Fauna......18month old installation.

[Leesparkykent]

Got a job I completed about 18 months ago.Big 5 bed refurb with multiple extensions so it's a full installation from scratch. Got a call this morning saying RCD won't reset, went through the usual procedure over the phone and get them to leave the circuit breaker off for the circuit in question so they can get the RCD to reset...Went there this afternoon and carried an IR test out on the circuit and it's as flat as a pancake line-earth.... split the circuit in half and still flat as pancake on both legs of the ring final circuit.... only 12 sockets on the circuit so Carry out installation resistance testing until I find the legs with the faults... 1 leg that's down is between 3rd and 4th socket and the other leg that's down is between board and last socket in the order I was testing.

It's a complete nightmare as solid wood flooring down, Laura Ashley wall paper and so on....can't turn it in to a radial because the fault between 3rd and 4th socket so I'm stuck with having to get a new leg in between 3rd and 4th socket and turning it into a radial or getting two new legs in and keeping it as a RFC. Not botherd about loading as only serves a play room, bedroom and hall way socket.

Getting the new leg/legs in is going to be disruptive but unfortunately there is no getting around it. Although it's only 18months old I think I should be charging them....spent an hour there today and I've rearranged jobs for tomorrow so I can get back in there in the morning to sort it out. They clearly have a rodent problem as two legs of a RFC just don't go down all of a sudden after 18months...what's your thoughts?

 

[Leesparkykent]

He's not been gnawing on them?

haha might of been mate....

 

[Midwest]

yeah that's my thoughts. It's all on the ground floor unfortunately.

Is there any evidence of rodent infestation, i.e. tell tale droppings in the loft, they have a contract with Rentokill, with bait traps set up.

Did a job last week, spent two days in the loft. There was loads of mice pooh everywhere, but they haven't had their cables pack up yet.

 

[westward10]

I had a meece problem a few years back under the floor boards could hear them all night. Pulled some boards up and there was damage, not too bad so a bit of tape and will sort them one day. Bought a couple of plug in mouse scarers not holding out much hope but I swear I heard them legging it and have never been back.

 

[Octopus]

what were the readings n - e ?

Sounds a bit of a nightmare, and to have 2 legs down is very unfortunate...... For the customers wallet!

Can you remember the exact routes of the cables?

 

[Midwest]

Why do mice like (eating) pvc cables

Cancel that, my lads dog likes chewing on plastic dog toys, guess its the mouse equivalent.

PPS you could watch this film tonite Lee, might give you some ideas ;

 

[jackhammerJIM]

Why do mice like (eating) pvc cables

Cancel that, my lads dog likes chewing on plastic dog toys, guess its the mouse equivalent.

PPS you could watch this film tonite Lee, might give you some ideas ;

they love pipe lagging more

 

[Leesparkykent]

what were the readings n - e ?

Sounds a bit of a nightmare, and to have 2 legs down is very unfortunate...... For the customers wallet!

Can you remember the exact routes of the cables?

700 odd Mohm IIRC. Yeah I feel bad for the guy as he's put me on to a few other extended family members and have had 3 big jobs out of them. Might have to swallow the hit.

 

[mhar]

[QUOTE
Did a job last week, spent two days in the loft. There was loads of mice pooh everywhere, but they haven't had their cables pack up yet.[/QUOTE]

Had similar last week, very old mill and mouse poo everywhere in the attic. Commented to the owner and he told me to look up. There were a couple of clumps of bats roosting and it was their poo. Apparently bat and mouse poo can look similar but feel and taste different!

 

[Octopus]

Might have to swallow the hit.

Hum ........... I would be holding back on offering a freebie until you know whats caused the problem and how much its going to cost to fix.

Still think its odd that 2 legs have identical problems...

 

[Dave OCD]

Lee, I assume the two dodgy legs test dead short L-E with both sockets at either end completely removed ? And no evidence of dodgy DIY -like attempting to refix skirting or anything like that ? But I reckon you're right being as it's a ground floor void where the cables run. Funny thing I've noticed with gnawed cables is that most times the outer sheath has been chewed on the neutral side, wonder if the rats/mice can sense it , or do they have little voltsticks ?

 

[The Ghost]

Think I would be saying - If it's down to my workmanship, no charge if it's down to rodents or other causes I will charge.

 

[westward10]

Unless the installer knew of fauna issues in the first place

 

[westward10]

I know I got a dumb Lee but it was in jest.

 

[Midwest]

[QUOTE
Did a job last week, spent two days in the loft. There was loads of mice pooh everywhere, but they haven't had their cables pack up yet.

Had similar last week, very old mill and mouse poo everywhere in the attic. Commented to the owner and he told me to look up. There were a couple of clumps of bats roosting and it was their poo. Apparently bat and mouse poo can look similar but feel and taste different![/QUOTE]

Batman wasn't visible, think I would of seen him!

 

[PEG]

Hi dude,until i had sight of miscreant mammals,i would first suspect some DIY or "work" whether unknown or just not admitted

 

[The Ghost]

feel and taste different

Errr...taste different? is there something we ought to know?

 

[Rpa07]

Midwest is a chef after all - they are a strange bunch, you should taste his 'batlava' it's sweet but has little treats!

Errr...taste different? is there something we ought to know?

 

[static zap]

...taste different?........

On the topic of tasting better ,
our local rats seemed to prefer the taste of alarm cable, to T&E !
... or does it just look more untidy... un-clipped .
Flopping about in suspended ceiling .

 

[Midwest]

Errr...taste different? is there something we ought to know?

T'was mhar's comment about tasting, not mine

 

[The Ghost]

T'was mhar's

Yes indeed mhar it was, sorry about the mix up.

 

[Wilko]

T'was mhar's comment about tasting, not mine

Reminds me of this comedy from Cheech and Chong -

 

[ruston]

@PEG maybe by the gadge following him about. Strange it is only at the extremities .

Could it be close to the entry and exit to the board location?

 

[mhar]

My customer had been talking to a bat expert who was very into his subject. I think he was giving a holistic description about the life of bats and their habits rather than giving tips to Heston Blumenthal

 

[Andy-1960]

When was the expensive floor laid? Obviously after the rewire was done.. just wondering about the timeline.

I knew a chippy who was laying these floors using a paslode nail gun, would go cables, pipes, etc like a knife thru butter. He stopped using this method when he hit a water pipe.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Managed to replace one of the legs with a small horizontal chase and a length of trunking in a cupboard. I lost the last leg back to the board and turned it into a radial. Told customer to get Some one out to see if there is a rodent problem and billed him £150. He was happy to pay so not so bad in the end.