Dont you hate it when this happens

[Snapester]

So i got to price a job, basically a garden centre wants an office in a summerhouse they only will have a few lights and power sockets! But when i arrive they have a length of 2.5mm T&E Ducted over 100m!! I try to tell them that they need to uprate it as the VD will be pretty high over that length which could cause overheating etc... But when i tell them the cost to run an armoured to supply the shed and lighting they require they decide they will stick with the 2.5mm! DIY JOB!! meh.......... Sorry just venting! :evil:

 

[snowhead]

I take it you walked away?

On the plus side, they could run another 1 or maybe 2, 2.5 t&E and double or triple them up, if that's all B&Q or Wackes had in stock.

 

[Richard Burns]

Nice, good to know standards are high in garden centres!
Just fit a 6A RCBO and tell them it is all within regs and watch them run a heater!

 

[Snapester]

Ha i was actually putting a 6amp RCBO lol! Min i would say would be 6mm i think 4mm would be pushing it also. If the circuit is supplying an small CU which will supply both power and lighting, do you design the circuit with VD of 6.9v

 

[Guitarist]

Inform them that they can have a higher volt drop if you remove the lighting

Another case of "well, it works dunnit?"

You could always start spouting some rubbish about plants, and when they correct you, say "That's exactly how I feel about your lack of knowledge regarding electrics"....

 

[Richard Burns]

Yes 6.9V is the max volt drop if there is a lighting circuit, you may get some leeway by splitting the circuit after the CU to check volt drop for each section, but generally if you aim for about 6V dropped in the sub main then the short length after the CU will take the rest.

 

[Jimmy Boy]

When you have walked away tell them your reporting them to the Health and safety executive, it's a public place and work place, so covered by legislation a plenty, if the tight c u next Tuesdays wont put a cable in they deserve prosecution.
J

 

[Snapester]

Yes this is what i was thinking which gives a 10mm which i feel maybe too expensive to stand a chance of getting the job.
And yes your right it was a case of well it works dunnit! In which trying to explain the concepts of saftey and VD and other items such as the cable ran through blue water pipe! no water in it! but ya know what can you do!

 

[Guitarist]

Blue water pipe is great for running swa through

 

[Snapester]

lol, indeed! I just wonder why they dont just do things right the first time round?

 

[Guitarist]

lol, indeed! I just wonder why they dont just do things right the first time round?

3 reasons...

1) Cost
2) Cost
3) Cost

Some idiot comes along who knows nothing and says "I can do that for £90"... in goes the T&E
A professional comes along and says "That is wrong and dangerous. Needs altering for £400"
Owner says "you are ripping me off, the other cable works"

Best way to deal with these customers is just to walk away. You will never win.

 

[Snapester]

Yes indeed true, but what a sad pointless trade i feel im in where everyone moans about cost! Yet they go and spend £150 on their hair! ?????????

 

[jimmymac]

You could do away with the cable all together and run the lights and sockets on FLOWER POWER!

 

[Snapester]

Ha BOOM!! I do love my job as sad as that sounds but these kinds of people annoy the **** out of me! makes our trade feel pointless!!

 

[jimmymac]

I know exactly how you feel mate

 

[plugsandsparks]

Well our regs are based on 230V nominal, if its running the average of what i see, then it may work very well indeed, and T&E seams to last forever buried in a plastic pipe, again from what i have seen. Anyway its hard to point to anything specific, except "not designed for that purpose etc" - frustrating i know. Best failure point will be on trip times i would have thought, that should do it.....