terminal block joining cables to gether every where no bond or RCD's broken back boxes ,cracked sockets.

hope to put a few pics up what do you do re wire asap

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Dont tell me....I bet there's neutrals at the switches as well?

 

[nickblake]

lol nice one wirepuller , i darnt even look the switches you have to remove the whole switch its the old wiring where the back wooden patress has 2 holes in it for the wires then the switch fitted over the top id never get the wires back without a bang of the insulation dropping off , i would love to just put a new CDU in for her but the condition of the cables is so poor you,d never change it and there are so many seriouse faults IE 9kw shower on a 4mm cable kitchen sockets tapped off the cooker circuit , metal clad light fittings no cpc's just one of those dont touch, rewire,changing the CDU would open up a complete wormery

 

[malcolmsanford]

Got to be done Nick and knowing you from here mate you'll do the best for her. The disruption for her will be enourmous, might just be worth having a chat with son and see if there is somewhere the old girl can go and stay.

I know what you mean you konw your making the house safe for her, but I always found that with the elderly you wind up not only being the tradesman but an off shoot of Social service for them .

 

[nickblake]

Yes ive chatted about that she can stay with her son but she said she's going away at the begining of June , but the state of the wiring its a ticking time bomb and needs doing virtually straight away dont think i'd sleep any night till then , its the hardest part of the job when they ask is it dangerouse well um yes then the get all flustered and panic , then the rouge traders bit come in arghh ,lol i do keep smiling ,going to see her again today with the quote with a view to start tuesday ,i will move every job forward to get this done even if its just a basic start to make it safe

thanks malc for you support mate

 

[topquark]

In that first pic the earth wire at the bottom of the photo looks reasonably new. Along with the shower cabling. Does that mean an "electrician" has been recently, seen the wiring in that state and moved on with no comments to the owners about at least having it tested (if it could stand the testing)?

 

[nickblake]

the shower cable is 4mm very old stranded cable and the earth wire well its connected some where certainly not to the gas or water bit unsure where its connected , and you are right it has had some work done to it central heating installed and the shower put in less than 6 months ago , because the installation was in such a poor condition i didnt delve into it to much but what i do know is the is no circuit in the board for the shower and it appears to be an old immersion heater supply with a 20 amp pull switch ,

UPDATE

The house is to be rewired starting on tueday next week quote accepted , its not an easy one occupied house so need to leave some electricity , but when i walk in on tuesday the supply will be cut and new supplies installed , if i come accross any more dodgy pics i will post on here once i start

 

[Penance]

Good on you Nick, I bet the old lady will keep a good supply of wets coming.

 

[morph]

cANT You do it surface mount to save her money and agro, i doubt she cares if its surface mounted,

 

[nikmet]

Good luck mate, hope it all goes to plan.

 

[nickblake]

cANT You do it surface mount to save her money and agro, i doubt she cares if its surface mounted,

ill be honest with you i hate trunking with a passion trunking is great in schools and offices yes i know they do nice trunking these days but you cant beat flush installs , and i dont think that is a option here her house is imaculate oh and i forgot to mention its a grade 2 listed building too , gets better eh lol

 

[malcolmsanford]

ill be honest with you i hate trunking with a passion trunking is great in schools and offices yes i know they do nice trunking these days but you cant beat flush installs , and i dont think that is a option here her house is imaculate oh and i forgot to mention its a grade 2 listed building too , gets better eh lol

Oh blimely mate are you having the antiquity police guiding your every step mate .............................nice work Nick ............sure the old girl will be well pleased with the job once you get finished.

Knowing your luck mate she'll be baking all over the weekend for you .....................

 

[Spudnik]

Hmmm if its listed, you may need to make a few phone calls BEFORE you touch ANYTHING.

 

[andekoch]

sounds like a henley block into a new CU for a few lights and sockets for her to use while the rest is sorted and the relevant calls are made as suggested by jason.