Tel's Training Tips - Education Tels Way

[telectrix]

This month's Tel's Tip.

Ever been about to fit some pvc conduit and found you've not got your bending spring?????

Panic not.

Cuts 4 pieces of 10mm GN/Y singles to be long enough to go past where you want the bend. insert into tube , warm tube with hair dryer or friction, bend over knee or whatever method you prefer. remove bits of cable. Job done. ( this is for 20mm tube. work it out yourself for 25mm ).

 

[Dave OCD]

I'm sure you all do this anyway but if fitting a shower pull switch [other than Crabtree] keep your cable inner cores as short as you can certainly shorter than the depth of the mounting box then when connected ease the cables back up into the void above and the switch will go up to the box without having to wrestle with it, especially relevant with 10mm cable.

 

[David M]

I'm sure you all do this anyway but if fitting a shower pull switch [other than Crabtree] keep your cable inner cores as short as you can certainly shorter than the depth of the mounting box then when connected ease the cables back up into the void above and the switch will go up to the box without having to wrestle with it, especially relevant with 10mm cable.

I tried explaining this to one of my apprentice lads. He just didn't get it at all, after half a dozen attempts he gave up and threw a tantrum. I just calmly took over the job and finished it right in front of him in less than a couple of minutes. He calmed down and had his tail between his legs for the rest of the day.

 

[David M]

So based on this post my tip is ;- keep things as simple as possible, a minutes thought can save a hours labour.

 

[Dave OCD]

Spot on David, I often say that to my apprentice [and son] , of course being nearly 18 he knows everything but we get there in the end.

 

[David M]

I'm sure you all do this anyway but if fitting a shower pull switch [other than Crabtree] keep your cable inner cores as short as you can certainly shorter than the depth of the mounting box then when connected ease the cables back up into the void above and the switch will go up to the box without having to wrestle with it, especially relevant with 10mm cable.

This method, for you trainee's out there, also reduces the strain on the connections you would normally experience when folding cables back into a box. This is highly relevant and important because poorly fitted shower switches are notorious for having loose connections, thus increasing risk of arching, failure or fire.

 

[Dave OCD]

I bet I replace half a dozen every year that have failed and burned out internally.

 

[ruston]

So based on this post my tip is ;- keep things as simple as possible, a minutes thought can save a hours labour.

I learned a lot from my Dad from an early age . One of his sayings was when weighing the job up was " ten minutes thought is worth two hours work". He was right too.

 

[westward10]

Thread reopened at Tels request.

 

[telectrix]

Thread reopened at Tels request.

Broken back box lug? drill 6mm hole in back of box, directly behind broken lug. then 5.5mm masonry bit into brick/block. insert red rawlplug, then get a pin extender with a faceplate 3.5mm pin in it, screw into rawlplug till tight ( sometimes a bit of supergue on the thread may be advantageous) then with pliers on the hex. of the extender, remove 3.5mm pin. ready to fix faceplate and looks better than a thin woodscrew.

edit: and thanks to westie for re-opening this old thread.

 

[Baddegg]

Just to clarify @telectrix....you forgot ya bending spring but took a hairdryer?.....

Ps. Nice tip though it’s stuff like that that can only come from experience

 

[telectrix]

Just to clarify @telectrix....you forgot ya bending spring but took a hairdryer?.....

Ps. Nice tip though it’s stuff like that that can only come from experience

I always carry a chef's butane torch for heatshrink. good for pvc tube as long as don't get too close.

 

[telectrix]

not got 3 hands for light fixture? simple tip is use a cable tie to support the fitting while you connect up. depending on the space available the tie can be cut off or better , left there for future use, if the fitting ever needs to be dropped for painting ceiling.

 

[baza890]

good tips h