Board changes, customers and EIC's

[HappyHippyDad]

Here is a thread I started recently which you might find useful http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...ectrical-forum/83094-cu-change-checklist.html also pop in 'cu changes and you' into the search bar and a thread by Jason will come up which is very useful.

I would always do at least a global N-E IR check on the pre-work visit as it will show up any possible faults which will trip your sparkly new RCD's, you can then warn the customer before hand and avoid any embarrasment. I didn't do this on my very first CU change (not that long ago) and there was a fault and panic set in!!!

You dont have to spend 2 hours testing for free before hand but I would certainly do everything on the above check list (perhaps 1/2 hour in total) .

As the others have said 7Mohms is well within the regulations.

 

[ArseyDee]

Because it wasn't a technical question I was asking, it was a question asking experienced electricians how they go about doing a board change in relation to finding faults when doing the EIC after the board change. I thought it was a decent question to ask and amongst all the flack I've had I have actually got some decent answers, which I thank everyone for. I'm not sure I would of had a decent answer from Elecsa on this subject.

Mine was the best answer though............and the shortest..........and the most friendly!

 

[NJG28]

Evening..I just wanted a bit of advice on the procedure to follow with regards to consumer unit changes, advice to customers and how to fill in an EIC. I have recently changed a consumer unit and I informed the customer beforehand that there may be faults on the system when the cables are checked. Low and behold when I checked the insulation resistance there was a cable down on a circuit. I have told the customer about it and told them I can investigate further, they then told me that they couldn't afford me doing remedial work and they would sort it out at a later date. How do I then fill out the EIC knowing there is a fault on the installation?

This Q was asked at an open forum at Elex2013in Coventry. The panel consisted of guys from NIC Elecsa & Napit. They were all a bit sheepish & mumbled it was "difficult". When pressed the best they came up with was to include a clause in contract stating acceptance of quote/ contract also included acceptance of requirement for remedial work apparent when CU completely tested at additional cost.

Whether this would hold water in court I have no idea but its better than nothing.

I sympathise as I find INSISTING on FULL EICR prior to board change, as some advise, effectively prices you out of the job. However the ESC best practice guide on this subject recommends minimum tests that won't take long & will help with some installs upfront.

I did CU change once & found massive continuity readings on 1 light circuit. I had done work for customers before & had explained as you had re unknown issues. Customers weren't bothered & said "don't issue cert then, no one ever has in past electrical work we've had done" Had a stand up row & eventually they accepted. Took me a day crawling in attic to find 2 old roses used as JBs where cables simply fell out with slight tug.

After that I put clause in contract as above.

Guess in your case you can only put comment in EIC as suggested earlier if customers refuse remedial.

However I agree with others - would be smiling & presenting my invoice at 7Mohms

 

[Hawkmoon]

That's 7000 ohms you do know yeah? Good for a while yet, let the guy who does the EICR in 10 years worry about it!

Should you even be doing electrical work??

Stop before you kill someone!!!


:wink_smile:

 

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for the constructive criticism, are you one of those members that answers questions to try and look good in front of other members by insulting people just starting out?

We all had to start somewhere but the view held by most in this forum is that someone 'just starting out' should be supervised until sufficiently competent.
Oh and I don't believe the responses are 'to look good' to others because we all know we are a pretty ugly bunch!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Dtec dave

as Des56 says your attitude is commendable.

i would recommend (!) as telextrix mentions, learning not to take comments personally....I mean just adjust your response, imagine it is like a canteen.

If only because you will be able to get good info as youve mentioned, just sift through 'banter'. Even the critisims have truths often so I know its a 'phrase' but water off a ducks back / skin of a rhino is best way to go!

keep asking! Grit yer teeth head down, push on. ;-)

 

[Badged01]

Grit yer teeth head down, push on. ;-)

Bit like sex with the missus, but she also grips the headboard and thinks of Wales!

 

[dtec dave]

Mine was the best answer though............and the shortest..........and the most friendly!

Have to agree..!! Although the icing on the cake would have been to suggest look at page 9. I didn't know those guides existed so thanks v much!

 

[dtec dave]

Why slag off the forum members then?

I haven't slagged off any forum members.

