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Hi guys,

I'm not a sparks so i'm looking for some advice and help on a few issues. I've recently had all my sockets chased back and new switches chased in and some replaced as well as other work.

My first issue. I've had all my sockets moved up a few inches from there original locations to accomodate for a normal height skirting board (i've got the lowest skirts you've ever seen. glorified bit of wood.) This has been fine, other than 1 socket i've been told can't be heightened. What are my options? The sparks has said the cable needs to be replaced with a longer length. I'm only needing to get 3 to 4 inches more from it. Is there anything i can do to get the extra length needed? otherwise having all the others raised was pointless.

Secondly, the big one. Recently since the light switches have been replaced i've seen some strange behaviour.
a) Kitchen lights (4 led's) turn themselves off. Sometimes turn themselves back on as well.
b) Lights in the lounge flicker when the kitchen lights are dimmed. I can recreate this by using the dimmer in 2 other rooms on the same circuit. Strangely all the upstairs dimmer and lights are the same and all work fine.
c) Yesterday, when using a blender (1560w) my fuse controlling downstairs sockets tripped when blending (this is the first time i've used it at this property)
It's worth noting that my kitchen lights seem to be on 2 circuits (4 on one circuit) 3 on another. On the circuit with 3 lights, only one works and the other 2 are faulty at the fitting.

Lastly,
I have had 2 x outside light installed. The sparks has recently fitted 2 TimeGuard outdoor PIR lights. The original owner had a 2 gang switch for 2 way switching of one set of the kitchen lights and (im assuming) a switch for the outside lights they had. Since the security lights have been swapped, the lights wont work when wired up to the 2nd gang of this switch. The sparks has disconnected the 2 way switching of the kitchen lights here as it's just not needed. When i first had them installed they tripped the CU 3 times within the hour. Strangely now they've settled and havn't done it since.

I've uploaded a pic for reference (apologies i'm at work!)

Sorry for the long post!

Any ideas?

Advice on faults and Ideas for fixes kitchenlights.JPG - EletriciansForums.net
 
Hi guys,

I'm not a sparks so i'm looking for some advice and help on a few issues. I've recently had all my sockets chased back and new switches chased in and some replaced as well as other work.

My first issue. I've had all my sockets moved up a few inches from there original locations to accomodate for a normal height skirting board (i've got the lowest skirts you've ever seen. glorified bit of wood.) This has been fine, other than 1 socket i've been told can't be heightened. What are my options? The sparks has said the cable needs to be replaced with a longer length. I'm only needing to get 3 to 4 inches more from it. Is there anything i can do to get the extra length needed? otherwise having all the others raised was pointless.

Secondly, the big one. Recently since the light switches have been replaced i've seen some strange behaviour.
a) Kitchen lights (4 led's) turn themselves off. Sometimes turn themselves back on as well.
b) Lights in the lounge flicker when the kitchen lights are dimmed. I can recreate this by using the dimmer in 2 other rooms on the same circuit. Strangely all the upstairs dimmer and lights are the same and all work fine.
c) Yesterday, when using a blender (1560w) my fuse controlling downstairs sockets tripped when blending (this is the first time i've used it at this property)
It's worth noting that my kitchen lights seem to be on 2 circuits (4 on one circuit) 3 on another. On the circuit with 3 lights, only one works and the other 2 are faulty at the fitting.

Lastly,
I have had 2 x outside light installed. The sparks has recently fitted 2 TimeGuard outdoor PIR lights. The original owner had a 2 gang switch for 2 way switching of one set of the kitchen lights and (im assuming) a switch for the outside lights they had. Since the security lights have been swapped, the lights wont work when wired up to the 2nd gang of this switch. The sparks has disconnected the 2 way switching of the kitchen lights here as it's just not needed. When i first had them installed they tripped the CU 3 times within the hour. Strangely now they've settled and havn't done it since.

I've uploaded a pic for reference (apologies i'm at work!)

Sorry for the long post!

Any ideas?

View attachment 49611
Was the work done bt an Electrician or a Builder? what, if any certification was issued on completion of the works?
 
what he said^^^^^. think you need to get the "electrician" back. he's cocked it up.
 
Hi Pete - The work was done by an electrician, and they havn't yet finished the job. But i'm guessing the answers i'm likely to recieve are:

1. Can't do anything about the heightening the plug.
2. Take off all your switches and go back to how it was before.
3. Accept you can't have a light switch for your outdoor security lights.

So i'd rather get other's views ahead of time really.
 
Unfortunately your socket issue is not an easy one to fix properly. you could bury some connectors in a connector box in the wall - thats your quick and dodgy solution. however - this really isnt advisable at all and I wouldn't do that personally. Otherwise you would have to run a new cable from the last socket to that socket and on to the next socket.

As to the switches - it sounds fixable - just needs the right person with the right knowledge to sort it out..
 
Hi - it sounds like you’ve a number of faults. Sorry to say, but your man struggling to move an outlet doesn’t bode well.
 
easy enough to extend cables as long as it's done right. think your sparks may be a Electrical Trainee, wet behind the ears with little practical experience, but that don't matter as long as he's paid niceic £500. now you're his guinea pig while he's learning how to do the job.
 
Lovely person, great reviews and good intentions. But seems to irk more on the side of "oh well.." then give me options (regardless of cost) to fix it. Was hoping to arm myself with the options and pose them to the sparks on their last visit.
 
Hopefully you agreed exactly what work you wanted doing before they started ideally they have seen the diagram you have posted.
It sounds like you could have a few issues with the electrical works carried out.

I am hoping that it is a proper electrical contractor that is part p registered.
If so, detail your concerns to them in writing asking for these issues to be addressed.
Give the contractor an opportunity to put right whatever is not functioning correctly
If they fail to get it working to the spec agreed then you can take it up with the competent persons scheme they are registered with. I.e. niceic or nappit etc.
Don’t pay the bill in full until this is sorted correctly and testing and certification has been provided.
 
Yup there part p registered, they have also asked me for clarification of anything i want done prior to the last visit. They've done 4 or so visits thus far, quick worker, no breaks or lunch. Work was all listed out in the quote. The diagram i just drew up crudely to give others a rough idea tbh for ideas. I have held back on the final payment for now.

So it seems my only option on the plug is to replace the cable. To be fair, that was what i was told.

Could the second issue with the lights potentially be amplified by changing standard switches over to dimmers? A the moment i have pendants throughout with dimmable LED's. And i meet the minimum load for the dimmer with all bulbs used so i don't think it's a kit issue. I am wondering however whether those 2 faulty kitchen ceiling lights could be interferring at all?

I am at a loss with the security light. If you guys were to troubleshoot the seccurity light issue, where would you start?
 
i'd start by identifying which cables were which, then ascertain if they were wired correctly. then alter anything that was wrong.
 
Hi Pete - The work was done by an electrician, and they havn't yet finished the job. But i'm guessing the answers i'm likely to recieve are:

1. Can't do anything about the heightening the plug.
2. Take off all your switches and go back to how it was before.
3. Accept you can't have a light switch for your outdoor security lights.

So i'd rather get other's views ahead of time really.
What Tel said, you never said about certification.
 
1. Can't do anything about the heightening the plug.
2. Take off all your switches and go back to how it was before.
3. Accept you can't have a light switch for your outdoor security lights.


says it all. there are no problems, only solutions.
 
@Barnanby: are you sure your kitchen lights aren't on a smart switch that your unfriendly neighbour is controlling? :) Is there a permanent live at that switch or not?

>> I'd be embarassed to admit that being an IT guy... ;) I believe there is yes.

@Pete999 - The sparks is certified yup, nothing sinister. Maybe just a little new to the trade.

@Charlie_ Rereading that has just made me cringe lol - These electrical issues have got me rattled...
 
@Barnanby: are you sure your kitchen lights aren't on a smart switch that your unfriendly neighbour is controlling? :) Is there a permanent live at that switch or not?

>> I'd be embarassed to admit that being an IT guy... ;) I believe there is yes.

@Pete999 - The sparks is certified yup, nothing sinister. Maybe just a little new to the trade.

@Charlie_ Rereading that has just made me cringe lol - These electrical issues have got me rattled...
Did this "Electrician" issue any form of certificate on completion?
 
@Barnanby: are you sure your kitchen lights aren't on a smart switch that your unfriendly neighbour is controlling? :) Is there a permanent live at that switch or not?

>> I'd be embarassed to admit that being an IT guy... ;) I believe there is yes.

@Pete999 - The sparks is certified yup, nothing sinister. Maybe just a little new to the trade.

@Charlie_ Rereading that has just made me cringe lol - These electrical issues have got me rattled...
Does this "electrician" belong to any of the CP Schemes NICEIC as an example only, you say he is certified.
 

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