R
rob_b
Hi there, first post here and I'm after some advice please. I recently moved house and have been doing a few bits of DIY - namely replacing T&G flooring on the landing. When I pulled the flooring up I found the ring main had been connected at one point using a chock block and wrapped in electrical tape. I was worried this wasn't safe and asked a local electrician to make a safe and permanent connection, and also install a security light for us.
He replaced the chock block connection with a junction box. But I've since read that junction boxes should not be used in inaccessible places such as under floorboards that are covered with carpet. He installed the security light by wiring it to the back of a double socket in the bedroom. I've since read that the correct method would be to use a switched fused connector.
I was a little concerned about what I'd read, so I emailed him to ask for clarification about what he'd done. Here's his reply:-
"The junction box was the best practice to eradicate the connection which was done by someone else and I'm happy with the connections in the junction box. If you didn't want a joint under the floorboards you'd have to rewire the socket circuit back to each socket and with having solid floor boards it would be a big job and a messy job.
Regarding the outside light you can have a fused spur for isolation purposes for changing the light in the future but you'd still need to isolate the socket circuit, id done it like that to keep the mess down to a minimum, i'd always pop back and put one in if you want."
My questions are: is the approach he took acceptable and does it meet current regs? Should I be asking him back to rectify this?
Many thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Rob
He replaced the chock block connection with a junction box. But I've since read that junction boxes should not be used in inaccessible places such as under floorboards that are covered with carpet. He installed the security light by wiring it to the back of a double socket in the bedroom. I've since read that the correct method would be to use a switched fused connector.
I was a little concerned about what I'd read, so I emailed him to ask for clarification about what he'd done. Here's his reply:-
"The junction box was the best practice to eradicate the connection which was done by someone else and I'm happy with the connections in the junction box. If you didn't want a joint under the floorboards you'd have to rewire the socket circuit back to each socket and with having solid floor boards it would be a big job and a messy job.
Regarding the outside light you can have a fused spur for isolation purposes for changing the light in the future but you'd still need to isolate the socket circuit, id done it like that to keep the mess down to a minimum, i'd always pop back and put one in if you want."
My questions are: is the approach he took acceptable and does it meet current regs? Should I be asking him back to rectify this?
Many thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Rob
