Discuss Help settle a disagreement in the Australia area at ElectriciansForums.net

Reaction score
14
Hey all.

Well not had the best of days today I tell you. Not only am I doing a full rewire on a ground floor flat (trunking city) but a colleague called today to have a look at my job (skive really) and he not only tried to show me up in front of the joiners by asking how long I'd been on the job (not the fastest spraky by any means but I think I've done ok), he also criticised my choice of positioning of bathroom extractor fan isolator and SELV unit.

Now, The extractor fan itself has been left in situ as it's relatively new and this is located in zone 2. Now, for convenience I have fitted the SELV transformer and isolator (it's an Envirovent fan kit so basically a dual surface accessory box with unswitched spur and transformer together) outside this zone on the far wall.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong but in order to meet the requirements one must install any SELV transformer or isolator outside the zones. Therefore, the position I chose to mount it at which is well beyond 0.6M from the edge of the bath is satisfactory. However, ask my colleague and I'm wrong.

I am told that I need to install the SELV kit outside the bathroom but this to me seems incorrect. Yes, I can see his point in that it's outside the bathroom so in terms of asthetics it probably looks better but I personally don't see any harm in where I have put it.

He is saying it needs to be moved and is saying not only it looks untidy but is in breach of the regs. I think he's just trying to have a pop at me but I wanted to run it past you guys just to see if I am right or should it be placed outside.

He then noticed I had run the 2 core flex (from SELV transformer to fan) in it's own trunking below shower load cable trunking route and told me I could run it together but I thought it should be seperate where possible.

Also (oh he hasn't finished yet) decided while he was on a roll that he would say the shower switch is in the wrong place (located to the left of door just as you walk in bathroom) and that it should be closer to the bath. It was originally right on the edge of zone 1 and you could physically operate the switch whilst being stood in the bath (not a shower unit by the way a shower over a bath if you get my drift).

I moved it as I don't think you should be able to do this and to be honest it looked stupid where it was.

So, is this guy just trying to wind me up or am I doing it wrong?

Cheers all.
 
SELV transformer and isolator should be outside the zones.
ELV and LV cables can be run together if all insulated for highest voltage present or they should be separated.
Shower switch must be outside the zones, other than that personal preference.
 
Ok so that pretty much sounds like I'm ok and he is just making excuses to be unreasonable. With regard to the fan wiring (SELV fan load cable) I assume that I would have been ok to run the 2 core pvc flex with the shower T + E cable in the same trunking/

Forgive me if this is a daft question but how do you ascertain that the 2 core flex is insulated to the highest voltage band? Does this mean that as that 2 core flex could carry 230V also it could be run together?

Am I missing something?
 
Other than agreeing with Richards comments,your own take on things seem more correct than your mates

Look in your on site guide on page 61,it has info on the one correct comment he made,(but did he know why?
icon12.png
)
 
The voltage rating of the cable should be printed on it, if it is standard 2 core flex then it is probably 500V, so could be run with T&E.
Does this mean that as that 2 core flex could carry 230V also it could be run together?Yes
 
Thanks for the replies. Indeed sometimes one just has to apply common sense. Probably was OTT running it on it's own but was only a short route anyhow. Just another example for something for Mr. super spark to pull me on.

Honestly, sometimes there is just no need.
 
It seems to me that your supervisor is trying to make himself look big.

Ask your questions on here mate, look in the books for your answers and shoot the the little "C" down in flames.




I hate bullies by the way.
 
Cheers Paul. Yeah, to be honest mate he's not a supervisor but he probably wishes he was. A better term would be a stupidvisor. Likes to think he's "educating me". He doesn't even have his 2391 lol whereas I do. Not that makes me any better but still.

I think it's because my work is more methodical so he just wants to try to trip me up. Can't beat me at neatness so tries to make up by throwing curve balls and regs at me.
 
