Please ensure your electrics are up to date!!!!!!!!!

mttylad

dwarvenassassin wrote: »

No one has said you cannot do your own plumbing, but then it isn't going to kill you if you get it wrong.

I don't know how many times I have to say this, a fault on the water will only get you wet, a fault with the wiring could kill you or someone else.

Not 100% true really, poor plumbing could introduce stuff into the water which can then be drunk & eventually kill. For instance not using non return valves. :rolleyes:

:D

PArt P & electrical regulations "are" good, it's good to try and keep the numpties away from it, heaven knows I have found enough dangerous situations in the house I bought that I have had to rectify.

The big problems I see are that the government wants people to work to specific standards yet will no give them to them unless they pay a high fee and they also want people to report almost everything to the LABC who charge high fees for simple jobs & never honour their responsibility to test unless paid more.

As for the deaths, I wonder how many were actually from dodgy extension leads, damaged plugs etc - things that are not covered by the regulations nor could have been dealt with by a qualified electrician when installing fixed wiring?


My iniial question on this thread was to ask what regs because if someone is going to quote the law then IMHO they should quote the law, the act, the regulation.
Not just say "the law says so"

roblesmandy

I like it!

I am some sort of electricman also, so I really relate on your advice.
thanks a lot

Mary_Hartnell

Taken from the local rag - which of these courses would I have to take to be allowed to install my washing machine?

3737.50 - 10 week level 2 intensive course.
325.00 - 17th Edition wiring regulations
135.00 - 17th Edition wiring regulations update
325.00 - Fundamental inspection & testing
475.00 - Inspection testing & certification
135.00 - PAT testing.
75.00 - 1/2 day inspection & testing workshop.

http://www.tcsvs.co.uk trading as "Eversafe Training Consultants".

This is the sort of thing that used to be available at the local night school for say 10 quid a lesson. Taught by enthusiasts, making a bit extra in their spare time.

dwarvenassassin

Mary_Hartnell wrote: »

Taken from the local rag - which of these courses would I have to take to be allowed to install my washing machine?

3737.50 - 10 week level 2 intensive course.
325.00 - 17th Edition wiring regulations
135.00 - 17th Edition wiring regulations update
325.00 - Fundamental inspection & testing
475.00 - Inspection testing & certification
135.00 - PAT testing.
75.00 - 1/2 day inspection & testing workshop.

http://www.tcsvs.co.uk trading as "Eversafe Training Consultants".

This is the sort of thing that used to be available at the local night school for say 10 quid a lesson. Taught by enthusiasts, making a bit extra in their spare time.

Washing machines come fitted with 13A BS1362 plugs. If you feel you need a training course in how to use this, then I pity you.

Mary_Hartnell

Actually my washing machine is hard wired into an isolating switch with a neon - a bit like an electric cooker. Perhaps that is because it is in a bathroom.

My point further up in the thread was suppose you needed an extra socket. One for the dryer and one for the washing machine perhaps?
The obvious solution is to pay lots of money to a tradesman or wrap a nice thick layer of tin foil round the fuse and plug both into the adapter.

Freefall

In the current market I have two questions:
1.) How much would it roughly cost to get the RCD (i.e. an "all in price" - parts + labour)
2.) (and considering that the whole idea of this work is to ensure safety and potentially save lives)... What should one look for to ensure that the job will be done by someone who knows what their doing.

Ohh... and here's a third... r there any pitfalls to be wary of wen getting these installed?

dwarvenassassin

Freefall wrote: »

In the current market I have two questions:
1.) How much would it roughly cost to get the RCD (i.e. an "all in price" - parts + labour)
2.) (and considering that the whole idea of this work is to ensure safety and potentially save lives)... What should one look for to ensure that the job will be done by someone who knows what their doing.

Ohh... and here's a third... r there any pitfalls to be wary of wen getting these installed?

1 - It varies from area to area (more expensive near london than near liverpool for example) but is dependant on a lot of factors regarding the existing installation so cannot give a price.
2 - I recommend NAPIT approved Electricians or a personally recommended (ie. by a friend) NICEIC Approved Contractor (I do not recommend NICEIC Domestic Installers). If you visit www.napit.org.uk you can find a NAPIT spark in your area. Which ever you use, get a range of quotes and do not assume cheapest is best.
3 - RCDs are often blamed for causing faults after they are fitted when in reality they are showing up existing faults that were not apparent earlier.
Also, if you need a new consumer unit and go for the twin-RCD, split-load consumer units you have the issue of an RCD covering multiple circuits which can make fault finding difficult and increase the nuisance value of any fault. I would recommend using RCBOs (one per circuit) as this method is comparable in price.

gromituk

Surely an RCBO is comparable in price to an RCD but the overall cost is greater because you need them for every circuit?

mttylad

gromituk wrote: »

Surely an RCBO is comparable in price to an RCD but the overall cost is greater because you need them for every circuit?

I think the poster meant that it is comparable in price when you take the extra costs of fault finding & curing into account.

It is certainly a better option though, wish I could afford them for every circuit

gromituk

Well it's certainly cheaper (and prettier) if it means you don't have to equipotential bond your bathroom!