Tell us about your faults!

kung · Nov 30, 2009

Hi ALL
Just thought id put this one up for all those faults we find.
heres one to kick it off !
Domestic RCD tripped and wouldnt reset cause was a blown low energy light bulb.

There you go now for yours !

Engineer54 · Jan 22, 2012

Actually, the cabinet looks like one of the old crittall cabinets the councils used to put into all there council properties to house the supply cut-out fuse, the meter and the built in CU at the top of the panel. So this is a Wylex skeleton CU that's specially designed to retro fit these cabinets.

I would say this contractor has had a bit of a chop at the new CU cover, one to drop his supply tails to the meter. Which in actual fact, should have passed down one of the two enclosed side wire-ways, that are open at the top and bottom, that are there for specifically this use...lol!!

Can you post a photo of the back side of the white CU cover, which also shows the bottom and top sections. As it's difficult to see the actual cover design.

djo2904 · Jan 22, 2012

I really appreciate the feedback, I'm taking this seriously because this CU has got a broken door and does not close, and my nephew has already been in this cupboard several times, he thinks its a game switching all the buttons and turning everything the electrics off he is 2 years old and does not understand, Ive told them to go to relatives.. to move out until this is put right, maybe the council are playing this down because they have already fitted 100's if not 1000's of these CU, I was told it is the correct unit by the big contractors they denied liability and said its the councils fault and they should sort it even though it clearly states they are responsible for electrical works in a handbook, if this is what seems to be an almighty cock up, and someone has ordered the wrong design or its been fitted wrong, why are these units and installations being NICEIC certificates? Surely the electrical contractors should have raised the same concerns I have, they are qualified it seems blatantly obvious this CU is just not safe, Thanks so much, think I'll be a bit more bullish with the council on Monday morning

Engineer54 · Jan 22, 2012

As i say, if you can post a photo of the CU cover (back view) we may be able to tell you where these cuts/chops outs have been made. It is also possible that this CU has been mounted lower than they have been designed too. As the top may well be designed to be open, but not when mounted low enough to be able to get your fingers in... if that makes sense?? lol!! The cover should sit quite snugly around the wire-ways either side of the cabinet, with no possibility of fingers being able to pass, as shown in your photo's.

The CU by the way, looks to be a well made and thought out arrangement. It also incorporates RCBOs for it's protective devices, so on that score the council has done you proud!! lol!!

djo2904 · Jan 22, 2012

Hi actually looking at what engineer54 has said from the sides it may be going through the back and not directly into the CU, not that a bendy coat hanger may not find its way in but looking at the photo i previously posted with all fingers going in at the top then it has been fitted incorrectly, I advised her to move out until this was corrected, hopefully this was correct you would really think the council would have at least fitted a catch to the cupboard door to stop my nephew turning everything off...2 year olds really don't know of the dangers, thank you so much for the advice I will be able to insist at least the top is sorted out, how on earth would a contractor pass this anyway? Cheers

[ElectriciansForums.net] Tell us about your faults!

Engineer54 · Jan 22, 2012

djo2904 said:
Hi actually looking at what engineer54 has said from the sides it may be going through the back and not directly into the CU, not that a bendy coat hanger may not find its way in but looking at the photo i previously posted with all fingers going in at the top then it has been fitted incorrectly, I advised her to move out until this was corrected, hopefully this was correct you would really think the council would have at least fitted a catch to the cupboard door to stop my nephew turning everything off...2 year olds really don't know of the dangers, thank you so much for the advice I will be able to insist at least the top is sorted out, how on earth would a contractor pass this anyway? Cheers

View attachment 10160

Thanks for the photo's but it is the back of the white CU cover i really wanted to have a look at. So that i can see the sides, as well as the top and bottom of the cover.

I can also see from one of the photo's that there are what looks like the ends of a circuit that hasn't been connected for one reason or another. In fact there seems to be a fair amount of cables tucked behind this CU, for what reason, i really don't know!!!

Engineer54 · Jan 22, 2012

djo2904 said:
Hi actually looking at what engineer54 has said from the sides it may be going through the back and not directly into the CU, not that a bendy coat hanger may not find its way in but looking at the photo i previously posted with all fingers going in at the top then it has been fitted incorrectly, I advised her to move out until this was corrected, hopefully this was correct you would really think the council would have at least fitted a catch to the cupboard door to stop my nephew turning everything off...2 year olds really don't know of the dangers, thank you so much for the advice I will be able to insist at least the top is sorted out, how on earth would a contractor pass this anyway? Cheers

View attachment 10160

We've seen far, far worse than this from NICEIC registered contractors and DI competent persons on this and other forums, believe me!! lol!!!

