Tell us about your faults!

[DNS]

Thank you

Don't think they can be repaired although I know cef do replacements for a few quid if that helps

 

[DNS]

Almost certainly available used on eBay. Also, the 60898 toggle type are available new: WYLEX 6A SP Type B Curve MCB | NoLinkingToThis[/QUOTE
Thank you, I will probably use these and tell him to replace the others too.

 

[Engineer54]

10 Quids worth of rubbish!! lol!!

So how much are the New Wylex MCB's that fit the present day CU's??
Last time i looked, a Hager 6, 16, 20, 32A MCB cost around 3 Euros in Cyprus...

 

[Kate]

I picked up a wylex 40a two weeks ago for £2.79 + VAT

 

[Niceguy0584]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Hi All

I am new to this site, and was wondering if you can guide us to the right direction, I am doing EICR's and I have come across falts which are wired from submains with 16mm2 TW&E and the cable run is about 12 meters protected by kfm 60amp switch, my question is this installation is over 20 years old and the earth from from submains 16mm TW&E is used, which is 6mm and is non compliance to current reg, my question is which code would this be classified as? C1 C2 or C3

Thanks

Adam

 

[willf]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

I would say it's a C3 as it does not comply with the current BS7671 but may comply with older versions. But maybe a different story if your ZS readings are poor.

Hi All

I am new to this site, and was wondering if you can guide us to the right direction, I am doing EICR's and I have come across falts which are wired from submains with 16mm2 TW&E and the cable run is about 12 meters protected by kfm 60amp switch, my question is this installation is over 20 years old and the earth from from submains 16mm TW&E is used, which is 6mm and is non compliance to current reg, my question is which code would this be classified as? C1 C2 or C3

Thanks

Adam

 

[Engineer54]

I picked up a wylex 40a two weeks ago for £2.79 + VAT

Hmm, so those old breakers are around 3 times the cost of a modern equivalent unit then. ..lol!!

 

[chcnorris29]

Hi,
Is this a fault on the side of the DNO?:

Void top floor flat (Council) (1 bed I think, not that it makes a difference). Been rewired by another team in company then we went to 2nd fix after plastering and kitchen fitting ect and then I noticed that the mains in to the flat (before bullet) where in 10mm cooker cable going down from the bullet in to gas cupboard under the fuse board cupboard then out the bottom of that cupboard. left in the air, not even trucked.

And on the earth only some of the earth strands where connected.

(Earth cable that is insulated is gas bond).

Sorry that images are sideways.



Thanks

 

[Niceguy0584]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Hi Guys

Thank you for you all your replies I didn't think I would get such a quick reply so never logged on, Well the problem is nearly all the flats are Victorian houses converted into flats, the main incoming is normally TNCS, and then to each flat 16mm TW&E are run, at the consumer units which have been changed over the years by various contractors as they usually have RCD split broads but they have left the 16MM2 TW&E submains which the 6mm CPC of the 16mm TW & E is used as the earth at the consumer unit, at the time of consumer unit was changed in most cases I have come across they have not bothered to upgrade the Earth from 6mm to 16MM, these installations are nearly 20 years old, yes at the time this was acceptable but now to current standards and it's non compliance, The ZS reading I have got is good and within range of 0.35, Ze is obviously taken from origin at the kmf switch protecting the 16mmTW&E, my concern was when I am doing the EICR on these properties which code was acceptable, c3 most would be most likely in my opinion. The run of Submains is typically 15 meters and protected by kfm 60amp, the zs is usually of cable is 0.29 ohm. Its been a while since i used adiabatic equation but i was under the assumption that the Earth conductor should equal or greater than supply neutral conductor.

 

[willf]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Its been a while since i used adiabatic equation but i was under the assumption that the Earth conductor should equal or greater than supply neutral conductor.

I am not near a regs book but I thought for TNCS the earth has to be the same size as a conductor. But for TNS could be calculated?

 

[Stroppy]

Dunno what those holes further back are for...

 

[Kate]

Dunno what those holes further back are for...

wheres the shield gone hahaha

 

[Stroppy]

It bounced off my head as I took the cover off, as one of the retaining clips has gone!

