Tell us about your faults!

[GT1]

Client today wanted outside halogen security light replaced for new one from DIY shed.
Got to job old one stripped off wall ready.
However:
There was 1 permanent live.
One switched live from sw inside kitchen.
One green/yellow
One other unlabelled/coloured wire.
Easy peasy methinks must be the neutral.
Put 240 test lamp across perm live and mystery wire. We have light. Sorted.
Halfway thru client says no no. Those two are connected together, otherwise kitchen lights don't work!
Sure enough that was the case. ?
Turns out the house used to belong to ex BT guy. And has lots and lots of "additions".
He must ran the neutral the earth because there was none. I ended running one from the light to a nearby lighting point.
I'm baffled as to how I can get my test lamp to light across two wires.
Then have to connect them together to make rest of the circuit work !!

By the way I'm assuming that the guy has made his own tncs as there was continuity between earth and neutral wherever I tested !!

 

[prospark]

had a good one today,light in bin room of block of flats to replace because olf flouro not working,found s/l at switch live with switch off and 120volts across s/l and so called neutral,yet light worked intermittantly,That was because women in ground floor flat kept switching her light in comunal hall outside her flat on and off.Takes down light fitting to find no earth to fitting,1 red wire to brown of light and 1 black wire to red as well,then 1 black wire to blue of light(been fitted by a neigbour over 12mths ago! Oh and just to finish polarity on Es lampholder wrong.Recconnected 2 blacks to blue and red to brown and earthed light fitting,including heat resist sleeving. DIY electricians!!!!!!!!
I'm a spark "get me outa here"

 

[Vincent_H]

Hi I am looking for a bit of help I replaced my old ceiling Rose with a new light fitting yesterday wired it all correctly or so I thought as the light comes on and off, I added a dimmer switch but when I switch my bathroom light on my bedroom light turns on also. The dimmer switch when turned off from my bedroom make my bathroom fan come on. It has left me a bit baffled.

 

[Ohmyword]

Hi I am looking for a bit of help I replaced my old ceiling Rose with a new light fitting yesterday wired it all correctly or so I thought as the light comes on and off, I added a dimmer switch but when I switch my bathroom light on my bedroom light turns on also. The dimmer switch when turned off from my bedroom make my bathroom fan come on. It has left me a bit baffled.

Baffled???
You and me both!
!st question would be; did it all work 'correctly' before connecting the "dimmer switch"?
If so, and to prove this, refit the old switch and try out the lighting circuit, making sure all points (and fan) operate correctly.
If not; then I recommend removing (or at least get to connections of) "new light fitting" and start 'ringing out' and confirming what cables you have there (and what they are i.e. feeds in, feeds looped on, switch wire, etc.).

 

[Vincent_H]

It all worked fine before putting the dimmer on it was once I put the dimmer on it all went topsy turvy! It is old wiring for the old light fitting so I isolated the reds as per the instructions and put all the wires where I thought they should be I blew the switch so I had to change the wires about and put them correctly with the help of my neighbour then it all worked, I then added the dimmer switch then that is when the problem happened with the bathroom fan and bathroom shaving light!

 

[HandySparks]

Unless you're experienced, I recon this one's too difficult to do over the internet. Get an electrician in. If you say where you are, someone on here may well get in touch. Alternatively, search this thread:
http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...lectricians-your-area-local-electricians.html

 

[Vincent_H]

With a bit of faffing about and some help from my neighbour who is competent and has his part p we are now in business!!! Happy days!
The problem lied with whoever wired up the bathroom light with the fan and shaver too a feed from my bedroom rather than the landing light not marking up what all the wires were so it was a case of working out what the bathroom wires were and to distinguish what was sw and live. I am at the early stages of training as an electrician myself so as this caused my neighbour to be confused this was obviously something that was a bit complex for me to work out by myself. Thank you for taking the time to Offer your suggestions and advice.

 

[Knobhead]

Just back from call out and was faced with this....

View attachment 9750View attachment 9751View attachment 9752

Main fuse had blown right out the cut out.... leaving the fuse carrier pins still in there !!

Different one for me.

Worked along side DNO chaps - removed anything the customers side that had got fire/heat damaged, done all my checks to make sure everything internally ok.

New cut out unit installed ----> power back on (minus a couple of fire damaged circuits + mini CU for shower)

Back Monday to re-do the rest.

DNO said to send them the bill as it was a faulty cut out.

Very lucky customer, this could have a been a lot lot worst, fire brigade turned up but luckily it had gone out in time

Hope you don’t mind but I’ve added your pics to my “BACK MUSEUM” of what can go wrong.

