Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views!

LewisM · Dec 2, 2022

DPG said:
That wants flagging to the kitchen company. Wonder how many times they've done ite, and they'll continue to do it.

Was old probably about 20 years ago!

House was fully rewired in 1970s but has no earth on the lighting, its just twin 1mm copper, its odd as I thought anything 1960s onwards had earth in the lighting

I've seen loads of stranded cable with no earth but not 1mm solid copper

pc1966 · Dec 3, 2022

LewisM said:
Was old probably about 20 years ago!

House was fully rewired in 1970s but has no earth on the lighting, its just twin 1mm copper, its odd as I thought anything 1960s onwards had earth in the lighting

I've seen loads of stranded cable with no earth but not 1mm solid copper

Sadly not too uncommon to see a "full rewire" that leaves some difficult to replace cables re-used.

LewisM · Dec 3, 2022

Re-done the bonding connection in the same house

Raptor0014 · Dec 6, 2022

These new boards are the future.

So advanced they have their own pilot light and electric heating to keep things nice and warm…..

buzzlightyear · Dec 6, 2022

Two in to one want go when you put a switch line and neutral together on a timed fan, a fault welding a switch and fan switch.

Welchyboy1 · Dec 9, 2022

Recent quality Hot tub installation and CU supplying the socket

mainline · Dec 9, 2022

Welchyboy1 said:
Recent quality Hot tub installation and CU supplying the socket

Could be Rcd socket ?

nicebutdim · Dec 9, 2022

Never been in a hot tub and nor will I, without first conducting a thorough inspection of its supply

littlespark · Dec 9, 2022

Guessing there’s a 10mA rcd on the hot tub cable…. But that won’t stop some clown cutting it off because “it keeps trippin’”

Welchyboy1 · Dec 9, 2022

just a standard outside socket and 13a plug top no rcd at all

Raptor0014 · Dec 12, 2022

Got a call out to a cooker tripping the RCD every time the oven is switched on. But the time taken would vary. Suspected a failing element.

So went and had a look, tested the element. It registered 25.9ohms so about right for the size of the oven.

Checked all the wiring and took the bulb out to check that as seen issues with those before.

Noticed how the consumer unit was oddly set up but will get to that shortly.

So next tested the RCD.

Trip was fine at 38.6ms.
Ramp test was 19mA which is a little sensitive but above the 15mA minimum.

So next I put my clamp meter on the connections in the back of the oven. It was leaking around 3-4mA until the temp is set. Once the temp is set the leakage then climbs to around 13-14ma and fluctuates between 5-14mA (before the RCD trips).

So looking at the board I can hazard a guess that because they have stuck all the high power circuits on one RCD and all the lights on the other. We have got a case of accumulative leakage tripping the RCD as when the other circuits are off and just the oven is on. The RCD stays on.

Whilst there I noticed the wiring for the outside light. But another electrician apparently said this is ok as it’s out of reach.

pc1966 · Dec 12, 2022

Raptor0014 said:
So next I put my clamp meter on the connections in the back of the oven. It was leaking around 3-4mA until the temp is set. Once the temp is set the leakage then climbs to around 13-14ma and fluctuates between 5-14mA (before the RCD trips).

I would check for reversed polarity at the oven, in case it is the neutral that is being switched off so higher leakage once cycling.

Raptor0014 said:
Whilst there I noticed the wiring for the outside light. But another electrician apparently said this is ok as it’s out of reach.

Oh FFS!

That is a good advert for why T&E is not a suitable outside choice. Even if out of reach, which is a load of balls, then once it leaks you risk the lights on RCD going off mid winter.

Pretty Mouth · Dec 12, 2022

Looking closely at that picture, I'd say that twin and earth was already in that condition when it was installed on that wall.

Raptor0014 · Dec 12, 2022

Pretty Mouth said:
Looking closely at that picture, I'd say that twin and earth was already in that condition when it was installed on that wall.

Apparently it’s been up there a few years. I don’t think it was like that when it was installed. I’m going back in a couple of days to sort it so will take a closer look when I remove it.

pc1966 · Dec 12, 2022

Pretty Mouth said:
Looking closely at that picture, I'd say that twin and earth was already in that condition when it was installed on that wall.

Well the clips look newer than the cable, but I doubt anyone would run in cable in that condition!

However, some things i have seen...

loz2754 · Dec 12, 2022

Quite obviously squirrel damage innit

Pretty Mouth · Dec 12, 2022

Raptor0014 said:
Apparently it’s been up there a few years. I don’t think it was like that when it was installed. I’m going back in a couple of days to sort it so will take a closer look when I remove it.

It's been moved since it decayed, I'd bet money. Has the wall been repointed recently? Might explain things.

Raptor0014 · Dec 12, 2022

Pretty Mouth said:
It's been moved since it decayed, I'd bet money. Has the wall been repointed recently? Might explain things.

Pass, I'll ask when I go back. I did notice the clips looked quite new. Maybe the electrician who said it was ok as it's out of reach put some new clips in for them. You know just to keep it out of reach and compliant.....

mainline · Dec 12, 2022

Raptor0014 said:
Got a call out to a cooker tripping the RCD every time the oven is switched on. But the time taken would vary. Suspected a failing element.

So went and had a look, tested the element. It registered 25.9ohms so about right for the size of the oven.

Checked all the wiring and took the bulb out to check that as seen issues with those before.

Noticed how the consumer unit was oddly set up but will get to that shortly.

So next tested the RCD.

Trip was fine at 38.6ms.
Ramp test was 19mA which is a little sensitive but above the 15mA minimum.

So next I put my clamp meter on the connections in the back of the oven. It was leaking around 3-4mA until the temp is set. Once the temp is set the leakage then climbs to around 13-14ma and fluctuates between 5-14mA (before the RCD trips).

So looking at the board I can hazard a guess that because they have stuck all the high power circuits on one RCD and all the lights on the other. We have got a case of accumulative leakage tripping the RCD as when the other circuits are off and just the oven is on. The RCD stays on.

View attachment 104526

View attachment 104525

Whilst there I noticed the wiring for the outside light. But another electrician apparently said this is ok as it’s out of reach.

Peeves me when they go to the expense of fitting a spd, but then skimp on a split load board.

mainline · Dec 12, 2022

I would also be looking at that oven again as that leakage is way too high, Should be around 1 mA or 1 mA/kW of rated power

RCD with a rated operating current of 30 mA, the maximum leakage current is 9 mA