 

[Kate]

Dunno what those holes further back are for...

wheres the shield gone hahaha

 

[Stroppy]

My eyesssss!

 

[Kate]

I had a massive post with my photo...but think it disappeared

 

[Stroppy]

Use your browser 'back' button a few times, your typing may possibly still be there a few pages back.

 

[Kate]

I did that before..going to repost after tea

 

[chcnorris29]

Hi,
Is this a fault on the side of the DNO?:

Void top floor flat (Council) (1 bed I think, not that it makes a difference). Been rewired by another team in company then we went to 2nd fix after plastering and kitchen fitting ect and then I noticed that the mains in to the flat (before bullet) where in 10mm cooker cable going down from the bullet in to gas cupboard under the fuse board cupboard then out the bottom of that cupboard. left in the air, not even trucked.

And on the earth only some of the earth strands where connected.

(Earth cable that is insulated is gas bond).

Sorry that images are sideways.

View attachment 18583View attachment 18584

Thanks

Hi,
Is this a DNO fault or are they allowed to do this?
Thanks

 

[Kate]

Have to fault find a job, RCD intermittently trips. Hate faults that aren't present all the time...
solar panels were installed...they made a note that main earth reading was shyte AND that there was a slight voltage to the earth. So customer got an electrician in. That electrician installed another earth rod to fix the main earth issue but decided that, as there was no RCD protection to any of the installation, to put one in covering the whole installation. Funnily enough the RCD trips out at least twice a day killing EVERY circuit. Customers are old, ones recovering from a recent heart attack and understandably very vulnerable to cold etc, so the electrician replaced the RCD with an isolator temporarily and I've been called in to sort it.
ive tested a couple of circuits on each DB and was actually surprised by the decent readings for such an old install.
This is what I call a nightmare job...if it ain't broke don't fix it

 

[Kate]

Grr can't attach photo again. Please look up a few posts for relevant picture..any ideas greatly appreciated!!

 

[Stroppy]

This one:

 

[Kate]

Hahaha yea you spun it around too

 

[Stroppy]

My 15 years as a computer engineer weren't entirely wasted!

 

[Kate]

Not at all. I'm being lazy and posting from my phone. Thank you
I have so many computer issues here lol reckon u would have a week of work!!


but if anyone has any ideas of next step of fault finding??

 

[HandySparks]

but if anyone has any ideas of next step of fault finding??

Think I'd get out my earth leakage clamp meter to see if there's any part of the installation (or an appliance) that's particularly leaky to earth.

 

[Kate]

There's only 1volt of leakage and considering all the computer equipment that's not a major worry.
The boiler can be isolated by two different breakers on two different DBs. WTF?? Boiler was installed less than 18months ago so customer was going to contact them and get them out to fix this. I'm pinning my hopes on that being the issue hahaha. Whole place needs gutting and starting fresh but customer needs a 'lottery win' for that.

 

[dan86]

all the computer equipment.
old customers.

something not right with that!

 

[Kate]

They have kennels on the property...and a room of the house has been turned into an office for the kennels. They have workers who run that part for them.

 

[44ALLAN]

There's only 1volt of leakage and considering all the computer equipment that's not a major worry.
The boiler can be isolated by two different breakers on two different DBs. WTF?? Boiler was installed less than 18months ago so customer was going to contact them and get them out to fix this. I'm pinning my hopes on that being the issue hahaha. Whole place needs gutting and starting fresh but customer needs a 'lottery win' for that.

Leakage is current Kate not voltage.............buy yourself a leakage clamp meter worth their weight in gold

 

[Kate]

I had one...worked on a big building site...lots of trades...then I didn't have one. Fun times!!

 

[44ALLAN]

Clamp meter ?

 

[Kate]

Yea got nicked

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Yea got nicked

but leakage clamps are specific Kate....
need one of those when RCDs are about love..
as i told you....you can do it using the ramp method....
but a leakage clamp is a damn site quicker.....

 

[Kate]

If I earn any money on this job I promise to buy a new one

 

[Kate]

Tesco sell them for less than a Tenner!!!
TESCO SELL THEM FOR LESS THAN A TENNER!! Not sure if I'm shocked, amazed or appalled???

