'Cowboy Trap'

[AlanWirral]

Is anyone watching this show at the moment?? I think it's on BBC1 at 11am every morning by the looks of it.

Now I tend to have a problem with all these shows inc DIY SOS/60 Minute makover etc etc in the way they conduct there electrical work.

Especially in the case of this Cowboy Trap who's mission is to correct the wrongdoing of builders/plumbers/electricians.

One of last weeks shows...

Women gets a bathroom done and has 4 GU10 DL's fitted with no fire hoods and not IP rated. Now the electrician comes in to save the day and i think he's going to talk about IP protection and change the lights completely for IP and Fire rated lights, maybe even show off and fit some cool white JCC LED units?

But no...all he does is fit fire hoods to the excisting lights then I see him with an RCD in his hand but he never mentioned what he was doing with it. He also fitted a fan to the wall right above the bath but no mention of SELV etc.

These shows really do annoy me sometimes

Rant over lol

 

[AlanWirral]

Only noticed after i'd finished the post that it's been discussed already

 

[antimatter]

You missed the Panorama show on dodgy landlords, when they sent an "electrician" in who was horrified when hes saw an earth cable wasn't correctly terminated in a class II light fitting, I was more horrified at his aluminium ladder when hes should have been using an fiberglass one, especially for fault finding.

He did find a cooker switch above the cooker which was a bit naughty but using a metal ladder then slating other sparks work is laughable.

 

[Amp David]

Noticed again that they had Mr Tony Cable on as the expert. Is he the only expert these show can find?

 

[antimatter]

Is it the same guy on those shows, i never noticed, I welcome experts on these show, but surely going on TV their equipment / advice had got to hold up to pretty sever scrutiny but eagerly watching sparks.

 

[AlanWirral]

Amp David I noticed Tony too!

I agree with all the comments...if your going to go on that show or any for that matter you'd better be at the top of your game.

 

[rocker]

Ohhhh mate, check out my other posts regarding this disaster they call a show!

 

[AlanWirral]

Arrrrrr you've already covered the same show! lol should have know you lads would have jumped on it

http://www.electriciansforums.net/chit-chat-off-topic/23665-cowboy-trap-bbc-wrong-again.html

How's the back doing mate?

 

[rocker]

Ha ha it's getting there thanks mate.

I caught half of it today and noticed their policy on only mentioning NIC seems to be improving, although it's a but fumbly (the fat bloke said 'you need to get somebody who is from NICEIC ELECSA or you need somebody who is a part p'. Presumably he thinks documents can answer phones, drive vans and perform electrical tasks but hey, he's trying). Maybe more people wrote in to them about this, and I was quite happy with the result. Still quite a lot of rubbish spouted though, and the fat guy is so clumsy socially. When the woman answered the door to him, for example, he goes 'hi is that Julie' as if he was on the phone to her.... she just looked at him.

It is a silly show.

 

[AlanWirral]

It really is a bad show! lol I usually Sky+ it and FF through all the crap and get to the good bits but today I had to watch it in real time and my god...How many times does he ask them to describe what the job was like!!!!! Loved the cables trapped by a joist one..Your house will burn down!!

I did laugh on last weeks show the guy who called them in to fix a cracked tile in his bathroom! Not exactly the end of the world.

Keep an eye out though mate some guys I know are on there soon. The builder is called Graham(tall/bald/tattoo's) from GT construction and I THINK he does a driveway if I remember.

 

[rocker]

Ha ha yes, if the cables are trapped by a joist the electricity pressure will build up and explode!

 

[Amp David]

They should of shot the kitchen fitter too. Why on gods earth would he of fiited the cupboard if the electrician had put a socket in its place?

 

[AlanWirral]

Indeed, disturbing that he can divulge the secrets of the electrical world I know : O

I'll bet a tenner on the fact he hasn't even got a trade under his belt.

 

[AlanWirral]

They should of shot the kitchen fitter too. Why on gods earth would he of fiited the cupboard if the electrician had put a socket in its place?

I forgot about that one!

 

[Amp David]

With them sort of shows, the homeowner had one dodgy tradesman in, makes you wonder why. Out of the quotes they had probably went for the cheapest of the lot. Everything else they've had done is probably a pile of pants too!

 

[rocker]

With them sort of shows, the homeowner had one dodgy tradesman in, makes you wonder why. Out of the quotes they had probably went for the cheapest of the lot. Everything else they've had done is probably a pile of pants too!

That's spot on that is - a big old '£1,600' came up on the screen with some disturbing music, and they said that she paid that for a rewire. Sixteen-hundred for a full rewire! Judging from the size of her kitchen, and all the foster kids she was on about, I would say twice that plus another five hundred at least, and that's for a basic rewire all white, power only, no luxuries.

 

[AlanWirral]

Definately Rocker! Even a quick look on the internet will tell you the likes of a 3 bed semi is 2K plus minimum

 

[Guest123]

Just got round to watching this on the i player.....thats 45 mins of my life I wont get back!!!

Even the spark called in to 'save the day' didn't know the name for a PIR or an EIC......give me strength!!!

 

[telectrix]

think i'll change my vocatrion to TV presenter

 

[Amp David]

Cant wait for tomorrow