 

[Jel]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Has this happened to anyone?
A friend of mine was doing a CU change and this what remains of a 16A mcb feeding a radial
Brand was wylex, all connections checked beforehand

There was a fault on Wylex breakers a little while ago and that is what was happening with them. Had a recall letter after i installed one asking for any MCB's with a certain code to be removed sent back and changed.

 

[sythai]

Hope you don’t mind but I’ve added your pics to my “BACK MUSEUM” of what can go wrong.

No thats fine..... no problem there

 

[balbecdaze]

I'm new, but it doesn't excuse this fault ... just took receipt of my new clamp meter, I like new toys. So I clamp around the flex to my computer - 0.00V! 0.00A! Had to google how to use a clamp meter. I am a muppet!

 

[spaldingsparks]

Here we go again fishy smell reported after tennant in rented house used the shower, ok so its not the first time but this time it was almost really serious wooden backed brown 6 way Wylex board mounted 2"(50mm) down from the Kitchen ceiling which is covered in thoes crap polystyreen tiles The 6mm T/E cable had been added later and was in the furthest way from the switch run surface out of the board up towards the tile and it was well burnt to within 20mm of the tiles as on other occasions the BURK who instaled the 9kw shower had fitted it to a 30Amp rewirable fuse (3036) and the board cannot cope! so one lucky disabled lady as she was not harmed nice new DB now and the Landlord has at last had a full PIR/EIT&R even though he refused before!!

 

[spaldingsparks]

At least you did'nt have far to go to google it:28:

 

[mikeohms]

MCB won't stay up meaning a short circuit in the system: it turns out after fault finding that the connector block on the recessed downlight was sitting on top of the light fitting inside the ceiling. The resulting heat melted the plastic connector block and the cable started burning out resulting in the short circuit.

So boys when installing downlight make sure all connection and material inside ceiling is moved clear of the vent on top of the firerated downlight. Although its call fire rated downlight dosn't mean it can't result in fire under certain conditions - follow manufactres space allowance around the fire rated recessed downlight. The house could have been easily burned down. An RCD could have ealily picked this fault up earlier had it been installaed.
And for property owners still using the old rewirable fuse board without RCD protection a couple of pounds to make safer you investiment is worth a try - change your old fuse board to a new RCD protection one

CIVIL Electrical Services
www.CIVIL-Electrical.co.uk
02088441490

 

[hermetic]

Heres a couple from the old days,
Old farmhosue downstairs light would not switch off, Rentokil have been in upstairs (woodworm treatment) and nailed a switch wire. Went upstairs, lifted the carpets and checked the nail heads with a neon, took about 5 mins to find it, pulled it, lifted the board, repaired the cable, and out the door.
Large pub restaraunt with all electric (3 phase) kitchen installed by myself. Get a nice pat on the back from YEB (local supply authority) for near perfect phase balancing, and go home happy. About 6-30pm on the opening night I get a frantic call "all the powers gone off"!!! get there to find that the YEB have not tightened the tails into the meters properly, and the ends are burnt off. Rip of all seals, pull the cutpouts, and in 20 mins its all back on and working. then I rang emergency engineering at YEB and had a very interesting and colourfull conversation with them...................

 

[Gerry24]

Checked a plastic enclosure today that is serving as a junction box for swa cable to take power to a greenhouse and a shed. The cables have been nicely terminated with outdoor rated glands at the plastic box. But only 2 core cable and no earth strap between banjos so earth stops at the plastic box. Apparently been this way since it was installed 10 years ago.

 

[djo2904]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

This is a new installation the electrical contractor moved the electrical meter without permission, there was a large bang the same night, and british gas were called out in an emergency call out to fit a new meter, the contractors gave a NICEIC electrical installation certificate of compliance, you can easily place your hands directly into the consumer unit and there are 2 x 1" x 2" holes on the left hand and right hand side of the casing, the contractors are saying it is not their problem but the councils, in the mean time the broken cupboard door has left this dangerous consumer unit open for my 2 year old nephew to access, any advice please, seems a serious health and safety issue to me, but council have stated its safe and all the components inside the unit are completely insulated, does not look like that to me, Thank you for any advice in advance cheers

 

[Engineer54]

From just a quick look, ....There should be no gaps left in the enclosure, The conduit fill of the white conduit coming in looks very much to me over filled, also looks to me as if there must be a slot along the top of this CU that shouldn't be there, to allow these cables access into the CU. The correct access is via the back of this CU. I wouldn't say that this installation meets with manufacturers instructions, or to BS7671 ... We'll see what others have to say here ...lol!!!

