advice please

[BES]

Been out of game for 2yrs due to illness so a bit rusty and would be gratful for advice.Cu change for Part P assesment.Cant touch decor to much, inlaws house. A few problems caused by diyer.
1.16a mcb with 3 seperate radials . 1 feeds 1x1g skt other 1x1g skt other 1x2g skt. Going to split into 2 radials in 16a + 1 radial in 16a.
2. 16a mcb with 2 seperate radials. 1x1g 1x2g in kitchen.OK.
I know its bad pratice and not standard circuit (but i think its just same as spuring of a radial at any point )Not against regs and will be ok for assesment if label up at cu and noted on cert. But 3 in 1 again bad pratice better split into 2 and 1.
3. Shared neutral on landing light, usual thing fed from down light. Neutral from up. Going to run sheathed single in existing trunking to loft to landing light to solve trip prob.ok.
4 .2g skt directly behind electric cooker at low level is this ok. Not sure again think not against regs just bad practice.
5.Shower 9.5KW fed by 4mm!!!.Upgrade to 10mm luckly 4mm is already in trunking on landing to loft cu under stairs.
6.Garage 20a mcb from house cu 2.5 2c armour.To 2way m/clad cu 6a 16a Problem being old freezer which trips rcd.1 light 2 skts. Going to remove rcd at cu in garage change skt to rcd type and have freezer on m/clad unswt fcu.New house cu high integrity with garage on main sw side no rcd.ok.Yes pme but no extreneous parts, water pipes eg, in garage so ok. though you may not agree.
7.Rest of house skts mix of 1g and 2g 32a mcb rfc feedin 14 points.Not best but ok.
Two Cus at present right mess main old wylex m/c 2nd added for the radials above and shower which is piggybacked form main switch in 10mm cores chopped of to get in terminal with tails At least its rcd which was a suprise, again right mess.
Your advice and views please. Two years out can knock your confidence a bit.
Thanks neil.

 

[Guest 004]

Think you better get someone in to do the job

 

[Electricalserv]

2 years out shouldn't really knock your confidence because nowt has changed since then. But you seem to know your stuff. 4. Cooker socket must be within 2m either side of cooker but not directly above or in line. I would imagine this is the same for any other outlet. So move left or right. 6.if the freezer is tripping rcd it's indicating an earth leakage of some sort so why not remove the freezer and buy a new one keeping the rcd at board for sockets.1. Am I correct in saying 3 sockets are fed by 3 seperate feeds by one 16a mcb? Why not put all three on one radial?would make sense

 

[BES]

mr enigma
thks for your reply. i am a fully qualified electrician who due to illness have not been able to work for 2 yrs. i dont think you should reply to a post in such a flippant way. i hope you never have to go through what i have in the last 2 yrs. i am just trying to get off benifits and back to earning a living for me and my family.

 

[Knobhead]

2 years is hardly any time. You obviously know the business, probably better than most. You recognise the problems and know the solutions. The garage supply is the only thing to worry about. (And I’m not going in to that argument).

It’s mainly the crap that the autocrats have piled on the s**t heap.

I would regard Mr. Enigma’s post with the derision it deserves.

 

[BES]

electricalserv .thks for reply.
belive me 2 yrs is a long time doin nowt.thing is the skts fed from radial are all over place all on seperate runs 1 on eac run. cant rewire anything which will damage decor. just really want to have a opion on what ive proposed to do as its for assesment i think if its all labeled at cu and noted on cert assesor cant realy fault me after all i didnt wire it like that and i an improving the saftey of the installation.
thks neil

 

[pushrod]

Hi ccfc, welcome to the forum. IME you will usually get helpful responses so stick with us.
Shame about the team mind

 

[Electricalserv]

I think everything you have proposed is ok apart fro
The radial situation. I'd push owner to rectify it. Even if it means surface mounting etc

 

[BES]

thks for reply tony.
i just wanted to run thing past the guys on forum and belive me its suprising how much you forget in two yrs.
cheers neil

 

[focusphil]

All the best mate you will soon get your confidence back

 

[Penance]

Neil, I'm getting back in the game after nearly 15 years out, you'll be fine

 

[BES]

thks electrialserv.
yep i agrre but ive been told. DO NOT TOUCH DECOR. it isfor inlaws and you havnt seen my mother-in-law.
so the radial situation do you think its ok as per regs and just bad practice, isolation of rfc may allow people to think all skts are isolated. but do you think it wil cause me to fail assesment doing as i said.

 

[BES]

cheers.penace.

 

[BES]

thks.phil

 

[BES]

thks for advice guys got to go mrs giving dirty loks told her id go shopping with her at 1 anything for quite life.
anymore opions or advice wil be very welcome
cheers neil

 

[Electricalserv]

thks electrialserv.
yep i agrre but ive been told. DO NOT TOUCH DECOR. it isfor inlaws and you havnt seen my mother-in-law.
so the radial situation do you think its ok as per regs and just bad practice, isolation of rfc may allow people to think all skts are isolated. but do you think it wil cause me to fail assesment doing as i said.

I dont think there's a erg stating you can't do it but to me it just looks like really bad practice having 3 dockets fed by 2 separate radials.

 

[pushrod]

so the radial situation do you think its ok as per regs and just bad practice, isolation of rfc may allow people to think all skts are isolated. but do you think it wil cause me to fail assesment doing as i said.