Guest111 · Jan 22, 2012

once called out to what was described as "a kind of hissing noise" from a cu turned out there was a3 foot corn snake inside,sadly it died as it had gone across the incomers and the insulating covers were missing

djo2904 · Jan 22, 2012

Sorry new to all this... No have no photo of the back of the CU did not want to touch it too much in case I was blamed for anything theres only been visual inspection of the work could not look at the sockets because all have been sealed all the way round with mastic but the one switch i could open was the kitchen light switch that came out approx 14" which i found odd they also used to have at least a bit of sheathing showing what cable was what but both are brown, maybe all the reg's have changed no bonding even needed to the bath or kitchen sink either apparently, theres earth cable all unclipped in the bathroom you can trip up it 10" it comes out from the skirting just awful never seen work like it, they just wound the cable up stuck it in behind the bathroom radiator, doesn't take much to put a few clips in even the bath baton work is not fixed they have used mastic, all this was supposed to be complete new fitting! Cheers you really have all helped out really appreciate it look out for a new thread in the contactors builders section DECENT HOMES FROM HELL i'll put some photos up of the other work apparently from builders of the year 2 years running,

Engineer54 · Jan 22, 2012

djo2904 said:
Sorry new to all this... No have no photo of the back of the CU did not want to touch it too much in case I was blamed for anything theres only been visual inspection of the work could not look at the sockets because all have been sealed all the way round with mastic but the one switch i could open was the kitchen light switch that came out approx 14" which i found odd they also used to have at least a bit of sheathing showing what cable was what but both are brown, maybe all the reg's have changed no bonding even needed to the bath or kitchen sink either apparently, theres earth cable all unclipped in the bathroom you can trip up it 10" it comes out from the skirting just awful never seen work like it, they just wound the cable up stuck it in behind the bathroom radiator, doesn't take much to put a few clips in even the bath baton work is not fixed they have used mastic, all this was supposed to be complete new fitting! Cheers you really have all helped out really appreciate it look out for a new thread in the contactors builders section DECENT HOMES FROM HELL i'll put some photos up of the other work apparently from builders of the year 2 years running,

Your CU is a relatively easy fix, as the fixing screws for the back plate are on a slotted hole, so just means slacking off a touch and the base pushing up...lol!! and hope the cover has enough room to then be fitted...

Don't know why they disconnected the cross bonding in the bathroom, just because it may not be needed doesn't mean it needs to be disconnected if existing!!

By the way, ....standard electrical face plates should never have mastic of any kind around them. If such accessories need to be sealed, then appropriate accessory should be provided...

ringer · Jan 22, 2012

A message for djo2904

PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGERS INTO THE HOLES IN YOUR CONSUMER UNIT WHILST THE POWER IS ON.

If you feel the need to demonstrate to someone that there are holes into which you can put your fingers, then at least turn off all power before you do so.

And I hope you get either British Gas or the Council to listen to you and take action. If they don't, try getting your local newspaper involved. It might just embarrass someone enough to get it put right for you.

djo2904 · Jan 23, 2012

Hi just to update the council visited today have fitted a latch to cupboard door, and also added 2 x strips of trunking covers to gaps at bottom
and advised me they have contacted manufacturers asking if the cover was correct size, i'll keep pushing till it gets sorted thanks for advice everyone
(Dont suppose the council will thank me)

kenny james · Jan 24, 2012

djo2904 said:
Hi just to update the council visited today have fitted a latch to cupboard door, and also added 2 x strips of trunking covers to gaps at bottom
and advised me they have contacted manufacturers asking if the cover was correct size, i'll keep pushing till it gets sorted thanks for advice everyone
(Dont suppose the council will thank me)

2 x strips of trunking covers to gaps at bottom was my thoughts too!!! thats what should have been done before the cu was commissioned and before they left your site.

Rampage · Jan 25, 2012

Not in this country, but still quite amusing.
It''s a largeish light suspended by flex that where joined to the radial circuit the bare conductors are twisted together and insulted with insulation tape, this is holding the entire weight of the light. There is also for some reason the screw on part of a ceiling rose on top of the light still with the flex running through it. There were around 10 lights all connected in the same manner.

Vdfbvhiv

Graeme Harrold · Jan 27, 2012

For starters, one lucky mouse....

Next came an RCD test fail on the meter. Has happened with a few of them, so next step is to push the button....I get a wee tingle, so just to confirm I push it again :saddam:, stick probes on the button to find whats displayed......