 

[dtec dave]

by working along side someone more experienced for at least a year instead of rushing out as a 1 man band with a fist full of part p tickets.

When I first started out doing domestic work after a few years doing solely commercial work I did a few days with an NIC electrician who informed me that 'you can run cables wherever you want as long as they are RCD protected'. At that point I decided to teach myself. Also just wondering where the abundance of experienced electricians are, that are willing to let someone work with them for a year, teaching them the trade and giving them a wealth of knowledge only for that person to set up on their own and take their work, cos there aint none in Leeds. That's why we have to rush into being a 1 man band waving our part p tickets about! p.s what is a part p ticket?

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Should you even be doing electrical work??

Stop before you kill someone!!!


:wink_smile:

i know! I am lethal!

 

[Kate]

When I first started out doing domestic work after a few years doing solely commercial work I did a few days with an NIC electrician who informed me that 'you can run cables wherever you want as long as they are RCD protected'. At that point I decided to teach myself. Also just wondering where the abundance of experienced electricians are, that are willing to let someone work with them for a year, teaching them the trade and giving them a wealth of knowledge only for that person to set up on their own and take their work, cos there aint none in Leeds. That's why we have to rush into being a 1 man band waving our part p tickets about! p.s what is a part p ticket?

My understanding of when they say part p ticket....when you are registered with a scheme (niceic, napit etc) you notify your jobs online. This gets sent to the Local Authority of that area. Then a certificate gets issue to the homeowner insuring YOUR workmanship for 6years. Certificate/ticket same thing.

So my word of advise...DO NOT sign off anything you havent done. Friends work builders work etc because your company is attached for 6 years

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Thanks for the constructive criticism, are you one of those members that answers questions to try and look good in front of other members by insulting people just starting out?

you make yourself appear incompetant by asking stuff in here that if you were competant you would know what you were looking for upon initial survey, the pre-tests to carry out, and the paperwork required upon completion....

in fact...i have just read this one a few days after it was first posted....

constructive criticism....lol...you should thank god i didn`t get here first....

go away and get competant....before carrying out any more board changes....or touting for such works from unsuspecting customers...

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Here is a thread I started recently which you might find useful http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...ectrical-forum/83094-cu-change-checklist.html also pop in 'cu changes and you' into the search bar and a thread by Jason will come up which is very useful.

I would always do at least a global N-E IR check on the pre-work visit as it will show up any possible faults which will trip your sparkly new RCD's, you can then warn the customer before hand and avoid any embarrasment. I didn't do this on my very first CU change (not that long ago) and there was a fault and panic set in!!!

You dont have to spend 2 hours testing for free before hand but I would certainly do everything on the above check list (perhaps 1/2 hour in total) .

As the others have said 7Mohms is well within the regulations.

just between neutrals and earth then....

not between neutrals?...lol..

more incompetance...

keep em coming...lol..

 

[kingeri]

I IR test between everything and everything else before taking on a CU change. Rather waste a bit of time and not get the job than blindly take on a job I'm not prepared for. I did it once, but never again!

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

you make yourself appear incompetant by asking stuff in here that if you were competant you would know what you were looking for upon initial survey, the pre-tests to carry out, and the paperwork required upon completion....

in fact...i have just read this one a few days after it was first posted....

constructive criticism....lol...you should thank god i didn`t get here first....

go away and get competant....before carrying out any more board changes....or touting for such works from unsuspecting customers...

Tried to step in whilst you were gone! Let the --- have it!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Bit like sex with the missus, but she also grips the headboard and thinks of Wales!

thinks of wales...

or just wails...

 

[telectrix]

but does badged01 think of sheep?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

I IR test between everything and everything else before taking on a CU change. Rather waste a bit of time and not get the job than blindly take on a job I'm not prepared for. I did it once, but never again!

Which if you don't, and then fit a "dual rcd" board, you will find out why they are designed by Satan.

 

[Morgan keith]

Then what is the point of the forum? is it just a social thing? I Think I may have misunderstood the purpose of it. I have learnt loads more on here than I would have done ringing up the helpline, had some good advice in the past, but not without the obligatory 'muppet' jibes!

Hahaha well said dtech dave! I have noticed that this forum is where the generation that doesn't use Facebook does their trolling