Tell us about your faults!

[Davethesparks]

Just a word of warning. Called to a job. Only one side of a double socket working. Plugged in the trusty socket tester to reveal a neutral fault flashing and beeping. So killed power took of double socket to find correct conection of cables. Funny that why neutral fault. Found switch to socket seized in the "on" position. Fitted new socket and tested all ok. Think about it ?

 

[Rick0rz]

We were testing a building in huddersfield , In the public car park is a big roller shutter door which is no longer used fed in 1.5 3core grey pcv which was just cut off the switch where the up and down buttons are and left live... oh and it was 3 phase...

 

[Rick0rz]

1.5 Twin and earth used as 3core with earth sleeved up with red or brown ive seen this numerous times how many other people have seen this?

 

[chris1952]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Hi,

I have an electrical DB, with 100A 3phase main ELCB, that works fine when all breakers are ON.
I get a problem when I switch OFF a breaker (32A), and switch it ON again. The ELCB trips, I try
that a few times and then it works fine again. This happens with 3 of the 15 breakers that are
in the DB. Any idea why?

Did this get answered?

Anyway, it's quite straightforward- not all of the phases in the breakers are making and breaking simultaneously. Result is temporary unbalance in the RCD and a tripout.

 

[i=p/u]

on heating circuits ive seen earth sleeved brown

1.5 Twin and earth used as 3core with earth sleeved up with red or brown ive seen this numerous times how many other people have seen this?

 

[Strima]

Not my fault but spotted in the local Harvester type place a month ago and still hasn't been repaired, hidden under some play matting in the childrens area...



Apparently the maintenance team are 'aware' of it... Quick email to their head office I think.

 

[DNS]

During a rewire recently, I was uncovering some capping in a plastered wall, where it went behind a dado rail it wouldn't budge, just my luck I thought, nailed to the wall before the rail was fixed. It will only be a capping nail, lots of jiggling around and it will come free. After 10 minutes of furious shaking and swearing outbusts, I realized that some doughnut who had fixed the dado had drilled and screwed a three inch screw throuh the centre. Dado was gloss painted so no fixinging was noticed. Just goes to show that safe zones under/above/left and right of outlets are not always adhered too. I just think they were very lucky that they didn't drill the cables running in the capping.

 

[DNS]

I was called out last night on a job. The lady told me on the phone that all the sockets had blown in her flat (obvious drama Queen) On arriving and checking the CU, split load half on RCD, which had tripped. Switching all the MCBs off protected by the RCD, Switched back on, hey presto all socets back on, two minutes work. The problem was the shower circuit. She was trying to switch that switchy like thing (RCD) back on and it just wouldn't she said. On further investigation the 45amp pull switch in the bathroom which was wet inside on unscrewing, removed it and tried MCB again. Fine. Checked insulation resistance on cables >299. It had been raining heavily the day before, have you had any leaks I asked. No she replied. but there was a puddle of water in the corner of the bathroom. I have no idea where it came from...... It came through your roof and through your 45 amp shower pull switch. Thats where the water came from. See you Monday with a new switch. I'm sure there are some wonderfull female sparkys in the country, but a majority of women should stick with cooking and ironing....LOLOL

 

[Old School1]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

good thread

 

[DNS]

I was called out last night on a job. The lady told me on the phone that all the sockets had blown in her flat (obvious drama Queen) On arriving and checking the CU, split load half on RCD, which had tripped. Switching all the MCBs off protected by the RCD, Switched back on, hey presto all socets back on, two minutes work. The problem was the shower circuit. She was trying to switch that switchy like thing (RCD) back on and it just wouldn't she said. On further investigation the 45amp pull switch in the bathroom which was wet inside on unscrewing, removed it and tried MCB again. Fine. Checked insulation resistance on cables >299. It had been raining heavily the day before, have you had any leaks I asked. No she replied. but there was a puddle of water in the corner of the bathroom. I have no idea where it came from...... It came through your roof and through your 45 amp shower pull switch. Thats where the water came from. See you Monday with a new switch. I'm sure there are some wonderfull female sparkys in the country, but a majority of women should stick with cooking and ironing....LOLOL

Job done, replaced swich and tested. Also when I was called to the job there was a fault with the cooker circuit on the non RCD bank. 240 v reading on the neutral. Apparently the neon light on the switch had been flickering for weeks. I told her that if something is not operating as it should, with electricity involved, it should always be checked..It's not RCD protected either. Removed cooker control switch with socket and made wires safe. Again tested insulation resistanceon the cooker supply cables >299. Replaced the switch last night and tested, all ok. Although the CU is a split load 16th edition only half protected by an RCD. Thats why the cooker wasn't tripping. It's all safe now.

