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:

 

[westward10]

There is an argument that the socket is earthed if one of its screw fixing is into a fixed lug in a metal back box, as long as the back box is earthed.

That isn't an argument cpcs connect initially to the accessory.

 

[pc1966]

That would also apply to the terminal screws, but we do those up with our torque driver don't we.

Terminals are usually brass so little risk of corrosion in any sane environment.

There reverse is more reasonable, if the accessories is earthed by the CPC then the back-box is acceptably so via the screws, also normally you can't touch that.

Stop, Hammer time!

 

[ipf]

Terminals are usually brass so little risk of corrosion in any sane environment.
There reverse is more reasonable, if the accessories is earthed by the CPC then the back-box is acceptably so via the screws, also normally you can't touch that.
Stop, Hammer time!

Yep, no matter what, the accessory should be earthed. Touch point is important. The back box is the secondary, although, in most cases, IMO, it should also be cable connected.
Why do accessories and boxes both have earth connection points, anyway?

 

[oscar21]

A builder we do work for is building a kitchen extension, I know he has done electrical work himself in the past before I knew him as half his house has "DIY" electrics all over the show. So we are wiring the kitchen/diner/utility for him, last time we were there the kitchen was 2nd fixed and the utility was 1st fixed, we turned up on Friday and he had taken it upon himself to move all the sockets we 1st fixed into new positions as he changed his mind, not only that he got it plastered and he second fixed it himself, All he wanted us to do was swap the fronts for chrome (oh and a cert).

Firstly he said the screws didn't quite reach so he got longer screws but they were too long so when he tightened one of them it ripped the lug of one of the boxes, when I removed the fronts I was this. as you can see, no grommets, way too short and stripped back with a machete. Can you imagine the pain it caused trying to sort that out, wonder if he has adhered to safe zones.

 

[Dustydazzler]

This is so typical of builders wiring , roughly installed , stripped with an axe, cores all twisted up and bent and all mangled terminations.
We find this type of brand New install all of the time , literally all of the time.
I honestly think they just don't give a ---- , even in their own house

 

[SparkySy]

I went to second fix a kitchen I had wired a while ago and some sockets weren't where I had pictures of them. The Builder had moved them over and finished the wall! It was very quickly unfinshed by me and a chisel, especially after seeing the state of the cable sheath and insulation at the socket and the brand new twin KO box! Looked like he had used a claw hammer to remove it rather than a screwdriver!
The standards of some are very very sloppy indeed!

 

[ipf]

Firstly he said the screws didn't quite reach so he got longer screws but they were too long so when he tightened one of them it ripped the lug of one of the boxes, when I removed the fronts I was this. as you can see, no grommets, way too short and stripped back with a machete. Can you imagine the pain it caused trying to sort that out, wonder if he has adhered to safe zones.

He's interfered with your installation without even informing you, besides ferkin' it up completely. I definitely would not sign off a certificate for that.
He can Part Pee off.

 

[Raptor0014]

Had a call out on Sunday. RCD kept tripping (upfront RCD) so no power to any circuits. Asked them to try all circuits off and then try each circuit one by one to see which caused the trip whilst on the phone. However even with everything off the RCD wouldn't stay on. So either a faulty RCD (not impossible as an old board) or a N-E fault (more likely). So off I went.

Found the issue was the downstairs socket circuit and as no electrical work has been done for about 4yrs I started taking off sockets in the most recent area, which was the kitchen. IR test was showing a dead short N-E (which was already obvious given the RCD would not stay on as soon as the neutral to this circuit was connected)

Found this cracking kitchen fitters install, particularly impressed with the twist in the conductors as they have rotated the socket a couple of times. There is a feed taken from this socket to a socket under the sink for the dishwasher, all just ran loose on the floor, it was then linked through via the wagobox into a socket in the dining room.

I disconnected this lot yet the RCD still wouldn't turn on. So a bit of head scratching and then I started taking off the socket fronts of all the other sockets on the circuit (17 in all).

I then found this in a socket in the lounge at the opposite end of the house to the kitchen.

