I'd have quoted you a ridiculous amount based on you supplying me chocblocks to use so that I didn't get the job.
How to wire up garage RCD
- Thread starter Lisapete
- Start date
I'd have quoted you a ridiculous amount based on you supplying me chocblocks to use so that I didn't get the job.
Associate
The ONE MCB that's not matched with the rest is the new style of wylex MCB's........You can't (or maybe can, with a bit of difficulty) get hold of the old style to match in now.
Also, you do realize that the house C/U was done by a contractor and not the OP, so what's that got to do with any of this.....Just because it's not neat does not mean it's wrong in any does it?
Associate
Very true, they should not be allowed full stop. Just for the same reason giving medical advise is not allowed on here.
There are bins and bins of old style breakers in most wholesalers here. They get them wholesale from the council when they do board changes. We upgraded hundreds of consumer units over the past four years as part of a kitchen and bathroom project.
Yeah I saw it, C&E, they've got branches in the south west. We've obviously got different standards because to me that board is dog****.
EDIT
I'm on my phone now, could have sworn that board had a Clarkson Evans sticker on it?
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Associate
Yeah I have seen the odd wholesaler have these, and we have cases full of them at our work, but when the job needs to be done in the next few days and there isn't one to hand who is going to wait around for the old style MCB when you can get the new one of the shelf the same day.
Everyone has different standards, I take pride in my work and I would not leave a C/U like that either, but as I say that does not mean mine will work/function any better just because it's neater, or for that fact get paid any more then the guy who did that (not so neat) C/U!!! Especially when it comes to council work, I don't know what it's like down in England but standards aren't superb in their sparky department up here
Soldato
The cover does, there's a photo of the CU with cover in place in the OP's other thread.
Man of Honour
My house was wired by an electrician but it's awful. Screws all overtightened weakening the copper wire, no sleeving on earths, no sleeving on switched lives and I daren't open up the consumer unit.
I know plenty of trades do good work, but plenty don't.
I know plenty of trades do good work, but plenty don't.
To be fair from experience in starting out as a spark apprentice, tightening terminal screws to an inch of their life Is normal practice however it was experience that told us when to stop tightening. Most good trades are belt and braces, that was drilled into me. Unfortunately I didn't finish my apprenticeship but picked up valuable experience.
Man of Honour
If you do it often enough you get to know the feel of when copper is terminated correctly but unfortunately DIYers and those new to the trade have no idea.
This is why manufacturers are now specifying torque settings for their equipment to absolve themselves from any faults arising from poorly terminated fittings, failure to torque correctly invalidates any warranty.
This is why manufacturers are now specifying torque settings for their equipment to absolve themselves from any faults arising from poorly terminated fittings, failure to torque correctly invalidates any warranty.
I was playing with the new Wera torque mulit tip screwdriver set in City Electrical last month. What a ballache! Even my account manager said they're gash!
Associate
I have a feeling this is due to a un-trained apprentice being with them and over tightening everything just to be "safe"? But the sparky should always double check work they do
It would definitely suggest a pup was second fixing - I'd say look in the CU, you may be pleasantly surprised.
We have the 2nd year apprentices 2nd fix whilst the spark does the board. He then has to open everything up and check the work, if he's not happy he pulls it all apart and reterminates everything. The lad then spends the next day stripping cable in the stores
It's not a quick method and has pushed some rewires out by a few days but they tend not to do it again - stripping 1mm with a pair of tail shears for 8 hours is no fun lol
It would definitely suggest a pup was second fixing - I'd say look in the CU, you may be pleasantly surprised.
We have the 2nd year apprentices 2nd fix whilst the spark does the board. He then has to open everything up and check the work, if he's not happy he pulls it all apart and reterminates everything. The lad then spends the next day stripping cable in the stores
It's not a quick method and has pushed some rewires out by a few days but they tend not to do it again - stripping 1mm with a pair of tail shears for 8 hours is no fun lol
Latter sounds like experience
The problem with torque screwdrivers on terminal screws is that it will be inaccurate due to the way multi strand cable behaves when tightened. A truer way would be to torque to specified torque then tightened with an angle gauge of some sort. However in the electrical trade this is extremely impractical. Experience.
Associate
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Associate
In that case though if multi strand cable was used a Insulated bootlace ferrule or Uninsulated bootlace ferrule should be used and crimped.
^^ this. Although such detail is often, sadly, far beyond the realms of housebashers.