Complete shambles.

[Leesparkykent]

]Went to survey a job for a pv install today and came across this mess lol.

edit: sorted

 

[Darkwood]

Its your end ...if you open your paint software load the pic and save it, it usually loads the right way up..have this issue myself, are you using a galaxy phone by any chance.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Its your end ...if you open your paint software load the pic and save it, it usually loads the right way up..have this issue myself, are you using a galaxy phone by any chance.

No I'm on an IPad so don't really know how to turn it around, well annoying!

 

[Darkwood]

No I'm on an IPad so don't really know how to turn it around, well annoying!

You just left the goal open there for an answer but I refuse to comment .....:49:

 

[ipf]

Can you rotate 180 on your ipad and give it another go.....?

 

[ruston]

Went to survey a job for a pv install today and came across this mess lol.

edit: don't know why the photo loaded upside down, could one of the mods turn it round please if poss.

Hope this work for you

 

[ruston]

Lol snap.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Photo is correct way round now lol.

 

[Knobhead]

That is bad but you must have seen the like of it before.

Out of interest, where are you going to connect the PV array in?

 

[uksparks]

Its when someone calls you and says they need a new consumer unit, you turn up and find that, I always start scratching my head thinking why are things never straight forward! It should be easy enough on this to tidy up if thats what you are doing, I think there's more chance of faults on the circuits that a problem mounting a new board.

 

[snowhead]

Well at least there are only 6 ? circuits and I see there's no seal on the Henley block.

Looks pretty standard for the time it was done, 60's?

 

[Leesparkykent]

That is bad but you must have seen the like of it before.

Out of interest, where are you going to connect the PV array in?

Yes definitely seen the likes of this before. I think what got me was the customers attitude towards it when I said it needs replacing/tidying up I got the typical "it's been fine all the time I've lived here and I've been here 26 years". I've priced it to replace the lot with a high integrity board and will put the PV on a 16 A mcb or rcbo depending on installation method on the main switch side. Tbh I probably won't even get the job as no doubt some other firm will go in and price just to install a sub board off the Henley block that is there and I got the feeling off the customer that only the cheapest will do.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Well at least there are only 6 ? circuits and I see there's no seal on the Henley block.

Looks pretty standard for the time it was done, 60's?

I tried finding the cover for the 1st 3way 3036 board but that was no where to be seen, all the cpc's are twisted together in to a 30 A connector block (not that they would do much anyway as there is no main earthing conductor).


The Henley block load side of the meter is sealed but that's no bother. The only decent thing about it is the DNO have replaced the cut out and have provided a suppliers earth ready to be connected in to.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Its when someone calls you and says they need a new consumer unit, you turn up and find that, I always start scratching my head thinking why are things never straight forward! It should be easy enough on this to tidy up if thats what you are doing, I think there's more chance of faults on the circuits that a problem mounting a new board.

Definitely.

 

[PEG]

Yes definitely seen the likes of this before. I think what got me was the customers attitude towards it when I said it needs replacing/tidying up I got the typical "it's been fine all the time I've lived here and I've been here 26 years". I've priced it to replace the lot with a high integrity board and will put the PV on a 16 A mcb or rcbo depending on installation method on the main switch side. Tbh I probably won't even get the job as no doubt some other firm will go in and price just to install a sub board off the Henley block that is there and I got the feeling off the customer that only the cheapest will do.

Whenever i get that logic-free statement,i always tell the client the other side of that coin,and say "What never works,till it works,then never works?"....
you usually get a minute or two whilst you further probe their antique install,then they ask "Go on then,what is it?"....

You can then turn off your torch,step back from their intake with a pensive look,and reply "A Bomb".

I have lost the ability to be amazed,at the condition of some intake arrangements and their owners treatment of same....

I visited a large industrial unit,i know well,and was intrigued to find the reason why the incomer,switchgear,meters and fusing, were all dripping wet...A 1M by 3M array of MEM,BILL and GEC boxes,400A TP....A roof leak? Maybe a flood?

No,they had removed the cupboard around it,to open up another 150mm access at the door,found it to be very dusty (installed in 60's),and pressure washed the lot,from top to bottom! :dunce2:

 

[Tidy Max]

Whenever i get that logic-free statement,i always tell the client the other side of that coin,and say "What never works,till it works,then never works?"....
you usually get a minute or two whilst you further probe their antique install,then they ask "Go on then,what is it?"....

You can then turn off your torch,step back from their intake with a pensive look,and reply "A Bomb".

I have lost the ability to be amazed,at the condition of some intake arrangements and their owners treatment of same....

I visited a large industrial unit,i know well,and was intrigued to find the reason why the incomer,switchgear,meters and fusing, were all dripping wet...A 1M by 3M array of MEM,BILL and GEC boxes,400A TP....A roof leak? Maybe a flood?

No,they had removed the cupboard around it,to open up another 150mm access at the door,found it to be very dusty (installed in 60's),and pressure washed the lot,from top to bottom! :dunce2:

My reply is usually "Well Harold Shipman worked for years too".

