Running cable in a new build.

[Breaker]

I was working with a contractor as part of my Electrical Trainee course and we were wiring a new build.

I noticed that the time served and apprentice trained sparky was telling me to run the cables through and around rsj's and into un-accesable places. I mentioned to him that if he would have to come back to this property in 20 years would he find it easy to work on because of where he has run the cables. He shrugged his shoulders and said it's quicker this way.

I was trained on my Electrical Trainee course to think ahead and it's also good practice to think about future sparky's who may have to work on the property while carrying out additional work. I mentioned to him it would be better to run the cable under the floorboards but he didn't want to drill the holes.

So is it best to think like a Electrical Trainee and plan ahead or like the apprentice trained sparky, do it the easiest and quickest way?

Thanks.

 

[Darkwood]

I can't comment on the installation you mention and as long as the install complies you will 9/10 times find the simplest most cost effective method is used, what your Electrical Trainee course omit to tell you is that you will be competing against other companies and if you can't match or beat their quotes then you have no work, this is the reality of the real world .... its a shame the tutors don't live in it or they would express what i ave said to you.

You are correct though in an ideal world circuit designs should incorporate some form of future proofing for access etc but regardless here i don't understand why the company in question couldn't add an extra hour to drill all the holes they needed.... maybe you have got your first impressions of a 'timed served company' from the wrong people.

As a newby regardless of your training you will always spend your first few years questioning what you are taught and what happens in the real world and this isn't really because what you see dosn't comply but more so because you lack experience.

 

[MDJ]

So is it best to think like a Electrical Trainee .

Absolutely not no, as darkwood mentioned it is difficult to comment on that job without seeing it, But I would not listen to a Electrical Trainee in training over a time served apprentice.

 

[Silly Sausage]

My Friday night Troll sensors seem to be getting fidgety...

 

[Badged01]

Absolutely not no, as darkwood mentioned it is difficult to comment on that job without seeing it, But I would not listen to a Electrical Trainee in training over a time served apprentice.

The problem is I think both the "5 week" course and the "apprentice" route will have been shown/taught the correct way to do things but in reality corners are cut for ease/lazyness and/or to save money! Not saying it is in this case because we dont know the specifics of the install but who hasn't come across work where you've sat back and thought, this isnt right ......

- - - Updated - - -

My Friday night Troll sensors seem to be getting fidgety...

Damn, you're probably right but even so .........

 

[Breaker]

We did all the costing stuff as part of the course, clients budgets, being competitive, etc, etc. But would it not be worth the extra time because after all it may be yourself that is called back for future additional work. Saving you time and your client money.

But yeah, may have not been the best company to get experience from. When I do anything that I think is wrong I get indigestion......

 

[Breaker]

My Friday night Troll sensors seem to be getting fidgety...

No I am not a troll. Honest.

 

[Rockingit]

I'm not even sure that choosing a cable route even comes into a Electrical Trainee-v-TimeServed contest....(compliance with regs assumed either way) it's just common sense and practicality, surely?

I've seen some old boys lay cable really stupidly!!

 

[hasel5]

Iam safe then as plan to retire in 10 years so will be some other unfortunate going back in 20 years LOL

 

[Breaker]

I'm not even sure that choosing a cable route even comes into a Electrical Trainee-v-TimeServed contest....(compliance with regs assumed either way) it's just common sense and practicality, surely?

I've seen some old boys lay cable really stupidly!!

Me mentioning Electrical Trainee and time served apprentice was me being sarcastic because of the ribbing I get on here for being a Electrical Trainee. But the question of running the cables with a bit more foresight is serious.

 

[Octopus]

I'm guessing that the runs you refer to are "between" floors and as such its up to the designer/installer to run them sensibly and keep away from heating pipes!

So to answer your question I would determine that the spark in charge of the install has done this.

As for a cable run being inaccessible - it doesn't matter if a cable is BUT if some numptie is doing a new build and placing standard JB's in an inaccessible place then that's a bad idea.

Hope this helps.

 

[Badged01]

So to answer your question I would determine that the spark in charge of the install has done this.

Now thats a brave assumption ......

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Yes! I love a Electrical Trainee post on a Friday!

 

[Breaker]

I'm guessing that the runs you refer to are "between" floors and as such its up to the designer/installer to run them sensibly and keep away from heating pipes!

So to answer your question I would determine that the spark in charge of the install has done this.

As for a cable run being inaccessible - it doesn't matter if a cable is BUT if some numptie is doing a new build and placing standard JB's in an inaccessible place then that's a bad idea.

Hope this helps.

Yep they were placing JB's behind the plaster board as well. When I mentioned it the excuse was that they were 15th edition sparky's and things have change since they did their apprenticeships.

 

[Octopus]

Yep they were placing JB's behind the plaster board as well. When I mentioned it the excuse was that they were 15th edition sparky's and things have change since they did their apprenticeships.

Why???