Taking action against a cowboy install... | Page 2 | on ElectriciansForums

Discuss Taking action against a cowboy install... in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

DNS1

-
Joined
Apr 8, 2011
Messages
1,066
Reaction score
390
A couple of months ago my parents had a new kitchen installed. Part of the install involved a new induction hob which meant a new circuit to be added to the board.

Now unfortunately they didn't tell me about anything that was going on, and ended up being talked into having their perfectly good 16th edition board replaced, instead of just sourcing an appropriate MCB or RCBO and connecting the hob circuit to the spare way.

I popped round today and whilst there I thought I'd fix a lightswitch that had been wired backwards for years. Simple enough job (despite half the screws being missing and a couple of wires simply resting against the terminals)

Few things I noticed about their new DB that cause me concern so I'd like another opinion:

- Notices missing from board (no sticker about the non-standard colours, no inspection due sticker, no sticker about testing RCD)
- MCBs labelled incorrectly (house is a little odd in that the 2 RFCs cover each side of the house, rather than upstairs and down, but not labelled as such)
- Both lighting circuits on same RCD
- Hob wired in buried T+E but not protected by RCD at all

Correct me if I'm wrong but none of the above are acceptable for a newly installed board are they? It all got me thinking about the whole installation and I'm now a little suspicious about how the initial testing could have been passed, given the fact that at least one lighting circuit clearly had poor connections in a switch.

Unfortunately I've not yet seen the certificates for any of the above work.

What does everyone think about the above? Should I be looking at take some action against this installer?
 
If he used a dual RCD board then leaving the hob of the RCD is more difficult than connecting it properly, reason I said hi integ was he could connect onto third neutral bar this way thus removing RCD protection.
 
Non RCD circuits can be for anything you want them to be.

On all my flexible dual RCD CUs I always split the circuit between the 2 RCDs and however many spare way are left get put off the main switch. I then hope that next time a new circuit is added they use an RCBO, I hate the use of dual RCDs covering your circuits
 
A couple of months ago my parents had a new kitchen installed. Part of the install involved a new induction hob which meant a new circuit to be added to the board.

Now unfortunately they didn't tell me about anything that was going on, and ended up being talked into having their perfectly good 16th edition board replaced, instead of just sourcing an appropriate MCB or RCBO and connecting the hob circuit to the spare way.

I popped round today and whilst there I thought I'd fix a lightswitch that had been wired backwards for years. Simple enough job (despite half the screws being missing and a couple of wires simply resting against the terminals)

Few things I noticed about their new DB that cause me concern so I'd like another opinion:

- Notices missing from board (no sticker about the non-standard colours, no inspection due sticker, no sticker about testing RCD)
- MCBs labelled incorrectly (house is a little odd in that the 2 RFCs cover each side of the house, rather than upstairs and down, but not labelled as such)
- Both lighting circuits on same RCD
- Hob wired in buried T+E but not protected by RCD at all

Correct me if I'm wrong but none of the above are acceptable for a newly installed board are they? It all got me thinking about the whole installation and I'm now a little suspicious about how the initial testing could have been passed, given the fact that at least one lighting circuit clearly had poor connections in a switch.

Unfortunately I've not yet seen the certificates for any of the above work.

What does everyone think about the above? Should I be looking at take some action against this installer?
well i`d give lack of identification of circuits and general lack of notices/info as a (3)...that cable buried thing with no RCD..is (2)/(3)...seems like its mainly a requires improvement thing here.....but it is crap really....you install to the edition in place at the time....not the case here by the sounds of it.......kitchen fitters again maybe...trying their hand at leccy....
 
Taking action against a cowboy install

You have 2 chances of anyone giving a monkeys,they are slim and none at all

You want to hope they are not registered with Nicy,your chances would be zilch
 
There’s something not right here, you’re a DI and yet you can’t identify what type of board it is. The faults you list are minor little niggles except the cooker / RCD issue, that you don’t give a clear answer on.
I’m thinking this is just sour grapes because mummy got some one else in. If she’s been waiting years for you to sort a light switch, I can’t say I blame her.
 
There’s something not right here, you’re a DI and yet you can’t identify what type of board it is. The faults you list are minor little niggles except the cooker / RCD issue, that you don’t give a clear answer on.
I’m thinking this is just sour grapes because mummy got some one else in. If she’s been waiting years for you to sort a light switch, I can’t say I blame her.

fair point, lacking clarity on the big issue with the RCD... And for that reason I'm out...
 
Not a very nice post Tony...

1. I've not had chance to open up the board and I don't have x-ray vision. I just noticed a few things when I switched the power off to do the light switch.
2. The light switch was not exactly high on the list of priorities... It worked, it was just upside down...
3. I've given as much detail as I can about the cooker/RCD issue. If I had more details at the moment, I'd give them.
4. The main issue is I fail to see how the installation could have passed the initial verification going by the state of the switch I took off this afternoon (2 lives resting, rather than being screwed into the terminals. Makes me wonder if it's been tested at all.
5. The work didn't need doing in the first place, there was a perfectly good board in place.
6. Even if the work DID need doing, I couldn't have done it anyway for several reasons (including the fact that I'm not registered...)
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure how much more clarification you want regarding the RCD/cooker issue...

The cable is:

- buried in a wall at less than 50mm depth
- not armoured
- not in earthed conduit
- not mechanically protected

Someone please explain where in the regs it says that this is permitted without RCD protection
 
You don't need to disconnect and inspect every single accessory on an inspection. That's probably why the light switch wasn't picked up.
They should have labelled and stickered the board though.
Do you have a copy of there test results?
 
DNS1 have you had the cover of the cu? Just getting a bit confused as to what you've found regarding lack of RCD protection.

No. Not removed the cover at all (board is at the back of a cupboard and removing the cover would require emptying it's contents)

Basically there are 2 non-RCD'd circuits. One is garage (armoured) the other is the hob. The rest of the circuits are on the dual RCDs
 

Reply to Taking action against a cowboy install... in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

News and Offers from Sponsors

  • Article
Join us at electronica 2024 in Munich! Since 1964, electronica has been the premier event for technology enthusiasts and industry professionals...
    • Like
Replies
0
Views
315
  • Sticky
  • Article
Good to know thanks, one can never have enough places to source parts from!
Replies
4
Views
841
  • Article
OFFICIAL SPONSORS These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then...
Replies
0
Views
954

Similar threads

  • Question
What I find a little bit interesting is that there was an era of MFT's e.g. Robin, early Kewtech that tried to do non-trip loop tests using D-Lok...
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Question
Since my last post I have used the oven several times and it is still working ! On reading the 'regulatory' position I will ask an electrician to...
Replies
9
Views
2K

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

YOUR Unread Posts

This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by untold.media Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top