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Tesco sell them for less than a Tenner!!!
TESCO SELL THEM FOR LESS THAN A TENNER!! Not sure if I'm shocked, amazed or appalled???

not these they won`t love:

Mini AC Leakage Current Tester ST-9810 (AMECaL) | eBay

 

[Kate]

Is that the best one?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

well it does leakage....which is better for you Kate...
i have one of these...so i can vouch for it...their OK...
or you could pay £79 for one that says metrel on it..(its the same clamp...just a bit of badge engineering going on)...
alternatively there`s offerings from fluke that come in at nearly £500...
so, take your pick...

 

[Engineer54]

Take a look at this one Kate. It's basically a re-badged Di-LOG clamp which i've had for a couple of years now. You won't be able to beat the resolution values which compare with clamps 4 X the price. And all for around £89 +VAT (i'm sure i paid more for mine too. lol!!) and your eligible for a 5% discount as a forum member too. Has to be the best buy around at the price..


TM-EL9809 High Resolution AC Earth Leakage Clamp Meter

 

[plugsandsparks]

Kewtech KEW2434 Digital AC 100A Leakage Current clamp 28mm (000631) = £169.00
from ISSWWW, is the one i use, its good for 100A as well.

Anyway had a cracker today, B32 "sockets" tripped wont reset. Got there and its one of 3 "sockets" B32 MCB, managed to determine it was at least Kitchen and utility, disconnected the lot but still not resetting. Client things the garage may be also on the ring but cannot get in as its electric door and not responding to the remote fob. Managed to get half my body through a small window and switch off two plugs plugged into a double socket.
Went for another reset thinking "no such luck" and it held, yippee
Garage door opened and i could get inside and............ found a 3KW convector heater plugged into an extension reel (reel was fully wound in).
Well pulled out the cable from the reel and after about half way gave up. Pulled the reel apart and found the inner half of the cable was a solid mass of plastic.
Reel rating fully wound in 750W, fully unwound 2300W, convector heater on max setting at 3000W . Nice, lucky no fie on this one and 10A fuse in the plug head still happy.....
Think reels should be banned, GP just dont understand how they MUST be used despite a small warning label on them

 

[Engineer54]

Think reels should be banned, GP just dont understand how they MUST be used despite a small warning label on them

Are you bonkers or what?? If anything, it should be all the half wits that should be banned from buying them!!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Are you bonkers or what?? If anything, it should be all the half wits that should be banned from buying them!!

went to a place this one time...old lady on her death bed..
so, takes a look round...there were loads of daisy chained extension leads all over the place feeding heaters...they were all coming off 2 points....lol..
there was one that was being `back fed`...lol..disconnected that one for em straight away.....it`d been like that for ages ant they were just totally oblivious to the danger...
this is how it is with the general public...they simply dont get it....

 

[plugsandsparks]

Are you bonkers or what?? If anything, it should be all the half wits that should be banned from buying them!!

Dont think so but who knows, fed up coming across them used incorrectly, must have removed a dozen in the last few years on PAT alone. They look so perfect all nice and neat and so attactive to the un-initiated. Ban them, ban them alll

 

[chcnorris29]

One today:
Some one moved a stat on a house just been re-wired. After the move it does not work and goes bang.
How many sparks to find the fault 1 but 3 come before and see no problem.
Problem:
Cable in back box clearly goes up the wall so it make sense to drill a fixing in to the cable to fix the stat to the wall.

 

[lefty10]

Had a good one last week. "Smoke Alarms wont stop beeping" - MCB switched off, batteries out - Still Beeping, two of us looking everywhere. After a good hour narrowed it down to the back of a fridge, cleared all of the rubbish out of the cooling fins to find a nice wee battery CO alarm at the bottom, merrily beeping away.

 

[Stroppy]

That reminds me of a customers 'ticking socket' with nothing plugged in. Turned out to be a clock in a poly bag on the worktop under a load of papers!

 

[zeljuga]

Fresh idea for Gas meter bonding

 

[onions1066]

Fresh idea for Gas meter bondingView attachment 18706

That's straight out the 18th edition

 

[GLENNSPARK]

That reminds me of a customers 'ticking socket' with nothing plugged in. Turned out to be a clock in a poly bag on the worktop under a load of papers!

somebody may have dropped a `bomb` in there....