It's not what i would call a very professionally installed CU, not by any stretch of the imagination...lol!! So what did BG say about the meter being repositioned without approval??

 

[djo2904]

British Gas said there was no way they should have moved the meter, but have done nothing they replaced it with a new one, I have spoken directly with British Gas who confirmed it was moved illegally, but would not discuss it further, I had a meeting with the contractors manager, he said it was all passed and was fine, I did point out it may have been ok'ed by someone but whoever gave the go ahead was obviously wrong and from what I could see if this is the correct CU for the job or cupboard then there is a serious design fault and at very least some form of grommit (black rubber thingies) should be added... the top of the CU goes all the way back, so you can stick your hands all the way in, but apparently this is quite safe because apparently all components inside this CU are insulated you should see the state of the rest of work its possibly the worst Ive ever seen and from so called builders of the year 2 years running!!! ha

 

[telectrix]

you should not be able to insert anything larger than one of phil taylor's dart points, let alone a finger.

 

[Engineer54]

Actually, the cabinet looks like one of the old crittall cabinets the councils used to put into all there council properties to house the supply cut-out fuse, the meter and the built in CU at the top of the panel. So this is a Wylex skeleton CU that's specially designed to retro fit these cabinets.

I would say this contractor has had a bit of a chop at the new CU cover, one to drop his supply tails to the meter. Which in actual fact, should have passed down one of the two enclosed side wire-ways, that are open at the top and bottom, that are there for specifically this use...lol!!

Can you post a photo of the back side of the white CU cover, which also shows the bottom and top sections. As it's difficult to see the actual cover design.

 

[djo2904]

I really appreciate the feedback, I'm taking this seriously because this CU has got a broken door and does not close, and my nephew has already been in this cupboard several times, he thinks its a game switching all the buttons and turning everything the electrics off he is 2 years old and does not understand, Ive told them to go to relatives.. to move out until this is put right, maybe the council are playing this down because they have already fitted 100's if not 1000's of these CU, I was told it is the correct unit by the big contractors they denied liability and said its the councils fault and they should sort it even though it clearly states they are responsible for electrical works in a handbook, if this is what seems to be an almighty cock up, and someone has ordered the wrong design or its been fitted wrong, why are these units and installations being NICEIC certificates? Surely the electrical contractors should have raised the same concerns I have, they are qualified it seems blatantly obvious this CU is just not safe, Thanks so much, think I'll be a bit more bullish with the council on Monday morning

 

[Engineer54]

As i say, if you can post a photo of the CU cover (back view) we may be able to tell you where these cuts/chops outs have been made. It is also possible that this CU has been mounted lower than they have been designed too. As the top may well be designed to be open, but not when mounted low enough to be able to get your fingers in... if that makes sense?? lol!! The cover should sit quite snugly around the wire-ways either side of the cabinet, with no possibility of fingers being able to pass, as shown in your photo's.

The CU by the way, looks to be a well made and thought out arrangement. It also incorporates RCBOs for it's protective devices, so on that score the council has done you proud!! lol!!

 

[djo2904]

Hi actually looking at what engineer54 has said from the sides it may be going through the back and not directly into the CU, not that a bendy coat hanger may not find its way in but looking at the photo i previously posted with all fingers going in at the top then it has been fitted incorrectly, I advised her to move out until this was corrected, hopefully this was correct you would really think the council would have at least fitted a catch to the cupboard door to stop my nephew turning everything off...2 year olds really don't know of the dangers, thank you so much for the advice I will be able to insist at least the top is sorted out, how on earth would a contractor pass this anyway? Cheers

 

[Engineer54]

Hi actually looking at what engineer54 has said from the sides it may be going through the back and not directly into the CU, not that a bendy coat hanger may not find its way in but looking at the photo i previously posted with all fingers going in at the top then it has been fitted incorrectly, I advised her to move out until this was corrected, hopefully this was correct you would really think the council would have at least fitted a catch to the cupboard door to stop my nephew turning everything off...2 year olds really don't know of the dangers, thank you so much for the advice I will be able to insist at least the top is sorted out, how on earth would a contractor pass this anyway? Cheers


View attachment 10160

Thanks for the photo's but it is the back of the white CU cover i really wanted to have a look at. So that i can see the sides, as well as the top and bottom of the cover.

I can also see from one of the photo's that there are what looks like the ends of a circuit that hasn't been connected for one reason or another. In fact there seems to be a fair amount of cables tucked behind this CU, for what reason, i really don't know!!!