 

[theroadblock]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Quite a funny one for you here guys :smart:, called to one of our machines at work the other day, (a machine that loads large reels of paper into position ready to be run into our corrugator. operator complaining about it not loading in automatic (typical lazy operator moans if he has to do everything manually lol), anyway after spending ~10 minutes looking over the machine/checking possible causes (usually photocell related), i found myself at a loss. its only when an operator walked past and one of the photocells on the side of the machine flickered, that my attention was drawn to a filing cabinet that had that day been put up, the photocell was only reflecting off of the filing cabinet that stood about ~5 meters away lol.. i kicked it aside and hey-presto! :jester:

 

[rich.250]

Builder says I think I cut a data cable with the grinder.....
LOL

 

[Strima]

View attachment 13129

Builder says I think I cut a data cable with the grinder.....
LOL

I think you best shoot out for some more crimps... :lol:

 

[rich.250]

I think I'll need a bigger van..... Lol

 

[precise]

Called to a rented property the brief was none of the upstairs lights work, put bulbs in jobs a good un

 

[rich.250]

Doing a EICR today, and found no earthing conductor, bonding to any service, rfc's incomplete and cpcs cut off in every accessory on lighting circuits.......
Worst thing is on arrival the customer said there should be no issues as my mate looked at it and said it was in good condition and it was done fairly recent (new colours) by a local nic approved contractor company !!!
Certificates there so thought I'll see if the readings has altered and turns out there all made up.... LOL


Oh well, keeps me busy with corrections

 

[JS_Electric]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

give me her address.

 

[stanleyblade]

Been subbing some kitchens from a guy, he rang last night and asked me to attend a job where he had wired some cabinet lighting and some new spots for kitchen. Apparently when he turns kitchen lights pñ the bathroom ones glow, and when turn bathroom ones off the cabinet lights go off too, even when operated individually. Had quick look today and this is what ó found in the loft


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[stanleyblade]

Also found extended washing machine power cord, using crimps and black tape under the sink, all socket fronts hanging off with all conductors stripped too far and showing exposed copper, all live and being used by customer, you cpuldn make it up
The above pics of cable birds nest has really got to be seen to be truly believed. He then , after I told not do any more electrical, had the cheek to say just tidy it up, dont spend too much time on it. My immediate fesponse is not fit to quote, but needless to say I will spend as long as it takes, I think this may be last job i do for him
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[cdavies33]

stanleyblade..... You need to report this man to the scheme he is under, this work is outrageous. Please don't let this slip..... REPORT HIM!!

 

[stanleyblade]

Unfortunately he is not registered with any bodies, otherwise I would, he is same ss me, a kitchen fitter. Only difference is one of us takes electrical work very seriously the other does not. Today he even had the cheek to say he may bill the customer for tidying the job up, this sort of thing is what quite rightly gets kitchen fitters a bad Nans. Needless to say, I have corrected everything , and will not take pñ anymore work from him. Ive done two AMD thats enough, dont want to be pulled under with him

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[Strima]

Not my fault but spotted in the local Harvester type place a month ago and still hasn't been repaired, hidden under some play matting in the childrens area...

View attachment 12916

Apparently the maintenance team are 'aware' of it... Quick email to their head office I think.

Apparently this has been sorted now, best go down to have a look.

 

[worldtraveler]

i cant set with one girl.....

 

[Paddy power 250]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

I a similar problem, but at 3am on a call out. The tenant had no power, so I attended and went through the routine of turning the circuits on one by one, then all the others things, you like appliances. But this one circuit would not go back on, well I finally found it a slug inside a double socket across the live and earth. Removed all power back on. Would they believe me the next day. NO

 

[Tonkatoy27]

Fault I logged on an EICR yesterday, the room stat cable left the airing cupboard in 3core and earth and ended up at the room stat in 2 pair telephone cable. I couldn't get a dial tone though.......

 

[Konrad]

Yes Sir. MCB is tripping because there is some fault on your lights. Let me have closer look.

 

[Bobster]

50mm 4 core SWA feeding a 3ph DB not even glanded into the bottom of the fuse panel supplying it, earth continuity to the DB via the tenby clamp. Not to mention the neutral that was extended by bolting another piece of cable to it.

Why do people install things like this??? It would have probably been quicker to just do it correctly in the first place.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

Three of these found in my friend's house today, installed by a 'Qualified' electrician.

