Wiring of PIR lights - is this correct?!

[davver79]

Hi,

Firstly, I'm not an electrician, I am just here to look for advice from you friendly people.

We've just has some PIR lights fitted at the side of our house and a security floodlight at the back. We're really disappointed with the way the work looks.

We bought the lights and separate PIR's on the advice of the electrician. We also advised on the rough positioning. I knew there would be wiring on show, however, I did not realise the amount of cable that would be visible and it looks so messy. The electrician advised that we had to use this uv resistant cabling which was only available in white. As he's placed the PIR's right next to the lights I don't understand why he advised we buy them separately.

Please would you mind taking a look at the attached photo for me and letting me know what you think - is this correct or is there an easier/tidier way of doing this?

I will be talking to him when he comes back to finish/correct the job, but I would just like some second opinions that I can draw upon first.

Thanks in advance for your help
D

 

[telectrix]

£310 equates to 1 long day or, at my age (a bit slow now) a day and a half. judging from what's been done, about 3 hours.

 

[Spoon]

I have simplified the job quite a lot since,.

Can you please explain how you have simplified the job? How does it differ from the original job?

 

[davver79]

It did take him all day to do what I have shown in the photos

 

[davver79]

Spoon - The original job involved fixing up 2 additional 400w spotlights - one at the back and one at the front of the house.

 

[telectrix]

the apostrophe police will report that post for incorrect use of the apostrophe. ( photos, not photo's) . pmsl. :38:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe

 

[Spoon]

Did you not receive a revised quote when you removed the two 400w spotlights? Was any price change mentioned?

 

[davver79]

Hi - it was mentioned that the quote would be less due to the removal of the 2 additional spotlights.

Thank's! ; )

 

[Spoon]

It all seems very strange.
So when is the electrician coming back?

 

[snowhead]

It all seems very strange.
So when is the electrician coming back?

When he's had his white stick repainted..


Re cable, if he managed to get a roll of white cable for free then why not run it mostly across the whitish render where it will be less noticeable, instead of across the RED brick.

 

[davver79]

He had to buy a new roll of white cable for the job, and he is charging me and extra £50 for it!

 

[Loki]

So why did he buy a white light & a black PIR?
He could of just bought a light with a PIR built in.

 

[davver79]

He advised I bought separate PIR and light. In hindsight I should have questioned it as it looks awful.

 

[Breeze]

So why did he buy a white light & a black PIR?
He could of just bought a light with a PIR built in.

I believe the customer( davber79) bought the lights and pir's so ask him If you think it's relivant

 

[Leesparkykent]

Pvc conduit would look better. Unfortunately he probably would make a hash of that though judging by the work he's already done.

 

[davesparks]

That cable is not suitable for use outside, it is not UV stable or mechanically strong enough for the job. Not to mention its ability to wick water up through the cable by capillary action.
If you look at the bends you can see where it has been bent too tightly and the outer sheath has collapsed into the voids in the cable, this is also not acceptable.
Cable or PVC conduit installed externally should always be black and preferable a tough rubber sheathed cable. There are exceptions to this but they wouldn't be relevant here so I won't go in to it.
I personally would insist that the whole lot be removed and re-done with black TRS flex supported with black P clips and brass screws.