 

[Engineer54]

Hi actually looking at what engineer54 has said from the sides it may be going through the back and not directly into the CU, not that a bendy coat hanger may not find its way in but looking at the photo i previously posted with all fingers going in at the top then it has been fitted incorrectly, I advised her to move out until this was corrected, hopefully this was correct you would really think the council would have at least fitted a catch to the cupboard door to stop my nephew turning everything off...2 year olds really don't know of the dangers, thank you so much for the advice I will be able to insist at least the top is sorted out, how on earth would a contractor pass this anyway? Cheers


View attachment 10160

We've seen far, far worse than this from NICEIC registered contractors and DI competent persons on this and other forums, believe me!! lol!!!

 

[Guest111]

once called out to what was described as "a kind of hissing noise" from a cu turned out there was a3 foot corn snake inside,sadly it died as it had gone across the incomers and the insulating covers were missing

 

[djo2904]

Sorry new to all this... No have no photo of the back of the CU did not want to touch it too much in case I was blamed for anything theres only been visual inspection of the work could not look at the sockets because all have been sealed all the way round with mastic but the one switch i could open was the kitchen light switch that came out approx 14" which i found odd they also used to have at least a bit of sheathing showing what cable was what but both are brown, maybe all the reg's have changed no bonding even needed to the bath or kitchen sink either apparently, theres earth cable all unclipped in the bathroom you can trip up it 10" it comes out from the skirting just awful never seen work like it, they just wound the cable up stuck it in behind the bathroom radiator, doesn't take much to put a few clips in even the bath baton work is not fixed they have used mastic, all this was supposed to be complete new fitting! Cheers you really have all helped out really appreciate it look out for a new thread in the contactors builders section DECENT HOMES FROM HELL i'll put some photos up of the other work apparently from builders of the year 2 years running,

 

[Engineer54]

Sorry new to all this... No have no photo of the back of the CU did not want to touch it too much in case I was blamed for anything theres only been visual inspection of the work could not look at the sockets because all have been sealed all the way round with mastic but the one switch i could open was the kitchen light switch that came out approx 14" which i found odd they also used to have at least a bit of sheathing showing what cable was what but both are brown, maybe all the reg's have changed no bonding even needed to the bath or kitchen sink either apparently, theres earth cable all unclipped in the bathroom you can trip up it 10" it comes out from the skirting just awful never seen work like it, they just wound the cable up stuck it in behind the bathroom radiator, doesn't take much to put a few clips in even the bath baton work is not fixed they have used mastic, all this was supposed to be complete new fitting! Cheers you really have all helped out really appreciate it look out for a new thread in the contactors builders section DECENT HOMES FROM HELL i'll put some photos up of the other work apparently from builders of the year 2 years running,

Your CU is a relatively easy fix, as the fixing screws for the back plate are on a slotted hole, so just means slacking off a touch and the base pushing up...lol!! and hope the cover has enough room to then be fitted...

Don't know why they disconnected the cross bonding in the bathroom, just because it may not be needed doesn't mean it needs to be disconnected if existing!!

By the way, ....standard electrical face plates should never have mastic of any kind around them. If such accessories need to be sealed, then appropriate accessory should be provided...

 

[ringer]

A message for djo2904

PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGERS INTO THE HOLES IN YOUR CONSUMER UNIT WHILST THE POWER IS ON.

If you feel the need to demonstrate to someone that there are holes into which you can put your fingers, then at least turn off all power before you do so.

And I hope you get either British Gas or the Council to listen to you and take action. If they don't, try getting your local newspaper involved. It might just embarrass someone enough to get it put right for you.

 

[djo2904]

Hi just to update the council visited today have fitted a latch to cupboard door, and also added 2 x strips of trunking covers to gaps at bottom
and advised me they have contacted manufacturers asking if the cover was correct size, i'll keep pushing till it gets sorted thanks for advice everyone
(Dont suppose the council will thank me)

 

[kenny james]

Hi just to update the council visited today have fitted a latch to cupboard door, and also added 2 x strips of trunking covers to gaps at bottom
and advised me they have contacted manufacturers asking if the cover was correct size, i'll keep pushing till it gets sorted thanks for advice everyone
(Dont suppose the council will thank me)

2 x strips of trunking covers to gaps at bottom was my thoughts too!!! thats what should have been done before the cu was commissioned and before they left your site.

 

[Rampage]

Not in this country, but still quite amusing.
It''s a largeish light suspended by flex that where joined to the radial circuit the bare conductors are twisted together and insulted with insulation tape, this is holding the entire weight of the light. There is also for some reason the screw on part of a ceiling rose on top of the light still with the flex running through it. There were around 10 lights all connected in the same manner.

