Advice wanted - unhappy with rewire

[Sarah123]

Hi all

Hoping I could get some independent advice on here. We've just bought our first property and had to get a full house rewire on the property (3 bed semi). Our electricians had finished the work within 2 days (2 electricians working on it). When asked when they were coming back, they said they didn't need to come back for a second fix as they'd finished it all. As we didn't know any better, we assumed all was fine and paid up because that said they wouldn't give paperwork till payment was made.

Since then, we have had a few issues. Our plasterer has been really surprised at the poor standard of work - they have had to plaster around all sockets and spotlights in kitchen.

1. The holes made to put in the sockets are generally quite a bit larger than the face of the external socket casing.
2. One of the sockets had a loose wire that was not connected when the plasterer was plastering around.
3. Another socket melted the builder's plug (smoke coming out as well), but didn't activate the trip switch.
4. An armoured cable they put in to light the garage is coming out of the consumer unit and through the floorboards in the bedroom in front of (rather than behind) the skirting board.
5. No paperwork 3 weeks after despite chasing him for this before everything else happened.

Would really appreciate any feedback as not sure if these are common or we really are within our rights to be taking this further? We tried contacting the electrician a couple of days ago, but he's not able to come till Monday evening, but his general response is telling me that he's blaming the plasterer's work.

Thanks!

 

[Astris]

the purpose of separating the cpc's into separate terminals is in case 1 becomes loose or snapped, you'll still have earthing (protective and functional) to equipment .

Yes, I understand what you are saying and don't dispute the point. If you think about it, one or two terminals can suffer the same fate.

I was trying to explain why problems can occur with RCD protection on modern equipment (e.g. computers with switched mode PSUs drawing several amps at 230V) - by design, current will flow through the cpc and unbalance the RCD. Not everybody understands that.

 

[telectrix]

agree with some leakage on IT eqwuipment, but each item should typically have a leakage current of 3 - 4 mA. this will only upset a RCD if too many items are on 1 RCD.

 

[AJshep]

Yes, I understand what you are saying and don't dispute the point. If you think about it, one or two terminals can suffer the same fate.

I was trying to explain why problems can occur with RCD protection on modern equipment (e.g. computers with switched mode PSUs drawing several amps at 230V) - by design, current will flow through the cpc and unbalance the RCD. Not everybody understands that.

I think this is maybe what Stuey was getting at when he stated 543.7.2 but this is a separate issue. We generally work through the regs book and earth leakage is mentioned previously in 531.3.2 , we should select the correct type of RCD for the installation as per 531.3.4

You are right in what you say, this is becoming more of an issue.
But on the other hand this is different issue to putting two CPC of a Domestic RFC in the same terminal, especially where most of the switching PSUs will most likely be small types like phone chargers which are mostly double insulated phone chargers.

 

[Pete999]

We are talking about high integrity earthing are we not? I'll wait for an answer before I carry on, if that's OK.

 

[Astris]

We are talking about high integrity earthing are we not? I'll wait for an answer before I carry on, if that's OK.

Probably should continue under a new thread?

 

[Astris]

But on the other hand this is different issue to putting two CPC of a Domestic RFC in the same terminal, especially where most of the switching PSUs will most likely be small types like phone chargers which are mostly double insulated phone chargers.

Yes, I agree.

Would you consider a domestic installation as unlikely to need consideration for high integrity earthing unless there is a specific reason (e.g. medical equipment)?

 

[Pete999]

Yes, I agree.

Would you consider a domestic installation as unlikely to need consideration for high integrity earthing unless there is a specific reason (e.g. medical equipment)?

No not unless the copulative earth leakage current exceeded 10mA Regulation 543.7.1

 

[DPG]

Copulative leakage. Brill

 

[Pete999]

Copulative leakage. Brill

For that read cumulative, predictive text, my foot sorry all for the gaff.

 

[ruston]

Copulative leakage. Brill

I have an answer for that but I have never had a warning so far.

 

[Pete999]

I have an answer for that but I have never had a warning so far.

Always a first time Mate

 

[AJshep]

Would you consider a domestic installation as unlikely to need consideration for high integrity earthing unless there is a specific reason (e.g. medical equipment)?

Yes, if a circuit was intended to supply alot of high earth leakage equipment or upon measurement leaked 10mA or more then I would protect that circuit/ split accordingly eg. with type A/B RCD. And high integrity earthing.
But like you mentioned this would most likley be Radials with a seperate earth run as a ring.

I dont think its really necessary to install high integrity earthing in most domestic cases, but it is important to protect with the right type RCD to avoid nuisance tripping, and make sure the RCD would not be effected by the leakage and operate correctly

 

[Toneyz]

For that read cumulative, predictive text, my foot sorry all for the gaff.

Where is that bad spelling button that you keep on using on my posts?

 

[Midwest]

Where is that bad spelling button that you keep on using on my posts?

Tempting isn't it.

 

[Pete999]

Where is that bad spelling button that you keep on using on my posts?

Ah well someone else got in first Ant, so damage control has been activated, better luck next time, I'll be waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pete999]

Tempting isn't it.

Yes very, as are the dislike and disagree but you get far to much flak when hitting those two.

 

[Pete999]

Tempting isn't it.

Yes very, as are the dislike and disagree but you get far to much flak when hitting those two.

 

[ipf]

Yes very, as are the dislike and disagree but you get far to much flak when hitting those two.

Nearly as much as repeating messages, Pedro

 

[Pete999]

Nearly as much as repeating messages, Pedro

I'm not the only one with this problem.

 

[Toneyz]

Ah well someone else got in first Ant, so damage control has been activated, better luck next time, I'll be waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Probably not for long.And you have put one too many spaces between control and has.

 

[Pete999]

Probably not for long.And you have put one too many spaces between control and has.

No I haven't keep trying.

 

[ipf]

I'm not the only one with this problem.

Yep, I have the odd prob, too...…..
Just blame it on the specs.
Just delete one?

 

[electrix]

Hi Sarah, the chasing is certainly untidy and if the wall had crumbled away I would have plastered around the sockets myself before second fixing. The wire should not have come out of the socket even with it being moved around. The melted socket is more than likely down to what the builder plugged in(to much load). Certificate needs to be issued within 25 days (NICEIC) and should have been registered online.
On the upside they have used MK gear which is generally better quality.

 

[telectrix]

MK gear is crap.

 

[EalingBadger]

MK gear is crap.

An increasingly prevalent opinion.

Could you put some meat on those bones?

 

[Des 56]

An increasingly prevalent opinion.

Could you put some meat on those bones?

In times of old MK stood for quality with robust and long lasting equipment
Its domestic range these days (and for the last 20 years) has stood for Mediocre (crap) Kit

 

[Midwest]

IMO MK stuff is quite well put together; some of their terminal screws aren't so good and leaning mcb’s. But the rests ok, and they look good.

There's a lot else there thats much worse.

 

[123]

IMO MK stuff is quite well put together; some of their terminal screws aren't so good and leaning mcb’s. But the rests ok, and they look good.

There's a lot else there thats much worse.

There's also a lot else that's much better

 

[Midwest]

There's also a lot else that's much better

What, and how much better; name your enemy of choice, we are all friends here . Quite like the Click Scholmore range, but still think the MK stuff (talking basic white plastic) looks………………………………………………………...nice!

 

[ipf]

Been installing plenty MK Aspect top of the range, flat plate on one job. No problems....but still much prefer the Schneider 'Ultimate' (GET) range.....a bit cheaper, better to work with and better looking, for me. Class stuff.