 

[GB.Kayak]

]Went to survey a job for a pv install today and came across this mess lol.

edit: sorted

... no burnt neutrals, check; no melting plastic enclosures, check; fuses in line only, check; double pole isolation, check; ... come on L, what on earth is your problem?

Note to all, I hadn't looked closely and noticed the 'lack of earthing' when I wrote the above!

 

[Leesparkykent]

... no burnt neutrals, check; no melting plastic enclosures, check; fuses in line only, check; double pole isolation, check; ... come on L, what on earth is your problem?

No main earth, no lid to 3way 3036 board amongst many other things! I can pass the customer your details if you like? I'll tell them I've found a numpty that is more than happy to install a new circuit with no cert. :icon12:

 

[Diddy]

I often wondered if taking a flyer round with the stats that show deaths last year in domestic dwellings from electrical fires caused by "aged" installations which have never been checked and have had all sorts added too over the years ect ect. It would probably be looked upon as scare mongering lol.

 

[ruston]

Think he meant that tongue in cheek Lee, that's the way I took it.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Think he meant that tongue in cheek Lee, that's the way I took it.

My bad lol, sorry GB.Kayak.

 

[telectrix]

typical installation in the farms round here. the 3036 fuses usually have a chunk of 1.5mm copper as a fuse, if, at some time, an innocent sparks has fitted a RCD, it will be bridged with whatever's handy, and all the livestock will tread warily.

 

[ruston]

Farm near me, like walking back in time. 3036 box no cover on, big hole in the shed roof right above it and the ip rating is a rotting fertilizer bag. TT no earth whatsoever.

 

[GB.Kayak]

No main earth, no lid to 3way 3036 board amongst many other things! I can pass the customer your details if you like? I'll tell them I've found a numpty that is more than happy to install a new circuit with no cert. :icon12:

I don't think that your customer would stomach the travel and subsistence costs! I find it interesting that so much effort is being invested to 'upgrade' 'historical' installations that may go on for years, 'safely' delivering their function, yet statistically a 'new' installation may appear much riskier. Though I imagine not in your capable hands L. It would be interesting, though I suspect very difficult to achieve, to look at current safety statistics from the perspectives of the 'age' of the installation and how much 'modification' has taken place.

 

[GB.Kayak]

Think he meant that tongue in cheek Lee, that's the way I took it.

I did very much so. However, like all insurance policies, you pays your money and takes your choice ... and do make sure that you read ALL the small print. At this point in time, although not compliant, the installation seems to be doing its job and has to the best of our knowledge not killed or injured someone ... YET!

 

[GB.Kayak]

My bad lol, sorry GB.Kayak.

No 'bad', no kayakers were hurt in the penning of this thread ... YET!

 

[Leesparkykent]

No 'bad', no kayakers were hurt in the penning of this thread ... YET!

It must be the thought of officially having a ball and chain placed round my ankle in 3 weeks time that's making me tense lol.

 

[telectrix]

lamb to the slaughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE

 

[GB.Kayak]

It must be the thought of officially having a ball and chain placed round my ankle in 3 weeks time that's making me tense lol.

... looked at that way ... one wonders why you have chosen this course of action ... in my case, it is 20 years since we first met at Kingston Kayak Club in Hull. Though at this time it feels like climbing an overhanging cliff, and every day something is pushing us apart, the value of committing every day afresh to one another is what keeps both of us going!

 

[Knobhead]

It must be the thought of officially having a ball and chain placed round my ankle in 3 weeks time that's making me tense lol.

That’s what my EX-wife thought.

 

[Deleted member 72666]

]Went to survey a job for a pv install today and came across this mess lol.

edit: sorted

It could be fun if that collapsible dog crate gets knocked over!

 

[GB.Kayak]

No main earth, no lid to 3way 3036 board amongst many other things! I can pass the customer your details if you like? I'll tell them I've found a numpty that is more than happy to install a new circuit with no cert. :icon12:

Is that yellow and green wire, I'd hate to say 'earth' or 'bond' connected to a water or a gas pipe?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Is that yellow and green wire, I'd hate to say 'earth' or 'bond' connected to a water or a gas pipe?

It's On the flow or return of the central heating I think lol.

 

[GB.Kayak]

It must be the thought of officially having a ball and chain placed round my ankle in 3 weeks time that's making me tense lol.

I won't say good luck ... but it helps to be thinking ahead with understanding of your partner, whenever you make decisions ... You will still get it wrong almost all the time! ;o)

 

[Knobhead]

It could be fun if that collapsible dog crate gets knocked over!

Makes a change that you can even see what’s in there. My ex was a sod for piling junk in the meter cupboard until she knocked something over and smashed one of the CU’s. I was at work so she gets another electrician to sort it before I found out.

All went well, I never noticed, other than the cupboard had been cleared out. She thought she’d got away with it until I was talking to the electrician in the pub and he said I owed him a couple of pints. The story came out then.

No I didn’t check his work, I’d known him for 15 years. I’d done similar work for him while he was away. The joys of village life, people actually helped each other.