why do some jobs take soooo long?

[andekoch]

did some work for a mate the other day and thought that I would not be there long, well I was. tell me how long you would expect to take to do the list below and I will tell you tomorrow/ friday how long it actually took relative to what I expected it to take.

1-replace bulb in bulkhead light.
2-fit additional outside light at back door, cable there already as it follows this route to the front door outside light (PIR and daylight sensor light so no additional switch required).
3-terminate redundant (and broken switch wired into a IP65 box.
4-replace flood light bulb, extra asked for on arrival on site.
5-install clip on energy meter, extra asked for on arrival to site.

can't take that long can it.

 

[J@mes]

1: 5 minutes
2: hour
3: 10 minutes
4: 5 minutes
5: 10 minutes

anything like that? lol

 

[topdjmatttolley]

if its anything like the favours i end up doing at least 2 full saturdays and 3 or 4 nights in the week

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Sounds like it may have turned into a typical just job.....allow a week for each anticipated hour!!

 

[Guest123]

2 hours maybe.......sounds like it turned into an all dayer!

 

[mechelec]

It is always hard to estimate time for a job. If you quote for the worst case scenario you would never get any work

1-replace bulb in bulkhead light.

Did the screws come out of the cover OK, often rusted up 10 mins - 2 hours

2-fit additional outside light at back door, cable there already as it follows this route to the front door outside light (PIR and daylight sensor light so no additional switch required).

was the cable ok, it may be there but IR OK? 30 mins - ?

3-terminate redundant (and broken switch wired into a IP65 box. 30 mins

4-replace flood light bulb, extra asked for on arrival on site.

Did the screws come out of the cover OK, often rusted up 10 mins - 2 hours

5-install clip on energy meter, extra asked for on arrival to site. 10 mins

can't take that long can it. ????

 

[rocker]

I'd allow about 2 hours for that, would probably end up taking about 2 and a half......

 

[Hawk81]

I'd like to think i would have that list done in 2 hours, 3 hours max. I do get the feeling you are going to say it took all day.

 

[andekoch]

the list on the op took me 5.5 hours to complete, the only good part was the screws all came out the bad parts were.

bulkhead light casing was live, after the fuse was removed.
the flood was fixed to a tree and ladder access not possible.
had to replace the cable for the outside light.
and the energy meter refused to see/ recognise the transmitter until after about a million attempts.

had to remove all fuses from the board to isolate the bulkhead and also redo a jb that was corroded and wet hence the live casing via the earth. still need to go back to replace another suspect jb since voltage at the light is low (200V).

so all in all a typical day, at least a mate and no other jobs were booked in for later. my original est was 2 hours 3 max.
makes me want to not test anything after/ before job done and as a matter of course always isolate the whole house (like I isolate both up and down lights when working on either in case of the dreaded borrowed neutral, once bitten twice shy), perhaps I should buy a horse and sell the van.

 

[telectrix]

you going to use the horse with a wet tongue to test for live?

 

[pushrod]

the list on the op took me 5.5 hours to complete, .

I don't think i have ever done a job that went exactly to plan!!!
As long as it's not like THIS

, you're ok

 

[nickblake]

Yep its always the simple jobs , i had a job this week install 4 metal halide light fittings in a shop window ,nice cut a hole put the fitting in job done all the supplies were there and part of a lighting circuit , but no not simple shop fitters had installed the original lights i was replacing right up to the beams ,there me trying to cover any holes argh fitting difficult to install so managed it after loads of adjusting and measuring carfully cutting out , half the hole was plaster board the other was mdf and talk about an awquard place jee ,well all installed JB's connected etc came to test no continuity on CPC's great and yes every one had be cut off ,the supply was wired directly into the transformers arghh why i ask so all the lights a mix of class 1 and 2 ,had no cpc drove me mad so i spent another 3 hours rewiring the shop lights just insane

 

[Amp David]

How do you get a live casing with out the CPD breaking?

 

[rocker]

Loss of neutral?

 

[pushrod]

[ insaneView attachment 2858

You're not kidding! The slightest movement away from a nice blue flash.