Wiring woes

ZG002 · 1 May 2011 at 09:10

Lopéz said:
What about the thousands of DIY forums out there, should they be banned too?

If they are giving advice on electrical work or gas work then imo yes :confused:

If you don't work in the trade you won't agree, So trying get my point across with you is pointless and a waste of my time.

You can do just as much if not more damage messing about with electrics as you can advising someone what pain killers are best.

Was on here the other day and people (yes more than one!) were advising someone to bypass the main RCD in a property that wasn't even the guys own!

If he had actually attempted it (people do these things!) First the incoming supply would have been live (They failed to mention this) and secondly if by some freak act of god he didn't blow himself up or pop the main fuse, He would have left a property (likely to be TT) without any RCD protection and then invite 20 of his friends over to sample it!

It's not right tbh.

This thread is for a very simple light fitting, Yet the first bit of advice is

Thebug said:
You need a spare connector block - put the 2 blacks into this then use the 2 reds in the light fitting - one in the live and the other in the neutural.

See it nearly every electrical thread.

meghatronic · 1 May 2011 at 09:11

ZG002 said:
If they are giving advice on electrical work or gas work then imo yes

If you don't work in the trade you won't agree, So trying get my point across with you is pointless and a waste of my time.

`People work in the trade in wanting to encourage people use only the trade` shock horror.

ZG002 · 1 May 2011 at 09:16

Yes shock horror as people working in the trade have seen the mess people not in the trade make of it with DIY, and then see the aftermath of what not doing it properly can be.

SB118 · 1 May 2011 at 09:23

There is a fine line between knowing what you are doing and thinking you know what you are doing.

After rewiring this place, i'm pretty sure that old wiring was done by somebody who didn't fall into either camp!

ZG002 · 1 May 2011 at 09:28

You are right there is.

We do have a few electricians on here and other members who do seem to know what they are on about.

But if we don't spot a thread or what not, The op will just get any fool coming in and telling them it works like this, or just do this, it will be fine... Why were medical threads banned?

meghatronic · 1 May 2011 at 09:35

ZG002 said:
Yes shock horror as people working in the trade have seen the mess people not in the trade make of it with DIY, and then see the aftermath of what not doing it properly can be.

Well more money for people working in the trade then fixing our mess

Adam_151 · 1 May 2011 at 09:42

I post on another forum occasionly which has a section dedicated to electrical matters, the difference is that quite a lot of us regulars are in the trade, so theres:

a) a good chance that good advice will be posted
b) highly likely that incorrect advice will be changed.

Whereas on here what tends to happen is about 5 people post bad advice, all agree with each other, then ZG002, myself or Pillydee will come along if you're lucky and correct it

Which is surely a similar case as to medical threads, i'm sure theres a number here who do know what they are talking about medically, but in between them showing up, theres a chance for people to suggest cutting fingers off to get rid of warts and for other people to come along and agree with it

Just seen the thread on RCD bypassing, its scary that people will suggest things like that without being aware of the issues which could arise

ZG002 · 1 May 2011 at 09:51

meghatronic said:
Well more money for people working in the trade then fixing our mess

It's not about the money, I will gladly help anyone asking for it on here and even on site when asked by someone.

The problem is the seriously bad advice that normally comes first.

meghatronic · 1 May 2011 at 09:57

ZG002 said:
It's not about the money, I will gladly help anyone asking for it on here and even on site when asked by someone.

The problem is the seriously bad advice that normally comes first.

Ahhh.. I thought you were saying NO advice should be online/free.

ZG002 · 1 May 2011 at 10:03

Me, Adam 151 and Pillydee openly give the correct advice on here when we can. I suspect the advice given on DIY forums is of a higher quality than here also. (never used one)

I think lads messing about with their computers think "Well higher voltage stuff can't be any different or more dangerous than my pc" (total guess, Really don't know what goes on with some of the crazy things put forward)

Just think it needs to stop or at least be monitored. We really don't need the "My house burned down after some advice on here" thread.

Westyfield2 · 1 May 2011 at 13:50

There's another forum I use where some of the mechanical/engineering advice (car wise) is, to put it frankly, dangerous... problem is said armchair expert who likes to think he knows everything about everything is an Admin

.

Re this topic, I just get a mate to do any sparky stuff! Electricity is black magic to me!