SWA questions, doubting electrician

[LeeH38]

Recently had an electrician in to wire up power to a detached garage and also wire in a 32 amp rotary switch for an eventual hot tub install.

He has used a spare 40amp MCB in the house consumer for the garage and a 32amp one for the hot tub point. Cable run for both is about 10m each.

He left on Friday and the whole side of the consumer in the house tripped immediately and I started having doubts about other things then as part of the kitchen is also on that side of the consumer and hasn’t been touched. I then switched the two new circuits off and the consumer continues to trip whenever I plug anything in in the kitchen. Been promised a visit to sort it out but today I simply removed the new wiring into the consumer to see if I could get the kitchen back up as it’s a nightmare without and everything has returned to normal.

Now having major doubts about the rest of the work and have had another opinion from a retired electrician neighbour and it doesn’t look good. However original installer is saying it’s something simple and everything has been done to standard.

My main doubts are:

1. Is 4mm armoured cable sufficient for this layout. I have a 32 and 6 amp MCB on another board in the garage run from the 40amp MCB on the house board. This is to run 8 sockets and 4 led lights.
2. Is 4mm armoured cable sufficient for a hot tub. I am led to believe it should be 6mm.
3. Non of the armour part of the cable is earthed, he reckons it’s fine as it’s 3 core and earth is inside. I don’t believe this though and think it needs earthing at the house consumer at the very least.

I am struggling to have a reasoned discussion as he is the electrician and I’m reading stuff on the internet, I wouldn’t have even started searching had I not had the initial issues.

Meant to be inspected and a certificate off someone else this week but not sure that means much tbh?

Any advice on how to approach this very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[SJD]

I’d take some pics but my lights don’t work ? cable is fed into consumer through a rubber/plastic gland and again no earth.

As mentioned earlier, the armour has to be earthed at least at one end.

So if someone damages the cable, and shorts L to the armour, it does not make the whole armour live. Which could prove fatal e.g. a buried cable that someone digs into with a metal spade etc.

This is nothing to do with the fact that there are 3 cores, and one is used for the E.

 

[westward10]

4mm 90deg SWA would be okay at 40A wouldn't it?

https://www.whyprysmian.co.uk/BS5467.pdf

Unless the terminals the conductors are terminated at are rated at 90°C then you use Table 4D4A.

 

[telectrix]

the steel armour of the SWA must be earthed, even if only at the supply end, when a 3rd core is used as cpc (earth).

 

[LeeH38]

Well everyone has confirmed what I suspected. Not sure where I head now apart from starting again with someone else. I know someone who can probably correct it but the whole point of using an electrician was for it to be signed off.

 

[westward10]

You say in #1 someone else is signing it off?

 

[LeeH38]

You say in #1 someone else is signing it off?

Yeah someone linked to the first person. Wouldn’t want to get it signed off and the start changing stuff although it looks like the sign off isn’t worth a great deal from some people.

 

[westward10]

It is a bit worrying they feel the armour doesn't need earthing because to a competent electrician this is a fundamental requirement.

 

[snowhead]

The person "Signing it off" should identify the issues, to which the installer will have to return and fix, followed by a revisit from the "Signing it off" person, who may or may not also be the Notifier.

You may as well cancel the original, pay him off and get someone else who can complete, sign off and notify.

Where are you located, someone here may be able to sort it.?

 

[LeeH38]

It is a bit worrying they feel the armour doesn't need earthing because to a competent electrician this is a fundamental requirement.

Totally agree with you. Looks like I’ve been had again then.

The person "Signing it off" should identify the issues, to which the installer will have to return and fix, followed by a revisit from the "Signing it off" person, who may or may not also be the Notifier.

You may as well cancel the original, pay him off and get someone else who can complete, sign off and notify.

Where are you located, someone here may be able to sort it.?

I’m beginning to think it would be signed off regardless. I have currently paid just over half but not sure I should pay the rest and then pay someone else to put it all right, surely I should use the retained money (and no doubt add to it) to get it done correctly.

I’m in the Manchester area.

 

[telectrix]

Totally agree with you. Looks like I’ve been had again then.


I’m beginning to think it would be signed off regardless. I have currently paid just over half but not sure I should pay the rest and then pay someone else to put it all right, surely I should use the retained money (and no doubt add to it) to get it done correctly.

I’m in the Manchester area.

you should give the original sparks the opportunity to rectify it. as it stands, you're on a winner as you have only paid half. talk to him, tell him your concerns. if necessary show him the posts on this thread. if he fixes it and gets it signed off, then pay the balance. if he refuses, don't pay him. you have monies left over to pay someone else. several members in Manc. area should be able to help if needed.

 

[LeeH38]

you should give the original sparks the opportunity to rectify it. as it stands, you're on a winner as you have only paid half. talk to him, tell him your concerns. if necessary show him the posts on this thread. if he fixes it and gets it signed off, then pay the balance. if he refuses, don't pay him. you have monies left over to pay someone else. several members in Manc. area should be able to help if needed.

Gave him a chance and just received a reply saying “will leave you to it as I obviously don’t know what I’m doing” so guessing I need to get someone else to sort it. Next issue is whoever I get next is likely to want to start from scratch rather than deal with someone else’s mess I imagine unless they can inspect the ring main and lighting in the garage and be happy with it.

 

[westward10]

What has made you question the armour of the cable not being earthed because I assume you have limited electrical knowledge.

 

[LeeH38]

What has made you question the armour of the cable not being earthed because I assume you have limited electrical knowledge.

Just that within minutes of him leaving we had a pretty serious problem with the system tripping when we plugged items in the kitchen. Started googling to try and find out what was wrong and then eventually led me noticing other issues with the work.

 

[davesparks]

4mm 90deg SWA would be okay at 40A wouldn't it?

https://www.whyprysmian.co.uk/BS5467.pdf

If it can operate at 90 degrees yes, but it's connected to a normal domestic CU which limits the operating temperature to 70 degrees.

 

[PEG]

Hi,what were the issues,causing the tripping ?