Wiring of PIR lights - is this correct?!

Spoon · Apr 28, 2015

Did you not receive a revised quote when you removed the two 400w spotlights? Was any price change mentioned?

davver79 · Apr 28, 2015

Hi - it was mentioned that the quote would be less due to the removal of the 2 additional spotlights.

Thank's! ; )

Spoon · Apr 28, 2015

It all seems very strange.
So when is the electrician coming back?

snowhead · Apr 28, 2015

Spoon said:
It all seems very strange.
So when is the electrician coming back?

When he's had his white stick repainted..

Re cable, if he managed to get a roll of white cable for free then why not run it mostly across the whitish render where it will be less noticeable, instead of across the RED brick.

davver79 · Apr 28, 2015

He had to buy a new roll of white cable for the job, and he is charging me and extra £50 for it!

Loki · Apr 28, 2015

So why did he buy a white light & a black PIR?
He could of just bought a light with a PIR built in.

davver79 · Apr 28, 2015

He advised I bought separate PIR and light. In hindsight I should have questioned it as it looks awful.

Breeze · Apr 28, 2015

Loki said:
So why did he buy a white light & a black PIR?
He could of just bought a light with a PIR built in.

I believe the customer( davber79) bought the lights and pir's so ask him If you think it's relivant

Leesparkykent · Apr 28, 2015

Pvc conduit would look better. Unfortunately he probably would make a hash of that though judging by the work he's already done.

davesparks · Apr 28, 2015

That cable is not suitable for use outside, it is not UV stable or mechanically strong enough for the job. Not to mention its ability to wick water up through the cable by capillary action.
If you look at the bends you can see where it has been bent too tightly and the outer sheath has collapsed into the voids in the cable, this is also not acceptable.
Cable or PVC conduit installed externally should always be black and preferable a tough rubber sheathed cable. There are exceptions to this but they wouldn't be relevant here so I won't go in to it.
I personally would insist that the whole lot be removed and re-done with black TRS flex supported with black P clips and brass screws.

HandySparks · Apr 28, 2015

Separate PIRs (if chosen well) can be more reliable than the ones usually incorporated into light fittings.

In this sort of situation, I tend to use black Hi-Tuff or NYY-J cable, fixed to the wall with small cleats and screws; three or four core as required. Judging by the raked pointing, there's a fair chance that the clips will start falling out before long.

Spoon · Apr 29, 2015

Breeze said:
I believe the customer( davber79) bought the lights and pir's so ask him If you think it's relivant

The OP bought the lights and pir's "on the advice of the electrician" as mentioned in his original post.
Why didn't the electrician buy them?

stevethesparks · Apr 29, 2015

Spoon said:
Why didn't the electrician buy them?

More than likely doesn't have an account and couldn't afford them, the cable he probably nicked off site or off of someone.

Spoon · Apr 29, 2015

OP: Is the electrician giving you an electrical certificate for the work he has carried out?

richy3333 · Apr 29, 2015

Spoon said:
OP: Is the electrician giving you an electrical certificate for the work he has carried out?

I'd love to see that and the invoice!

Shambollock work. Pay nothing and make him do it again properly. hituff and/or conduit for me.

Lou7 · Apr 29, 2015

Don't think he'd like black cable clipped up his white walls!!

Deleted member 9648 · Apr 29, 2015

I cant help but wonder why anyone who was going to do it that way would fix the box halfway down thw wall when it could have tucked up high and saved all those loops of cable,anyone with an ounce of common sense........Oh,hang on,think I've answered my own question there.

HandySparks · Apr 29, 2015

wirepuller said:
I cant help but wonder why anyone who was going to do it that way would fix the box halfway down thw wall when it could have tucked up high and saved all those loops of cable,anyone with an ounce of common sense........Oh,hang on,think I've answered my own question there.

It's possible that that's where the supply comes through the wall. I quite often have to (or choose to) do this, especially if it's a short cable which used to feed an old outside light.

tony mc · Apr 29, 2015

Re the supply have a closer look at the box doesnt look like it comes through the back it looks like it comes from the corner where he has drilled a hole !

Even if you squint your eyes it still looks a total mess !

davver79 · Apr 29, 2015

Thanks for all the replies! Some good advice that I can arm myself with when he returns tomorrow.

I am confused as to why there is so much cable being used and why he's not just gone straight into the light without going all around the houses. Is he trying to use more cable so I have to pay more??!

The supply comes from the cellar where he has drilled a hole through the wall. This then goes into the junction box.

Please can you confirm that this cable is definitely not suitable for this work? He did insist that this cable had to be used, and I had to pay an extra £50 for the pleasure.

Some more images for you showing how the clips have now come out of the wall. The cable is so thick the tension has pulled the nails out.

For the other light he has just clipped the cable to another existing cable that was already there.