screwfix forum

[electrician4u]

Has anyone seen the posts on the screwfix forum in relation to electrics? Talk about the blind leading the blind. I've never seen so much poor advice.someone asked if they could use an old 30 Amp shower supply cable to install a shaver socket.only 1 person (out of several) suggested you might have to downgrade the breaker and NOONE said you'd have to put in a RCD.Thankfully, there's people on this site with some actual knowledge of the regs.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The question was could they use the disused shower cable, or would they have to come off the lighting circuit or even a RFC.
They did not ask whether the circuit would require RCD protection, or whether the CPD would have to be de-rated, in fact they made no mention of the rating of the CPD at all.
As such the answer to the question is yes.

 

[electrician4u]

just the fact that they asked the question would indicate that they hadn't even thought about the MCB or RCD.You seem to be giving them a lot more credit than i would.There's no point telling someone "yes you can use the cable" without adding that they need to RCD the circuit and de-rate the MCB.If someone asks "can i spur off a socket?" do you just say "yes"?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Yes....

 

[ipf]

Fact. Yes.

 

[electrician4u]

I would therefore suggest that you are an irresponsible electrician, assuming you are one.either that or just naturally unhelpful.

 

[telectrix]

spin was giving an answer the the question that was asked, without elaborating, and as such he was correct. and just to be pedantic, who says an RCD is necessary? without knowing where the shaver socket is to be located, that question cannot be answered. it could be in a bedroom. we don't know the installation method of the cable. as for the MCB, there again, we don't know the csa of the cable, so haw can we know if the MCB needs changing?

 

[IQ Electrical]

I would therefore suggest that you are an irresponsible electrician, assuming you are one.either that or just naturally unhelpful.

Spinlondon-1,774 posts and thanked 321 times, does that sound unhelpful?

It's a free forum, we give up our own time to post, it's impossible to cover each scenario of an installation in a reply, as you've seen above regarding positioning of the shaver socket and installation method.

 

[telectrix]

and spinlondon's advice is generally spot-on the button. (btw, spin, sorry about the immigrant post. it was meant as more of a light-hearted rant than a factual scenario)

 

[electrician4u]

The replies to my original posts are the sort of replies i'd expect in a court of law, not on a forum designed to help people who have little knowledge of wiring and the regs. I like to feel that I point people in the right direction to do the right thing and to find out more if their question is not clear.There are many people out there doing electrics that they shouldn't be doing and it should be our job to guide them in the right direction.If you're not happy to do this, don't join the forum

 

[IQ Electrical]

The replies to my original posts are the sort of replies i'd expect in a court of law, not on a forum designed to help people who have little knowledge of wiring and the regs. I like to feel that I point people in the right direction to do the right thing and to find out more if their question is not clear.There are many people out there doing electrics that they shouldn't be doing and it should be our job to guide them in the right direction.If you're not happy to do this, don't join the forum

I don't know how we've come this far without you.....

 

[sparky3366]

The replies to my original posts are the sort of replies i'd expect in a court of law, not on a forum designed to help people who have little knowledge of wiring and the regs. I like to feel that I point people in the right direction to do the right thing and to find out more if their question is not clear.There are many people out there doing electrics that they shouldn't be doing and it should be our job to guide them in the right direction.If you're not happy to do this, don't join the forum

Thats because if we give out duff info to some guy who can wire a plug top and thinks he can now wire his house, we could be in the brown gooey stuff as well. All qualified sparks have spent a lot of money to be able to give advice in a correct safe manner. We have to be accountable for our work in the eyes of the law....

 

[ipf]

The replies to my original posts are the sort of replies i'd expect in a court of law, not on a forum designed to help people who have little knowledge of wiring and the regs. I like to feel that I point people in the right direction to do the right thing and to find out more if their question is not clear.There are many people out there doing electrics that they shouldn't be doing and it should be our job to guide them in the right direction.If you're not happy to do this, don't join the forum

Little knowledge? Personally, I would think this paticular forum is of use to more members generally 'in the know' than 'in the dark'.
I think most people recognize the total novices and, in general, do try to offer good advice. Most of us know what that is!

 

[thekingiam]

i thought the forum was to remind us older people all the stuff we should know but tend to forget when on the job?

 

[electrician4u]

All fair comments, but i was referring to the original post on the screwfix forum that seems to be for DIYers trying to do things themselves. My point was to try and emphasize to them that they can't cut corners and there's certain things they shouldn't be doing. If noone gives a **** about unqualified DIYers doing THEIR jobs, we might as well all apply for Polish citizenship and do the work cash in hand

 

[thekingiam]

The majority of electricians on this forum, i believe try to help electricians and people interested in a career as an electrician with the minefeild of crap missinformation out there.
occassionaly the odd diy'er asks for advice and usualy gets a correct response (after usualy a torrent of information about calling a qualified electrician and part p).
I haven't looked at screw fix forum as its a diy shop and wouldn't expect to find anything of interest there ,but was in there the other day and witnessed electrical stuff being sold to joe public who certainly weren't qualified or aparently understand what they were doing (as guy on till was giving advice on how to wire a pull switch in a bathroom, maybe he is on the forum?

 

[ipf]

The majority of electricians on this forum, i believe try to help electricians and people interested in a career as an electrician with the minefeild of crap missinformation out there.
occassionaly the odd diy'er asks for advice and usualy gets a correct response (after usualy a torrent of information about calling a qualified electrician and part p).
I haven't looked at screw fix forum as its a diy shop and wouldn't expect to find anything of interest there ,but was in there the other day and witnessed electrical stuff being sold to joe public who certainly weren't qualified or aparently understand what they were doing (as guy on till was giving advice on how to wire a pull switch in a bathroom, maybe he is on the forum?

Toilet chain more appropriate?

 

[daiplayer]

I dont have an issue at all with people asking questions to do stuff.,,,,,however its the people that pretend to know and give wrong answers that **** me off

 

[thekingiam]

ipf any chance of discount next time u serve me?

 

[ipf]

ipf any chance of discount next time u serve me?

Only if your in your royal bathrobe sire. Ill make it gold plated chain for a bit of help with the connections.