The gas man has been!

[Octopus]

So I went to see a job today. Lady has just had her boiler service and suggested that she called an electrician in!




Its a TN-S!

Checked the Zs at a socket and it came back as a very reasonable 6 ohms, not bad for parallel paths and its been like that since the early 1960's!

 

[oldtimer]

So what was the Ze if any if you measured on the "earth bolt" on the main incomer

 

[Octopus]

So what was the Ze if any if you measured on the "earth bolt" on the main incomer

Good question, I was in a bit of a hurry! Yes, I know I should have done it.

 

[Engineer54]

I'm at a bit of a loss here, ...So you have been to this installation and found that there is no main earthing conductor from the available earthing bolt on the lead sheathed cable. So what have you done (if anything) to resolve this issue??

 

[Octopus]

I'm at a bit of a loss here, ...So you have been to this installation and found that there is no main earthing conductor from the available earthing bolt on the lead sheathed cable. So what have you done (if anything) to resolve this issue??

Made a commitment to go back in a few days to resolve.

Old ladies don't appreciate being scared by situations that have clearly been evident for over 40 years.

 

[oldtimer]

I'm at a bit of a loss here, ...So you have been to this installation and found that there is no main earthing conductor from the available earthing bolt on the lead sheathed cable. So what have you done (if anything) to resolve this issue??

I agree with this if you took the trouble to test the Zs at the socket it may have been prudent to test the earth bolt on the incomer and if you got a good earth then put a main earth in . I went to see a job to quote and i highlighted it here on the forum where i found the exact same situation I explained this to the customer and as I had a bit o 16mm green in the motor it was agreed I fit it at a nominal price.

After that I got a good nights sleep O and the customer got me back to do the job I quoted for

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Murdoch

bet you glad you posted that now !!!!

(fix bayonet)

 

[Octopus]

Do you know what went through my head when I saw post # 4? - the message from the Mods about the style and content of responses. I can imagine E54 spitting blood as he typed. he he.

Off out now to do some paid work!

 

[Engineer54]

Not at all!!

I was just curious as to what the conclusion to this situation was, as you gave no indication as to what you had or had not done (or going to do) to resolve. All you posted was that you tested a socket, with a duff value, so i couldn't quite see the point you were trying to make!!!

All this will require is about 30 odd minutes to resolve, if the Ze is sound off the DNO cable. I don't really see what the 40 years has to do with it, once a safety defect such as we have here has been noted/recognised, i would have thought this would be a priority work order to resolve...

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Not at all!!

I was just curious as to what the conclusion to this situation was, as you gave no indication as to what you had or had not done (or going to do) to resolve. All you posted was that you tested a socket, with a duff value, so i couldn't quite see the point you were trying to make!!!

All this will require is about 30 odd minutes to resolve, if the Ze is sound off the DNO cable. I don't really see what the 40 years has to do with it, once a safety defect such as we have here has been noted/recognised, i would have thought this would be a priority work order to resolve...

in an ideal world - maybe Murdoch was just flying past / didn't have the right materials with him (sometimes I'm just in the car with meters) ?

Agreed though no main earth is serious, as Murdoch himself has highlighted. not caused! As to wether it's left unsafe, well that would be speculation as I know nowt about the premises and the rest of the install.

 

[RISElectrical]

Usually if you give a customer the indication that you have a responsibility to put it right they take that as a "well you have to do it for free" type arrangement. Or they tell you to go away as it sounds like your ripping them off as all they understand is that it has worked for 40 years so it can stay as it is. Then you don't really have an option except advise and walk away

 

[Engineer54]

Usually if you give a customer the indication that you have a responsibility to put it right they take that as a "well you have to do it for free" type arrangement. Or they tell you to go away as it sounds like your ripping them off as all they understand is that it has worked for 40 years so it can stay as it is. Then you don't really have an option except advise and walk away

Err!! it was the customer that called him in, on the good advise (in this case) of the gas fitter. So the customer knew, that there was a safety issue that needed to be resolved by an electrician.

 

[RISElectrical]

Err!! it was the customer that called him in, on the good advise (in this case) of the gas fitter. So the customer knew, that there was a safety issue that needed to be resolved by an electrician.

Missed that bit about the call, if the job was booked in as such and a price agreed then yes, a quick trip to the wholesalers for a bit of 16mm would have been called for. or as a temp measure a couple of 6mm ran in parallel to reinstate the earthing.

My argument was on the basis that he could have turned up and said that it needed doing at a cost of xzy and then its down to the customer. Personally I would have insisted the Ze be confirmed and taken it from there. However I have had customers in the past that would have let you do the repair and then argued that they wont pay on the basis that you had to do it.

 

[james29022004]

I personally would have tried to fix something up there and then as if by some chance the customer got some sort of injury or fatal shock since you have been there you might well find yourself liable or hounded to the ends of the earth by a no win no fee parasite.
If she would not pay for the work you could issue a formal letter to cover yourself

 

[telectrix]

I personally would have tried to fix something up there and then as if by some chance the customer got some sort of injury or fatal shock since you have been there you might well find yourself liable or hounded to the ends of the earth by a no win no fee parasite.
If she would not pay for the work you could issue a formal letter to cover yourself

have to disagree somewhat, here. murdoch got a Zs reading of 6.0 ohms,apparently from the services bonding, which is a better value than most TT systems can ever achieve , and it's been like that for 40 odd years! at the end of the day, he's planned to go back and sort it out: can't see the incoming water supply being converted to plastic within a couple of days. LOL.