Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views!

[Darkwood]

Right ... Just been nudged to set this up by Paul.M and sounds a good idea following recent threads I've done in the Arms..

Rules....No Offensive material... edit if required before posting as this is the public arena.
Anything to do with the trade or in and around it ...H&S pic's welcome.



I've posted this a few times and this is at a mates house following a kitchen refirb several yrs ago. mg_smile:

 

[pirate]

Just for fun...my very first attempt at using LEDs...I took an old iMac. stripped the innards out of it, put the driver inside the body, led the mains out through an existing aperture with a grommet in it, added a double pole inline switch, stuck the LED tape on the bezel, having routed it through the base...and hey presto! A swivelling, titlting, make -up mirror...mirror courtesy of Ikea for £1.50...
OK, it's not perfect, but a fun project that took just over 2 hours to make. Shoot me down if you like! It was fun to make, and the next one will be much better!

 

[nicebutdim]

That'll make life so much easier for you

 

[mainline]

That'll make life so much easier for you

And would have at least doubled the £1.50

 

[Dan]

Just this one thread alone has 876,000 views!!

OMFG!

The work is laughable, but the numbers are awesome.

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

On my way out of a small business park the other day and noticed this, I think new cabinets might be a good idea, the site owner probably doesn't realise that they are their responsibility.

 

[pc1966]

I think new cabinets might be a good idea, the site owner probably doesn't realise that they are their responsibility.

Good point, but how does one go about changing a cabinet that the DNO's cutout & meter is in?

I guess it might be possible to cut away the old box and fit a new one "around" the kit with a gaping hole in the bottom to clear stuff, but the only proper solution is going to involve the DNO replacing the cutout, and the meter supplier re-doing their bit, etc. An no power during the operation of course, which becomes an issue of they both of them can't complete both jobs on the same day.

 

[SJD]

I've changed a meter box with a cut-out in: the DNO turned up, disconnected the supply cable (taped a boot over the end and left if flapping about), then sat and watched while I changed the box, then reconnected the cable in the new box. They waited till I arrived to start disconnecting. I did feel a bit self-conscious being watched, but I think they (2 guys, in separate vans) were not in any hurry!

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

Good point, but how does one go about changing a cabinet that the DNO's cutout & meter is in?

I guess it might be possible to cut away the old box and fit a new one "around" the kit with a gaping hole in the bottom to clear stuff, but the only proper solution is going to involve the DNO replacing the cutout, and the meter supplier re-doing their bit, etc. An no power during the operation of course, which becomes an issue of they both of them can't complete both jobs on the same day.

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

DNO and Energy Provider need co-ordination to minimise downtime.
I would recommend enclosing all 3 cabinets, above and to the sides at least, to protect from UV etc after replacement.

 

[mainline]

A simple downlight change always ends up taking hours.

 

[DPG]

A simple downlight change always ends up taking hours.

View attachment 112419

What's the tub and saucer all about?

 

[Moley]

What's the tub and saucer all about?

Mouse / rat poison ??

 

[mainline]

What's the tub and saucer all about?

Poison lots of it.

 

[nicebutdim]

Most kids leave out bisuits and some milk.

 

[Simon47]

On my way out of a small business park the other day and noticed this, I think new cabinets might be a good idea ...

Given how "electricity and water don't mix", it's surprising how often you see open boxes like that and apparently little or no problems.

 

[LewisM]

Given how "electricity and water don't mix", it's surprising how often you see open boxes like that and apparently little or no problems.

As long as water has a way out then it doesn't seem to be too much of an issue

 

[LewisM]

Somebody had change an actuator and somehow routed the cable in the worst way possible through the seat track so when the seat was used in full motion the cable was damaged, pulled and ripped the plug and receptacle out of the actuator

 

[Mikegh]

 

[Mikegh]

 

[Mike Johnson]

View attachment 112523

When will people learn, that ladder is upside down.

 

[Mikegh]

Not trade but too funny to pass up

 

[Mikegh]

When will people learn, that ladder is upside down.

Has he worked everything out that the ladder can't fail

I wouldn't think so

 

[MaintenanceSpark]

Adding a socket in my Daughters bedroom, had no end to end continuity on the line conductors.

After some fault finding, I found the cause. Just butted up together and taped!

I joined the line conductor with a Wago and also put a grommet in the back box.

 

[mainline]

Adding a socket in my Daughters bedroom, had no end to end continuity on the line conductors.

After some fault finding, I found the cause. Just butted up together and taped!

I joined the line conductor with a Wago and also put a grommet in the back box.

I prefer to use the wago 2773 push fit in that scenario as there is no chance of the levers being pushed up when the socket is fitted.

​

 

[MaintenanceSpark]

I prefer to use the wago 2773 push fit in that scenario as there is no chance of the levers being pushed up when the socket is fitted.

