Questionable wiring?

[grid]

Hi,

If this is not the correct place to post please let me know - thanks.

I have had a new motherboard fitted ant home and a wire run to the bathroom for the shower and pull switch, and spotted some bare wires. I think this is especially bad as it sits beneath the insulation?

Can anyone give me constructive feedback? Is this likely to cause a fire?

The first picture is taken from inside the loft, the second from the bathroom below.

As you can see the yellow and green wire has copper wire exposed.

 

[beaver74]

for a start dont much like rawl plug in gyproc when gyproc fixings are so cheep

 

[scotsparky]

HI grid

When you say "Motherboard " i am assming you mean Distribution board.

Had a quick glance at the pics and i dont think you have anything to worry about.

The copper cable showing is an earth and in that type of cable is bare and the electrician has put some sleeving over i9t which is correct. It does seem to pushing back into the loft a bit but not anything i would be concerned about.

I would recomend upgrading the fixings though as over time the pulling of the cord will loosen them of. The simplest way is to get a bit of sturdy wood and sit it over the connection box after turning the power off and screw into that being carefull to avoid the cable. perswade your other half help its easy to do but remember nopt to over tighten as it is possible to break the plasic box.

hope your mind is at rest now.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

i agree nothing to worry about i guess most shower switches will be like this
stupid brittle boxes and big cables best of a bad job

 

[electricAl]

For your piece of mind, Grid, the exposed cable would carry no current under normal operating conditions. It`s there for protection in the (unlikely) event of a fault condition occuring.

So sleep easy fella...

 

[saveloy]

Sorry. But am I the only one who thinks that although there is probably nothing to worry about, the workmanship is bad. The outer sheath of the cable should be taken into the box. Not easy with big cables but it can be done. I certainly wouldn't leave the inner cables exposed like that. IMHO.

 

[ezzzekiel]

yep me agrees the switch box are far too easily broken trying to squeeze 2x10mm in

 

[electricAl]

Sorry. But am I the only one who thinks that although there is probably nothing to worry about, the workmanship is bad. The outer sheath of the cable should be taken into the box. Not easy with big cables but it can be done. I certainly wouldn't leave the inner cables exposed like that. IMHO.

Agreed. Not by any stretch a good job & I wouldn`t put my name to it.

However, from what can be seen from the pics there isn`t anything particularily for the OP to worry over - which i felt was the motivation for his enquiry.

But the point you make is a valid one - the job could & should have been executed better.

 

[Spudnik]

Indeed not great but nothing at all to worry about.

Better like that than have the conductors squashed in the box.

Recipe for disaster IMO.

 

[saveloy]

Thing is, on that particular job it is not that hard to continue the sheath inside the box. Because there is vertical movement on the cable all that is required is minimal stripping of the outer sheath (about 40mm) leaving just enough to wire up . Pull the cables down wire up switch and push the whole lot up,sliding cables back up into roof space. Simples. Done it loads of times.

 

[scotsparky]

Thing is, on that particular job it is not that hard to continue the sheath inside the box. Because there is vertical movement on the cable all that is required is minimal stripping of the outer sheath (about 40mm) leaving just enough to wire up . Pull the cables down wire up switch and push the whole lot up,sliding cables back up into roof space. Simples. Done it loads of times.

Nobody is arguing with you about it being a bit rough however the OP was asking if it was dangerous and a fire risk.

 

[saveloy]

Nobody is arguing with you about it being a bit rough however the OP was asking if it was dangerous and a fire risk.

Yeah i take your point. Sorry No offence intended Jason.
I showed the picture to my dog. He agrees that its not dangerous. Just ruff.

Coat hat taxi

 

[electricAl]

I showed the picture to my dog. He agrees that its not dangerous. Just ruff.

Did your dog give you any little Pointers ?

 

[andekoch]

I beg to differ with those who say this is ok. If I saw it on a job I would recommend to the customer that it is rectified. I do agree though that 10mm cable is not easy to work with (I use 47mm deep boxes to help out a little).

As it stands though I dont see it being a fire hazard especially as the accessory is plastic onto plasterboard.

The Electrical Safety Council PIR notes booklet recommeds a code 4 where the sheath does not go completely into the acessory and this becomes a code 2 if the cable can be touched or can come into contact with exposed metal work.

All that said I bet not many of us get into the space above a shower switch to make sure that the sheath goes into the accessory.

 

[saveloy]

Did your dog give you any little Pointers ?

One tip he gave me. In the abscence of a suitable voltage indicator, it is not a good idea to lick the live to test for safe isolation. He reckons it might sting a bit.