 

[Strima]

At least he's taped it up... :confused5:

 

[stanleyblade]

Not my fault... Was in screwfix perusing the catalogue, when I overhear a little old lady ask " IP4X, what does that mean?" And a mans voice replied " it is to do with the type of bulb it takes I think" I turned round to see who it was she wad talking to and it was one of the electrafix staff !! How reassuring

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[Strima]

Not my fault... Was in screwfix perusing the catalogue, when I overhear a little old lady ask " IP4X, what does that mean?" And a mans voice replied " it is to do with the type of bulb it takes I think" I turned round to see who it was she wad talking to and it was one of the electrafix staff !! How reassuring

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Same company that owns the big orange shed, that explains a lot...

Only bonus is that the local screwfix branch knows me so I don't have to do that 1p card thing on the click and collect.

 

[stanleyblade]

1p card thing wassat? I even stood behind some woman few months ago in scrrwfix who wanted cooker cable, the counter woman was looking at the catalogue saying you probably need some kind of flat cable for That. I asked her if she had any info on cooker but it was at home, so told her to go get it and then pop into qvs elec supplies few doors down and they would sort her out.makes you wonder how many people get " advised " like this

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[rich.250]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdaKBMD_HSQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Is this the crap that people call testing......... LOL

 

[stanleyblade]

Following on from post 919, same job same guy I found this on boiler cupboard with cables running tightly against central heating pipes behind boxing in. Is last job I do for John Wayne inc .

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[skyneel]

Hi frnds my main fault is I am lazy. I can't do work very quickly. I think it is my fault of my life. What you think frndz. Can it be a great problem in my life? How can I recover this?

 

[Cartersparks]

Rcd tripping out when supply to porter cabin mcb turned on! Ins res test between all conductors clear, disconnected all cpc's in cabin board and tripping stops, turns out the swa was damaged live to armouring, only the cabin side of the swa had the swa bonded to earth, fault current found a path bk to the cabin to the bonded metal socket ko box's making its way to the earth terminal in the board on to the 6mm earth bond on the bango and back to the supply db tripping the 30ma rcd!!!
To resolve this as the live now was common with the armour, the live had to become the earth and be taped up green yellow and the earth be taped up brown. quick fix i know but only a temp fix

 

[Guest22]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

3.3 KV motor ran by induction regulator, was told the motor was arcing up a storm!
Proceeded to open up the motor and look inside, all new brushes had chipped and broken away, creating a wavy commutator, where the brushes lie, leaving about 2-3 mm difference along the comm, sent away to re skimmed.

The picture in question the motor stands about 8-10 feet tall.

 

[Knobhead]

What HP is it Ethan?

I've only worked on small induction regulated motors, up to 50HP. Never did like them.

 

[aprillove1719]

Re: Tell us about your faults !

during my college years, i accidentally enter to a wrong classroom, listen to the class and took a quiz.... when I passed my paper, the instructor asked me "Hi are you my student?" hahahaha oh my God only to find out i enter the seniors class... :rofl:

 

[trev]

Electrical Inspection poplar Business Park - YouTube

Is this the crap that people call testing......... LOL

That is a joke. IR testing needs to be done dead but no mention of it for RFC continuity. His safe isolation procedure leaves an awful lot to be desired. Maybe he needs to dance the 230/400 tango to teach him to do it properly

 

[rich.250]

And Ze with bonding connected.....
The effort gone to to do a completely inaccurate zs make me laugh lol.
Glad you agree trev, was beginning to think it was just me haha

 

[trev]

I put a post up on the vid Rich, it'll be interesting to see if he responds

 

[Strima]

So many things wrong with that video unless I've been doing it wrong.

PFC after just testing one phase? Voltpen for safe isolation?

I'm a comparable sparky god next to this bloke... :lol:

 

[rich.250]

Nice trev!! I forgot my YouTube password and after spending ages trying to hack in I have up lol.

He must think he's bloody good, or you wouldn't post a video on a worldwide site would you.....

 

[trev]

We should blast him with comments till he takes the video down

 

[trev]

Nice trev!! I forgot my YouTube password and after spending ages trying to hack in I have up lol.

He must think he's bloody good, or you wouldn't post a video on a worldwide site would you.....

You should be able to view the video from your original link mate, or just make another account. Tell you what though, if I was posting up something like that I'd make bloody sure I got it 100% spot on before hitting that post button.

 

[Silly Sausage]

And you've only been doing it 5 weeks Strima!

 

[rich.250]

Or send him a link to this thread
Obviously he passed the 2391 with flying colours

 

[trev]

I asked him if he had 2391 mate, then told him he needs to go back to college till he learns the correct safe isolation procedure

 

[rich.250]

Lol. Did I see the company name and all on his shirt.......