- Mar 21, 2011
- 13,191
- 11,409
- 18,688
- If you're a qualified, trainee, or retired electrician - Which country is it that your work will be / is / was aimed at?
- United Kingdom
- What type of forum member are you?
- Retired Electrician
E
EastAnglian
I almost agree ..... I would add an end to end continuity test of all circuits claiming to be ring finals and a Zs check at ALL socket outlets. Any rings found not to be continuous would be the subject of additional work. While theoretically a Zs test at all sockets will allow you to deduce that the ring isn't continuous the reality of measuring sockets which have been in use for while means you get all sorts of readings which don't allow the text-book analysis to work!
E
EastAnglian
Methinks you must have posted the wrong picture .... that MK board looks pretty standard to me!
B
brman
I am not disagreeing but want to understand you so what is your reason for doing a Zs on ALL sockets?
I guess what I am asking is, if you have done end to end continuity then the basic ring is ok so your Zs will be checking socket fronts/switches and spurs so how far would you go fixing things before signing off the CU? A socket Zs slightly higher than expected or only if it was greater than the 1667 needed to trip the RCD? (which obviously indicates a fault but still allows the new board to operate correctly)
E
EastAnglian
I find the most common sort of DIY fault is an incorrectly wired socket outlet - perhaps a single to double conversion, a replacement or an added spur (illegal or legal!!). By testing each socket you will find those where the L&N is reversed (or worse) and (sometimes)where the CPC has been terminated on the back-box not the accessory, and maybe those where there might be a loose wire. And yes, I've come across all those faults, as I'm sure you have too.
Yes, this is beyond the scope of the CU change, but my philosophy is that I want to leave the house at least as safe as I found it, and ideally safer, so this is a little bit of "value add" which has become part of my regular service.
Like others here my 'standard' fee for a CU upgrade is £350 provided any upgrade to tails & earth is reasonably straight forward. On my quote I always make it clear that upgrade to main bonding if required is extra, and if I know from the pre-work survey its a pig to do I will do it the day before the CU change.
I never book another job the same day as a CU upgrade. If I get one done in 6 hours, complete with testing, then I get an early bath. More often its a full day's work.
B
brman
Thanks, that makes a lot of sense to me. I know what you mean about the time problem. I'd love to be able to guarantee time for something else in the afternoon but I don't work that fast and there is always something that causes delays.
O
Octopus
Been doing an EICR today, a "full" one meaning I've tested each circuit individually for IR, each ring for continuity and each radial too.
One ring didn't have continuity on the neutral - I found the problem and fixed it.
I fear any attempts to cut out thorough testing will lead us down the path of more rushed, half done jobs, which will do the profession damage.
One ring didn't have continuity on the neutral - I found the problem and fixed it.
I fear any attempts to cut out thorough testing will lead us down the path of more rushed, half done jobs, which will do the profession damage.
G
Guitarist
That will only prove that there IS a ring, maybe within a ring. The main ring could be broken somewhere.
Similar threads
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
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