IMO if you note in the "comments on the existing installation" section the radial problem; and the new CU is fully labelled re what mcb does what, then you will be fine - after all you are improving the installation. However, the best thing to do, to put your mind at rest, would be to ring the part P scheme you are thinking of joining and ask their opinion. After all you are paying your money to a scheme that is hopefully going to be helpful to you. Also check your bonding and earth if not already done. Good luck.

 

[truckster]

Same as pushrod and good luck with assessment. My experience with elecsa has been all good, my assessor actually knows his stuff and if you have a reasn for doing something he will listen. Nice to hear that your getting back to work, good luck mate.

 

[brucelee]

GOOD Luck with it all mate

Not easy when you have been ill and the confidence goes but you will be ok once you get stuck into it again

 

[Robinson]

I too was out the game for many years another line of work leading then to breakdown....one step at a time you for sure get back to it. and before long it will be like you never left it at all..2 years is not a longtime but guessing with any illness that could seem like a lifetime. and life changing. SO it takes a brave man to stand up and come through it and not just gove up let it go and stay on benefits.....GOOD FOR YOU.

all best. Got my assessment on June 9th so with ya !

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I know it all sounds like it is in a bit of a mess, and you say minimal decor damage. Have you done a PIR to assess if a board change is viable. There comes a point when a lot of messing about can take longer and cost more than a full rewire. I appreciate that its your in laws house, but decor or not, their safety is paramount. If a rewire is done properly there should be minimal decor damage anyway, especially if the existing switch drops are in conduit and you reuse the existing socket back boxes.

Hope all goes well whatever you do.

Cheers..........Howard

 

[BES]

Thanks for all the replys and encouragement.Still not quite settled on a plan but as you all know in electrics it most likely not be plan A more like B, C ,OR D.cheers lads.
neil

 

[mayfair]

Hi M8 welcome to the Forum, sorry you got such a bad response at first but we have a few members that have very large chips on their shoulders not to mention lack of PR skills. Hope you got it sorted, stick with it.

 

[richy3333]

Welcome to the forum mate. Good luck with the proposed work. Take a look at the ESC guides which might help you with the CCU change and borrowed neutral etc, As has been said, make sure the earthing is up to scratch etc:


Best practice guides : Electrical Safety Council

 

[BES]

For anyone whos interested.Just started testing this job bit slow due to probs caused by illness. Tails 16mm main earth 4mm?? and bonding 4mm.ZE 0.08(sub justup road) PFC 3KA.Tested RFC L-L 0.4 N-N 0.41 CPC-CPC 0.98(1mm cpc) Fig 8 r1/rn approx .17 to .22(r1+rn/4)so ok. r1/r2 aprox .31 to .39(r1+r2/4) so r1+r2=.39. ZS max .51 so ok. IR LN 560M LE 556 NE 11.8M. yes it passes but very low. Opened every skt no prob found. Got a call later telling me that about 5 yrs ago a radiator was moved, the skt which was already where rad was moved to was blanked off but is still on RFC behind rad.When i asked why the skt wasnt moved i was told the builder said it would be ok nobody will ever need to get to it.I explain i did and why. I also asked who had moved skts upstairs when bedroom layout was altered and used masking tape as earth sleeving. Same bloke was the answer.Dread to think what else im going to find.It was the same builder who fitted the kitchen 2 yrs ago and mother in law seems to remember something about a green cable on the water pipes, i still havnt cut out a inspection hole in back of cupboard to see if water bond is connected getting continuity from met to pipes but around 20 ohms.
any ideas about low IR
cheers
neil

 

[telectrix]

11.8M is fine. anything under 2M would require investigation, you can get 11M by breating on your crocs.LOL.

 

[pushrod]

Agree with tel just make sure results are kept and recommend next test in 4 or 5 years rather than 10. If it is your mother in law(?) you can make a note to retest that circuit in a couple of years and see if there has been any deterioration.

 

[BES]

thks for replys
having a blonde moment will low IR on this circuit cause nusiance rcd tripping when new board is fitted.

 

[pushrod]

thks for replys
having a blonde moment will low IR on this circuit cause nusiance rcd tripping when new board is fitted.

No it won't cause a problem

 

[BES]

cheers mate though so

 

[Guest 004]

230/11800000 = not enough fault current to trip an RCD

 

[Guest 004]

ans = 1.949152542x10-5

conversion anyone to amps?

 

[Geoffsd]

0.0195mA

Divide by 11800 (i.e. 11800000/1000) to get mA

 

[Guest 004]

so it is in fact it is 19.5 micro amps ?

 

[BES]

Done a bit more at this location today. One thing i found is cooker is fed to isolator in 10mm (why i dont know) then from isolator to cooker outlet( which is a 30a jb??) in 6mm.Routing from isolator to outlet is diagonal not in safe zone.New fairly new kitchen all tiled so cant chop out new route. Any ideas apart from run away!!
cheers
neil

 

[pushrod]

Done a bit more at this location today. One thing i found is cooker is fed to isolator in 10mm (why i dont know) then from isolator to cooker outlet( which is a 30a jb??) in 6mm.Routing from isolator to outlet is diagonal not in safe zone.New fairly new kitchen all tiled so cant chop out new route. Any ideas apart from run away!!
cheers
neil

Not a problem about the 10mm² - could be argued that it is future proofing , could be the installer was in a rush and only had 10mm² on the van? It is when you find 2.5mm² that the problems start! Assuming the cooker circuit is rcd protected imo i would note the routing as a departure on the EIC/PIR can't remember what you originally said was being done. You can't force a customer to have work done.

BTW ccfc it is etiquette on here to hit the "thanks" button if you have found anybodys advice particularly useful/helpful