Re-Wire

[MeanzBeanz]

I went to look at a house the other day that is in desperate need of a re-wire. For starters the board was old fuse wire! To cut a long story short the Customer had another electrician look at it. This so called electrician took one switch off in the whole house and declared it did not need a re-wire because there was an earth in the cable! He didn't even look at anything else or get a test meter out to prove that the earth was indeed connected!
It's a disgrace! Enough said

 

[Guest112]

The biggest cause for me suggesting a rewire is when i look at a installation and its been altered a thousand times, nothing makes sense anymore.

I recently rewired a house, diddnt look too bad, all PVC cable, however there were signs everywhere of DIY bodges and indications that there had been a lot of fiddleing done in the past. there were a few interconnections on circuits and IR wasnt the best. the client had just bought the house and was planning on a full re decor, so i said what the hell you might as well have a rewire.

we pulled 36 JB's out of the house and the wiring was a total disaster. so im glad i went with my gut. if its too difficult to fathom what others have done and get a idead for the circuits and their contents, probably would benifit from a re wire.

I re-wired my house and have pulled out many junction boxes so far and they are the only ones I've found!! existing rings were bodged mixed between conduit in walls "T"ed off to feed 4 or 5 double sockets without protection via a fused spur, the consumer unit was fine, main rcd for an old merlin (didn't bother rcd testing as the paint was flaking off and planned on a new board anyway)

nut like you I went with my gut and decided as I viewed the house that it needed rewiring not because of an immiediate danger but as I am renovating anyway and there were bad practices/faults installed

atb

 

[Guitarist]

Recently went to look at a property that needed a new kitchen RFC. Install was 70's with loads of additions/alterations plus pulled some switches off to find the dreaded green gunge. Some IR readings were ok and some were poor.
Some would say that with a bit of tinkering it was "fit for continued use", but after a chat with the owner, we both agreed it would make more sense to rewire the place. Glad we did, as once I started peeling back the loft insulation it was like someone had bought a consignment of ceiling roses, knocked the backs out, then decided to extend every circuit possible (cpc just twisted together outside the box of course).
Turns out the previous owner used to be a heating engineer and had done a fair bit himself as he was a qualified "tradesman".

I think that High Tower is absolutely spot on... Sometimes you have to go with your gut.

 

[ayjay]

did one a few years ago at hengsbury head a very posh area the guy had a loft extension and had wired it himself using----wait for it--car wiring! all in short bits with connectors to join it all different colours and sizes

 

[Guitarist]

did one a few years ago at hengsbury head a very posh area the guy had a loft extension and had wired it himself using----wait for it--car wiring! all in short bits with connectors to join it all different colours and sizes

Seen that too. Well, it's all "wire" aint it? (Discalimer for DIY'ers reading this....NO, car wiring is not suitable for domestic installation work)

 

[telectrix]

Seen that too. Well, it's all "wire" aint it? (Discalimer for DIY'ers reading this....NO, car wiring is not suitable for domestic installation work)

but it does have prettier colours for our female readers.

 

[piz]

I think a simple continuity test and IR test and a visual inspection would give you the answer continuity to make sure rings are making circuits no loose connections and IR make sure cables are in good nick.
then if ok do a board change and upgrade earthing.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

do you charge for all this preliminary testing, and if so, how do you price it/ pitch it to the customer?

 

[Guitarist]

do you charge for all this preliminary testing, and if so, how do you price it/ pitch it to the customer?

Personally I don't charge. What I have found tho, is that usually I'm the only one who has bothered to spend the time testing, and the customer is always impressed. It also gives them time to get to know you which makes you the favourite for the job.

 

[piz]

Don't charge cos if it is safe you have already got your test results all you need to check is new earthing and rcd

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Personally I don't charge. What I have found tho, is that usually I'm the only one who has bothered to spend the time testing, and the customer is always impressed. It also gives them time to get to know you which makes you the favourite for the job.

Interesting. Do you ever get the other side of the scenario where you get your meter out and then start sucking your teeth and shaking your head and the customer thinks 'oh here we go...!' and then accuses you of 'creating' problems to elevate the cost?

(Not saying you do, mind... I don't work in customer's houses, I was just wondering if any of this activity ever backfires?)

Love and Peace.

 

[Guitarist]

Interesting. Do you ever get the other side of the scenario where you get your meter out and then start sucking your teeth and shaking your head and the customer thinks 'oh here we go...!' and then accuses you of 'creating' problems to elevate the cost?

(Not saying you do, mind... I don't work in customer's houses, I was just wondering if any of this activity ever backfires?)

Love and Peace.

No, it doesn't backfire. If you just have a look round and start saying "oh dear, oh dear" then I expect it would, but if the customer sees a swanky MFT and you write down all results to show them then they know you are doing it properly.
(I'm not saying that they may not THINK you are trying it on, but they never say as much)

 

[Guest111]

once went to a house and it was owned by an aunt and uncle and their niece and her husband, the uncle was well into diy and in his case it meant destroy it yourself,he had added sockets in flex hidden behind the panelling on the walls gone from 3 core to 2 core and back to 3 core,added a second CU and rewired the lighting cicuits on the joint box system,this wouldn't have been too bad but his JB's were made of rectangular margerine tubs with slots in the sides and 5A strip block.Apparently he was a woodwork teacher at a school and his nickname was TEX!

 

[telectrix]

that's terrible. we all know trhe tubs should be real butter tubs, not margerine.

 

[Des 56]

that's terrible. we all know trhe tubs should be real butter tubs, not margerine.

When I use a butter tub,the butter residue gets on the wires,I was told on my course that we should apply Jam to complete the joint ?
Is this statement in bad taste ?

 

[richy3333]

i use a voltstick and a socket&see. but then i used to work for gritish bas.

Must have been a supervisor with that level of equipment