Subtle DIYer giveaways

[mattg4321]

I was thinking today that there are a few things you come across that aren't necessarily wrong but are a pretty certain giveaway to me that a job has been DIYed or probably bodged elsewhere by Kev the kitchen fitter or Pete the p***head from the pub.

It'll be interesting to see if everyone agrees with this one...

When they've used the knockout on the back of a dry lining box.

Any more from anyone else before I add more?!

 

[Pete999]

4 hole metal backboxes
earth used when no neutral available..lol

excess use of insulation tape, scorch marks, phone calls "help please"

 

[Deuce]

Well, I'm not a qualified spark but plenty of the stuff on this list I have seen done by qualified sparks over the years!

Even in my new house, cables pulled short so difficult to replace some sockets/switches, and in others cables too long and crunched up inside! I can only assume it was a two man install and one bloke used too much cable, leaving his mate a bit short...

I think people underestimate how dangerous scrunched up cables in boxes can be actually. More than once I've removed a cover to find the screw has caught and deformed the sheath of a wire. Another 1mm across and the screw would have passed straight through the core. That would leave the exposed screw head live and undetected until the day someone unfortunate makes a painful discovery. That said it's not just poor installation, I often think certain enclosures and components are so badly designed they actively encourage or even force messy installation. A recent example was a 4 pole rotary isolator that was rated for 63a, but actually getting such a heavy cable in and the whole thing reassembled was impossible without twisting the cores around in the terminals, risking a poor contact. In the end I bought a better isolator.

 

[Deuce]

Well, I'm not a qualified spark but plenty of the stuff on this list I have seen done by qualified sparks over the years!

Even in my new house, cables pulled short so difficult to replace some sockets/switches, and in others cables too long and crunched up inside! I can only assume it was a two man install and one bloke used too much cable, leaving his mate a bit short...

I think people underestimate how dangerous scrunched up cables in boxes can be actually. More than once I've removed a cover to find the screw has caught and deformed the sheath of a wire. Another 1mm across and the screw would have passed straight through the core. That would leave the exposed screw head live and undetected until the day someone unfortunate makes a painful discovery. That said it's not just poor installation, I often think certain enclosures and components are so badly designed they actively encourage or even force messy installation. A recent example was a 4 pole rotary isolator that was rated for 63a, but actually getting such a heavy cable in and the whole thing reassembled was impossible without twisting the cores around in the terminals, risking a poor contact. In the end I bought a better isolator.

 

[Des 56]

The amount of times I have read on this forum about such and such a thing was done by a qualified spark

I would state that in 9o% of work done by others that I have subsequently worked on,other than someone making a statement which can mean many things or levels "It was done by a Qualified spark" I would not other than making a judgement (which could be wrong)on the work standard ever make such a statement

The blame for poor work can be portioned to qualified or not qualified depending on who makes the statement
The only thing that can be said is the chances of work being sub standard is more than likely in the court of someone not trained rather than trained

 

[Deuce]

The amount of times I have read on this forum about such and such a thing was done by a qualified spark

I would state that in 9o% of work done by others that I have subsequently worked on,other than someone making a statement which can mean many things or levels "It was done by a Qualified spark" I would not other than making a judgement (which could be wrong)on the work standard ever make such a statement

The blame for poor work can be portioned to qualified or not qualified depending on who makes the statement
The only thing that can be said is the chances of work being sub standard is more than likely in the court of someone not trained rather than trained

I've re-read this several times and don't understand... You would state what about 90% of work done by others?

I agree with your second point though. I certainly don't expect all qualified people to maintain an equally high standard. In any trade or line of work it's fair to say that sadly there is a very broad range of quality. And yes, it's far more likely an untrained person will do sub-standard work. There are certainly 'less disciplined' sparks out there but there is no handicap greater than not having the knowledge to hand to do a job properly. That's why I get all my kit checked out by a spark prior to it leaving the workshop. I accept that as I have no intention of being a spark myself, I will never be sufficiently on top of good working practices and regulation as someone who does it full time will be. I've always had a great deal of respect for the knowledge you guys maintain through an entire career!

 

[AJshep]

Outside light fittings wired in 2.5mm cable.

When you replace a socket a find the previous person has twisted the ends of each set of conductors together.

Full central heating systems wired entirely in flex.

Decorative light switches on white plastic surfaces boxes.

 

[Deuce]

Outside light fittings wired in 2.5mm cable.

Just curious as a non-pro, what is wrong with using 2.5mm cable for outdoor lights? we use H07 2.5mm for external lines all the time. Obviously it's an odd choice if the current doesn't require 2.5mm...

EDIT: We use the h07 for temp external lines, it's commonly used in the TV&film/events industry for temp installations - as it can cope with constant exposure to weather and being pulled around etc. And for us working with water FX, it's perfect.

 

[AJshep]

Should of made myself clearer, I meant outside lights attached to a house wired in 2.5 T&E
Generally the DIY Dave's just use whatever cable they can get hold of.

 

[Squid]

Faceplate fixing screws not aligned in the horizontal

Thats only for Japanese clients otherwise they are on the vertical or to match the tiling.

 

[Deuce]

Should of made myself clearer, I meant outside lights attached to a house wired in 2.5 T&E
Generally the DIY Dave's just use whatever cable they can get hold of.

Oh yes. I've seen t&e used as a trailing flex to plug in a 20a heater in a workshop too! It was already cracking where it was being dragged around. Also obviously doesn't seal at all when passed through a gland.. but like you say, diyers use whatever and it's cheap in b&q so...

 

[DC-backfrom the past]

the old two way switching not working all of a sudden... and they only changed the light shade ....or the old "nobody has touched it" story . but all black cables are connected to each other and all red cables are connected together mmmm

 

[Squid]

the old two way switching not working all of a sudden... and they only changed the light shade ....or the old "nobody has touched it" story . but all black cables are connected to each other and all red cables are connected together mmmm

Especially when a friend asks to to pop around as his lights aren't working and as you walk in you notice the new fitting that wasn't there last week when you popped around.