hello,

I'm very new to this trade and do industrial installations. A friend employed an electrician to run a feed to a new consumer unit in his shed so I went to have a look at it out of curiosity to see the correct way it's done. I haven't done any domestic work yet but I don't think it's correct. Could you help please?

It is a PME system. He has taken a 2.5 t+e cable directly out of the 100amp isolator in the suppliers electrical box and run it 5meters in conduit and then under their decking for another 5 meters and the last meter is buried under some cement between patio slabs to supply the new fuse board. The fuse board is rcd protected and has 2 circuits. 1 is a 6amp for one light and the other is a 32 amp for 1 double socket on a radial, not a ring.

It doesn't seem correct to me from listening to more experienced men on site.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Lanky, when I said I'm new to the trade, I'm an apprentice only a few months in so have next to no experience.

Specialist, the 2.5 supply is taken from the loads side of the 100amp isolator.

No worries lad, it was worded as if you were an electrician but had never done any domestic installs. With the amount of chancers we get around here, i was just probing. Stick your apprenticeship out and tell your mate to get a Qualified electrician in not a trained monkey. Might be a chance for you to watch and learn from the bloke putting the abortion right.
 
Just been to speak to him, the man charged him £230 for the work.

He asked for a cert so he is dropping one around in the morning??

Also I looked again in the electric cupboard where the meter is and the 100a isolator, it looks like he has cut the main Earth coming from the western power supply and put it in a connector block, then taken a new 10mm earth to the 100a isolator so he has an earth there for his 2.5 twin and earth cable to supply the shed. I've read that the main Earth can't be cut and should be continuous??
 
Just been to speak to him, the man charged him £230 for the work.

He asked for a cert so he is dropping one around in the morning??

Also I looked again in the electric cupboard where the meter is and the 100a isolator, it looks like he has cut the main Earth coming from the western power supply and put it in a connector block, then taken a new 10mm earth to the 100a isolator so he has an earth there for his 2.5 twin and earth cable to supply the shed. I've read that the main Earth can't be cut and should be continuous??

The MET can be positioned as you describe, but post a picture for clarity
 
IMG_7581.JPG
IMG_7582.JPG
IMG_7588.JPG
 
Good pictures, but think Murdoch said it all in 2 small words.

No seals on the service head ?

So he's cut the Earth and used an ordinary connector wrapped in tape ?.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah it looks like he has done that. I'm not even sure if he has used a connector block, I haven't touched it to take the tape off!

Does the main incoming earth need to be continuous? With no joints etc
 
The warning notice did a lot of good. Get your mate to get a competent electrician in, even if it's just to disconnect that mess.

PS; the 'tails' to the CU look a bit suspect as well. Nicely fashioned hole for them as well.
 
@Jacko If he was going to cut into the Earth like that, he should have used a proper block to make the connection. But with the way everything else has been done, it's only to be expected.
That 2.5 has no protection at all, so in the event of a fault the cable may well fry.
There's no RCD protection so in the event of someone touching something that has become live, basically they're going to get Electrocuted. (Read as: Likely DEAD).

One of the boys asked where he'd left his horse, to be honest I wouldn't insult Cowboy's by calling him one.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@Dan : Apologies If this goes against forum rules, please remove if it does.

@Jacko : Tell your mate to try contacting one of the following. Bowen Hopkins or Gem Electrical, both in Swansea & both top quality firms.
They can get one of their boys to come make it safe & then price for a pucker job.

Would love to see the lie sheet (sorry certificate) for what's been done so far, I could do with a good laugh.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It really does beggar belief. I mean is this guy actually advertising/working/charging people as an electrician? If so the guy needs to be stopped before he kills someone and if he's a member of a scheme, he should be reported without delay.

Some of the things I thought when I saw it were like "Wonder if he did a short course? If so, cheers bud, you're the kind of muppet (insert your own expletive here, but my choice was the c word I keep in reserve for the lowest of the low) that gets those of us who go that route and go on to do decent, safe regs compliant work a very very bad name. Is he just a chancer? How long before he kills himself or someone else? How many other acts of butchery has he committed? He must be completely devoid of a moral compass to be out there selling his services as an electrician."

I could go on, but I'd only be repeating what everyone else has said. The guys a joke and that needs sorting before it kills someone.

On the flip side, if someone could get me his customer list I think I could make a nice living tidying up after him ;)
 
It really does beggar belief. I mean is this guy actually advertising/working/charging people as an electrician? If so the guy needs to be stopped before he kills someone and if he's a member of a scheme, he should be reported without delay.

Some of the things I thought when I saw it were like "Wonder if he did a short course? If so, cheers bud, you're the kind of muppet (insert your own expletive here, but my choice was the c word I keep in reserve for the lowest of the low) that gets those of us who go that route and go on to do decent, safe regs compliant work a very very bad name. Is he just a chancer? How long before he kills himself or someone else? How many other acts of butchery has he committed? He must be completely devoid of a moral compass to be out there selling his services as an electrician."

I could go on, but I'd only be repeating what everyone else has said. The guys a joke and that needs sorting before it kills someone.

On the flip side, if someone could get me his customer list I think I could make a nice living tidying up after him ;)
Well said Sparkychick, be careful of any blaspheming,
 
Twos on a job once, where a bunch of us were sat in a large car, with the female boss unseen in the back. When were joined by a colleague who lent on my drivers door open window, and started a tirade of abuse about a non present colleague. Before my facial expressions could stop him, he finished off with the 'C' word. To which the boss lent forward, and commented on his use of expletives. Poor chap, didn't quite know what to do or say.

She particularly didn't like the 'C' word. :eek:
 
I'm afraid I acquired a somewhat foul mouth when I was working for a company that had quite a few ex-squadies on staff where the f word was used in all it's versatile forms.

It's not a trait I'm proud of, but there are some things that just push me over the edge and the dark side of my vocabulary just seems to pop out. Lazy bad sparks and bad drivers are the two most popular triggers at the moment :)
 
To me that one 4 letter word, is the most hated in the English language.
I hear it so often from the scum next door, that it really grates.
Know what you mean about squaddies SC, they can be a bit colourful :)
 

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Green 2 Go Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses Heating 2 Go
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

Advert

YOUR Unread Posts

Daily, weekly or monthly email

Thread starter

Joined
Location
Wales

Thread Information

Title
Garage electrics help needed please
Prefix
N/A
Forum
UK Electrical Forum
Start date
Last reply date
Replies
100
Unsolved
--

Advert

Thread statistics

Created
Jacko,
Last reply from
Pete999,
Replies
100
Views
8,394

Advert

Back
Top