It was an incredible coincidence that this and the kitchen fitter special caused a fault at the same time. The lounge socket was causing an issue with the neutral touching the back box. But even when that was sorted I still had a fault. Disconnected the kitchen special and circuit remained energised. Repaired the damaged neutral sleeving with a couple of layers of heat shrink. Also reterminated the live. There is a dead short N-E fault on the kitchen special wiring which I am guessing is behind the cabinet somewhere and has developed over time to the point it now links N-E.

Kitchen is getting a refurb in a couple of months so that's bonus as they now want me to do the electrical work for it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Cables slung under the units and a wago box joint is pretty normal these days , heck I even run cables under the units in some pipe or flexi if the customer doesn't want to pay to have it all chased in.
But the terminating of the socket and all the torn up sheathing is just rough as a badgers

 

[Raptor0014]

Cables slung under the units and a wago box joint is pretty normal these days , heck I even run cables under the units in some pipe or flexi if the customer doesn't want to pay to have it all chased in.
But the terminating of the socket and all the torn up sheathing is just rough as a badgers

Apparently it was all done when the el cheapo kitchen cupboards were added about 4-5yrs ago. I can't understand why they didn't use the service void and some trunking if that was the case.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Apparently it was all done when the el cheapo kitchen cupboards were added about 4-5yrs ago. I can't understand why they didn't use the service void and some trunking if that was the case.

Yes in a perfect world you can screw some plastic trunking on the wall and run any cables in prior to the units being installed.
However on many an occasion I get a call at the last minute saying 'please can you pop round and put in some new sockets in our new kitchen' to find the kitchen is all but 99% installed and I am having to fish cables under the units and carefully chase up behind the brand new worktops that were just laid last week

 

[Raptor0014]

Yes in a perfect world you can screw some plastic trunking on the wall and run any cables in prior to the units being installed.
However on many an occasion I get a call at the last minute saying 'please can you pop round and put in some new sockets in our new kitchen' to find the kitchen is all but 99% installed and I am having to fish cables under the units and carefully chase up behind the brand new worktops that were just laid last week

That was a bit like one I had a while ago.

'Can we have some additional sockets and lights fitted?"

Walls were all tiled from worktop to ceiling and they had one pendant in the centre and wanted downlights and 3 separate pendants over the dining table.

I managed it with a lot of patience and the help of quinetic switching. But they were under no illusion I couldn't guarantee no breaks in the tiles or additional holes in the newly plastered and painted ceiling.

 

[brianmoooore]

I then found this in a socket in the lounge at the opposite end of the house to the kitchen.

View attachment 108155

That black and red looks like it might be polythene T&E, which was made for a short time between after rubber and before PVC.
Splits along the length of the wire are common with this stuff.

 

[littlespark]

I get that with kitchens as well. Doing one just now where the customer isn’t in a great hurry… the old cabinets are being taken out wall by wall, and I get in inbetween to do any electrical work.

Wago box behind the kickboard ends up being the only option sometimes. The joiner is coming unannounced in the evenings, so I get a text the day after, then have to reorganise planned work to get in before he comes back.

Last week I uncovered a floor hatch, thinking that’s going to make my life easier… just for the gas fitter to come before I got back. (The joiner couldn’t find it at first even though it has “hatch” written all over it!)

Still room, but I’ve got a dicky knee and they’re only 12” space down there.
I don’t bend like I used to.

 

[Switchdoctor]

That moment when you pull off the old distribution board and reveal past horrors.

Wires extended by twist&tape...
1 Socket ring end taped up.. single twisted connections had been running whole house
Cooker had been running on twisted earth cable as extension.

Needless to say i replaced everything...

 

[7029 dave]

Mate sent me this. Not his best job

8

 

[7029 dave]

This is so typical of builders wiring , roughly installed , stripped with an axe, cores all twisted up and bent and all mangled terminations.
We find this type of brand New install all of the time , literally all of the time.
I honestly think they just don't give a ---- , even in their own house

Pmsl

 

[James]

Mate sent me this. Not his best jobView attachment 1081888

WHATS THE PROBLEM?

It works therefore it must be ok!!??!!

 

[Dustydazzler]

WHATS THE PROBLEM?

It works therefore it must be ok!!??!!