​

Never thought about that. Thanks for the tip Mainline.

 

[brianmoooore]

. Just butted up together and taped!

I suspect that at some point the insulation had been damaged where the break is and the exposed copper shorted to a sharp edge on the back box or an earth strap on the back of the socket, blowing a sizeable chunk of the copper away. This had been taped up as a repair to the insulation, but the weakened wire has subsequently broken inside the tape.

 

[freddo]

First day back to work in 2024 and it's started already. Thank goodness this is all being demolished.

Junction box as found, lid missing, metal box not earthed, neutrals from multiple lighting circuits mixed up, wiring extended via front of box. flexible conduit poked into female adaptors.

This total mess was behind the plasterboard. Someone actually installed this. Very little in the zones, singles unprotected all over the place. The whole building is wired like this in flexible conduit buried wherever.

A closer look.

I didn't photograph all the live cables with taped up ends, or any of the twist and tape cable joints.

 

[mainline]

First day back to work in 2024 and it's started already. Thank goodness this is all being demolished.

Junction box as found, lid missing, metal box not earthed, neutrals from multiple lighting circuits mixed up, wiring extended via front of box. flexible conduit poked into female adaptors.
View attachment 112580
This total mess was behind the plasterboard. Someone actually installed this. Very little in the zones, singles unprotected all over the place. The whole building is wired like this in flexible conduit buried wherever.
View attachment 112578

A closer look.
View attachment 112579
I didn't photograph all the live cables with taped up ends, or any of the twist and tape cable joints.

There was probably a time when someone thought it was a job well done and beyond the minimum requirements.

 

[nicebutdim]

Not often someone makes so much effort to do things abysmally.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Looks like different teams to me, why would someone start to use flexible conduit with glands and then not finish the job properly, or am I being over optimistic.

 

[littlespark]

They use a lot of cable in smooth flexi conduit all over Europe… and the white stuff there is possibly the closest thing we have that is similar.

Therefore, I deduce Doctor Watson, that this installation was put in by none other than…… (dramatic pause) …. A foreigner!


Ok.. that’s not fair, there’s plenty of non Uk sparks that are good and do have an understanding of our bs7671…. This one apparently doesn’t.



What’s that old song? “Rip it up and start again….”

 

[Mike Johnson]

Dramatic difference between the black conduit you can buy in TLC (20mm Flexible Conduit Pack c/w 10 Glands - Black | Flexicon (FPP-CP20B) - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/AF20BSB.html) you get glands, but in Europe you get a draw wire already installed, but no glands, back box's are unsuitable. (https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits...a/gaine-icta-diam-20-mm-l-100-m-62900572.html)

 

[Ric2013]

Only a plumber would get away with hacking so much of a joist out to fit a soil pipe.
View attachment 109294

As a plumber myself, I also object to the rippling on that pulled bend!

 

[nicebutdim]

Dramatic difference between the black conduit you can buy in TLC (20mm Flexible Conduit Pack c/w 10 Glands - Black | Flexicon (FPP-CP20B) - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/AF20BSB.html) you get glands, but in Europe you get a draw wire already installed, but no glands, back box's are unsuitable. (https://www.leroymerlin.fr/produits...a/gaine-icta-diam-20-mm-l-100-m-62900572.html)

That sort of flexible conduit is one step up from being of no use whatsoever. Awful stuff, although I invariably install quite a bit of it in stud walls to provide a route from A to B - generally short runs to an exit blade or for the likes of low voltage door controls.

 

[ipf]

That sort of flexible conduit is one step up from being of no use whatsoever. Awful stuff, although I invariably install quite a bit of it in stud walls to provide a route from A to B - generally short runs to an exit blade or for the likes of low voltage door controls.

Ok for wiring and keeping cables together under worktops/benches in rooms like kitchens or workrooms, where access is awkward. Or saddled inside cupboards, even.

 

[nicebutdim]

Ok for wiring and keeping cables together under worktops/benches in rooms like kitchens or workrooms, where access is awkward. Or saddled inside cupboards, even.

That's the sort of thing - window dressing rather than offering any real protection.

 

[LewisM]

Wrongly routed Oil Quantity Transmitter cable had been chafing before then protected but still routed wrong and had chafed again and shorted out to the oil tank

 

[timhoward]

The DNO arranged for a temporary generator due to damaged supply cable.
At a minimum I'd have hoped for at least ONE means of cable restraint. (I don't count the door and tape!)

 

[mainline]

Meter man came to install a smart meter, Pity he wasn't as smart as the meter.

 

[SparkySy]

^^^^^ so not only has a neat installation Benn made rough, but was that RCD needed for fault protection? Looks like a TT system to me!
Sy
Oops just looked again and PME I take it from the second Henley/ service blocks.