Vdfbvhiv

 

[Graeme Harrold]

For starters, one lucky mouse....


Next came an RCD test fail on the meter. Has happened with a few of them, so next step is to push the button....I get a wee tingle, so just to confirm I push it again :saddam:, stick probes on the button to find whats displayed......


Final big one is the 2.5 T&E neatly folded round the door seal on the cabinet supplying a nearby lamp post (full size)....

 

[electricsrule]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

unbelievable hahaha what a story

 

[martin74]

Hi,
Had a faulty wylex rcd that was sending 95v back up the neutral!

 

[vinny electric]

why was the lights on an RCD :clover:

 

[Kamikaze]

Make everything idiot proof and evolution will simply produce a more efficient idiot. There literally is no rest from the insane stuff one comes across. mg_smile:

 

[Richard Burns]

Make everything idiot proof and evolution will simply produce a more efficient idiot. There literally is no rest from the insane stuff one comes across. mg_smile:


View attachment 10501

Hmm adequate insulation between line and neutral, but a bit too much exposed conductor I think!
Priceless! (must try it:nonod

 

[keniff]

Make everything idiot proof and evolution will simply produce a more efficient idiot. There literally is no rest from the insane stuff one comes across. mg_smile:


View attachment 10501

This has taken more thought than putting a different plug on! Brilliant use of the tag to separate L+N I'd give it 8/10 for effort lol

 

[Kiers1970]

Make everything idiot proof and evolution will simply produce a more efficient idiot. There literally is no rest from the insane st
uff one comes across. mg_smile:
At least there is a 3 mm gap.

View attachment 10501

at least there is a 3mm gap.

 

[Bobster]

This was still live when I got to it.

The bloke using the welder plugged into this had reported the welder to be not working correctly.

 

[Ohmyword]

Make everything idiot proof and evolution will simply produce a more efficient idiot. There literally is no rest from the insane stuff one comes across. mg_smile:


View attachment 10501

Just when you think it's safe.........
Takes me back to the days of the 'chageover period' from 15A (round-pin) to the 13A ring main era. My Dad would bare the ends of flex back and push it in the socket using plastic rawl plugs. Oooppss!

 

[ash_s3]

Make everything idiot proof and evolution will simply produce a more efficient idiot. There literally is no rest from the insane stuff one comes across. mg_smile:


View attachment 10501

Irony of the England key fob and foreign plug! Bet the occupiers of the property weren't locals!

 

[supasparxs]

View attachment 10596
I think someone has lost a couple of screw

 

[Guest111]

got called over by the old lady down the road about a bulb beeping even when it was switched off,"never liked them fancy twisted things"(energy savers)she says "my old bulbs never beeped and this one has done it from day 1" turned out her battery was going in the smoke alarm next to the light fitting.so i replaced the battery,and the bulb as she wasnt convinced,as she said"well the alarms been in nearly 2 years and never done that before"didnt charge her,dont you just love oap,s they can really make me smile.

 

[wendyman]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Sounds very much like a disconnected/floating neutral. But this post would be better placed, and answered, in its own thread. This thread is intended for those 'I can't believe what I have just found that some numpty of an installer has done and that I just had to fix' type of faults.

anybody else had anything along these lines of strange voltages ??

 

[QSGAZ]

Got Called out to a some conduit being hit. How i got a surprise as i thought it might be some conduit had just been a little loose. The idiot had ripped a full DB off the wall and four stop start controllers!!!

 

[Mr.Si]

View attachment 10668View attachment 10669View attachment 10670
Got Called out to a some conduit being hit. How i got a surprise as i thought it might be some conduit had just been a little loose. The idiot had ripped a full DB off the wall and four stop start controllers!!!

One word: D'Oh!!!

 

[Ringo]

Simple one this, and luckily it hadn't caused any problems or injuries. I guess it doesn't "look" like the worst of the worst, but there's absolutely no excuse for it being left like this. The scary thing is that it had just been this way for who-knows-how-long. How many more like this out there?

Story is that I recently started a new job as an engineer, but in the first few days had to keep myself busy so decided to check the electrics in the workshop. There were some mystery breakers on the board so after investigation I'd identified where everything ended up. Scarily, this was found under the workbench, being on the other side of a wall-mounted switch in the 'on' position. The cover was initially in place, so to the untrained eye there would be no need to suspect anything amiss. Basically here was a live cable sitting in metal conduit just waiting for the chance to bite. Lots of people use the workshop for lots of things. Needless to say it's all gone now!