I spotted the issue straight away , they forgot to connect the earth ?

 

[pc1966]

I spotted the issue straight away , they forgot to connect the earth ?

They could not work out how to get the CPC in and still have the shutters clamping the L&N.

 

[Raptor0014]

They could not work out how to get the CPC in and still have the shutters clamping the L&N.

Amateurs.

Use a fork to push the earth spring down. Put the conductors in and then you double over the CPC and put in the earth. Job done.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Opening the shutter is what screws are for.

 

[Dave OCD]

They could not work out how to get the CPC in and still have the shutters clamping the L&N.

They couldn't find a bit of g/y sleeving and didn't want to leave a bare cpc which would be non-compliant.

 

[7029 dave]

No cable clips shoddy, not a bad 90 considering gaffer tape.

 

[timhoward]

Using two different types of tape though - it's almost as if they don't care about presentation

 

[ipf]

I spotted the issue straight away , they forgot to connect the earth ?

Another fitted a rod cos they're worried about TN-C-S supply to an outside shed.

 

[mainline]

Billy bodgeit from the pub told him that he doesn't need an earth for the rcd to work.

 

[Raptor0014]

Not dodgy, but lack of understanding of the requirement for bonding. Plumber was impressed with his work though and even pointed out where he'd scraped off the paint on the pipework!

 

[Dustydazzler]

Im surprised he didn't put a clamp on the blue plastic pipe as well with a link between the 2

 

[littlespark]

Which came first, the green wire or the blue pipe?

 

[ipf]

Which came first, the green wire or the blue pipe?

Now...that IS the question.
Looks like be an existing bond. Whatever, it's causing no problem.

 

[timhoward]

Today's fun. I was only there to change a cracked socket front a quick end of day job, which I did.

As far as I can tell it's TT (found the rod and getting 2 ohms Zs from CPC bar) but can't verify what else is bonded at this point. There's only one earth wire that isn't a CPC coming into the board, so suspect there's a MET somewhere in Narnia.
I didn't want to try a high current test in case there's an upfront RCD in there too!

Also of note is the split load board, so potentially inadequate fault protection for right hand half if parallel paths are removed.
I had to say that I couldn't prove I'd left it in a safe condition and I'd have to return, take the panel off and see what is actually going on.
(The panel is actually about 4 times as tall as shown and extends to the top of the stair well just to help matters)

Some photo's pointing my phone in the hole...

The earth wire below goes to an old oil pipe not the cut-out btw

 

[pc1966]

As far as I can tell it's TT (found the rod and getting 2 ohms Zs from CPC bar) but can't verify what else is bonded at this point. There's only one earth wire that isn't a CPC coming into the board, so suspect there's a MET somewhere in Narnia.

2 ohms is either a very rubbish TN or a suspiciously good TT result!

Of course if there is a lot of oil pipe or whatever buried in damp ground then 2 ohms is possible, but it feels to me like a lot of buried metal or extraordinarily wet & salty ground.

 

[LewisM]

Another quality install, somebody with a bent neck has put the board in tooView attachment 107746View attachment 107747

Did the best I could with a tight budget and slack

 

[timhoward]

Not my photo, sent by a friend.
I don’t think the concept of a trap has been mastered by the installer

 

[Dustydazzler]

Great bit of design that , future proofed for 3 further additions

 

[brianmoooore]

It's only a single sink, so why was he using a manifold in the first place??? Simple P or S trap with an appliance inlet branch would have been a lot simpler.

 

[nicebutdim]

Ceiling void illumination?

 

[Raptor0014]

On the theme of plumber. Couple of call outs on Monday.

First one was a tripping boiler. Plumber had the wisdom to put the wireless stat directly under the boiler, which leaked straight into the stat. They’ve also used the earth as a core.

Second one was from a plumber who was trying to wire in a switch for an immersion and also a shower pump. Couldn’t work out why every time they screwed the switch back it tripped.

I politely told them it was their rubbish wiring and they’ve nicked the live so it’s tripping on the back box.

I sorted it all out and tidied it all up.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Black as the N and Earth as a Phase, Nice work there Mr Plumber and you wonder why you should be banned from touching anything with Wires