Cheers Paul. Yeah, to be honest mate he's not a supervisor but he probably wishes he was. A better term would be a stupidvisor. Likes to think he's "educating me". He doesn't even have his 2391 lol whereas I do. Not that makes me any better but still.

I think it's because my work is more methodical so he just wants to try to trip me up. Can't beat me at neatness so tries to make up by throwing curve balls and regs at me.

He is jealous of you simple as that. All he wants to do is put you down to make himself look good or make himself feel better than what he actually is.

Time for you to put your chin up, your chest out and shoot him down with regs and terminology (ask on here any time mate). I'm sure that a few thousand friends on the forum can help you out with this little "C", just post up your questions.



F me I really really hate bullies.
 
have a read up in the bgb and osg and start quoting regs at him and not just quote but ask him if he knows them you seem to know what your doing and the shower isolator to me sounds spot on where you got it like you mentioned why would you want to operate it whilst being in the shower lol rise above it mate ive got a few like that in my firm the "oh i wouldnt do it like that" moany types or the saddacts as i call them
 
End of the day its down to the spec of the job, regs that we all abide to and then its your judgment. Simple as that.

If you can sleep at night knowing that you've done a great job and everyone is safe, what can this 'rounded door handle' tell you? Nothing. Get your bullets in order and shoot him down in flames.
 
Sounds like this guy is a complete arse. If you work for the same outfit you should be watching out for each other and advising, like the help you get here and not individual criticism. Tell him straight, he is not welcome to your job unless invited and his comments are unhelpful and should be kept to himself (you may want to add a few choice words in there too to put the point across more assertively). No one ever learns stuff from people like that, and let's face it you probably learnt more on this forum than you did from this work colleague!
 
According to 701.512.3 the (insulating) cord of a pull cord switch can be inside zones provided that the switch itself is outside, ie above 2.25m. Any mains ventilation equipment (extractor fan) that is rated at IPX4 or higher, and is approved for a particular zone as per manufacturers instructions, is permissible within zones 1 and 2. Also, any PELV or SELV equipment not exceeding 25v ac can be used inside zone 1 providing that the safety source is outside zones. It does not have to be outside the room.
If I am reading these regs incorrectly, feel free to tell me :)
 
You should go to one of his jobs, take pictures and send them your boss, he sounds like a bully. If hes a work collegue he should have your back like i do with my engineers. dont get me wrong some time positive criticism is what is needed but it should be said in a professional manner.
 
Hopefully I'm not in breach of forum rules? But my suggestion to remedy this sort of intrusion would be to wait until he next offers his opinion, and as soon as he opens his mouth crack him square in the lips.

Any other approach will unfortunately prove futile as you can't educate or reason with imbeciles. So don't waste your breath trying.
 
Like imago's idea!

I really REALLY Hate bullies too, was bullied at school (because I stood up to 'em), and bullied at work once, got someone to watch him for a few weeks then as soon as he came into office monday I politely asked him "outside" for a word, in front if everyone. Then let him know where he stood and that an independant witness agrees he's out of order, and that he should respect the fact I was resolving it between us and not smearing his personnel records with a formal complaint.


Was as nice as pie for next two years.

Bully = coward every time.
 

Reply to Help settle a disagreement in the Australia area at ElectriciansForums.net

Similar Threads

Good afternoon everyone. I have fitted an extractor fan in my bathroom with an overrun timer, to start when the bathroom led lights are turned on...
Replies
92
Views
8K
This could possible have been a poll, but really just opening up for suggestions and feedback on where folks think an isolation switch for an...
Replies
12
Views
3K
I decided not to tackle installing an extractor fan in our bathroom myself but to get in a professional. I checked with Building Control and they...
Replies
7
Views
1K
Good evening all, I’m currently part way through my apprenticeship and we are working on IB, IN, IZ and IT and volt drop today. And it got me...
Replies
4
Views
442
Hello I have an old timed extractor fan in the bathroom which has stopped working. It has 3 wires which are black, brown and grey. I believe that...
Replies
0
Views
1K

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by Untold Media. Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock