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Was it done by someone who was deemed Competent, or by a proper Electrician?
Discuss Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views! in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
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Hi Wilko, thanks for that clarification. I understand that a proper, correctly tightened joint with full pressure on the whole of the intended connection is clearly the best situation. I guess either of the scenarios I mentioned will indeed eventually lead to failure in some way or another.
I was also thinking of Wago vs chockbloc...I love Wagos, but I get the feeling that the actual contact area might, depending on conductor size, be quite small on the lever ones, compared with a correctly sized chockbloc where the surface area in contact with the connector might be greater, if properly tightened. Just a thought...
I was also thinking of Wago vs chockbloc...I love Wagos, but I get the feeling that the actual contact area might, depending on conductor size, be quite small on the lever ones, compared with a correctly sized chockbloc where the surface area in contact with the connector might be greater, if properly tightened. Just a thought...
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I'm not sure, I guess I could ask them, but as they don't speak English I don't think they would understand the question...
To be fair the installation was OK for the most part. The design of the installation is certainly good.
E
elsparko
i had a job to inspect a floodlight, hadnt worked for ages, i popped the cover off to check the bulb and out pished about 2litres of water
E
elsparko
same with bollards, is it really above 90% of "electricians" to drill a drainage hole at the bottom of the stem?
i had to fault find on some bollards once after several companies had looked at it, i took off all the covers and jackpot, bollard connections immersed in about 2ft of water, duct had filled with water also so i opted for a re-wire of the 3 bollards
dont know what the other guys had done as far as testing but they couldnt have missed the water in the bollard if they had bothered to inspect them
a small drainage hole and some forethought would have saved the installation, it wasnt even 5 years old
i had to fault find on some bollards once after several companies had looked at it, i took off all the covers and jackpot, bollard connections immersed in about 2ft of water, duct had filled with water also so i opted for a re-wire of the 3 bollards
dont know what the other guys had done as far as testing but they couldnt have missed the water in the bollard if they had bothered to inspect them
a small drainage hole and some forethought would have saved the installation, it wasnt even 5 years old
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This light looked OK, but with low IR on the supply.
Although I did notice an odd dribble of water on the outside.
So I started to investigate and found that the installer had filled the base with expanding foam.
Causing the whole post to fill with water.
Including the junction box half way up.
Yes, it's a connection to SWA. And none of the cable armour in the garden was earthed.
Although I did notice an odd dribble of water on the outside.
So I started to investigate and found that the installer had filled the base with expanding foam.
Causing the whole post to fill with water.
Including the junction box half way up.
Yes, it's a connection to SWA. And none of the cable armour in the garden was earthed.
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A new standard has been set with live action and a fire !
T
Toneyz
Never known filling the base with expanding foam, what was the reasoning for that? The lamp post shouldn't be letting in water.
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True but like any unheated void, the post should be ventilated and drained in case of condensation. That level does look a bit beyond a normal buildup of condensation though!
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No idea why it was filled. Maybe to stop ants, etc., making a nest inside?
My policy with any outdoor stuff is to assume that water will get inside and always drill one or two drain holes (usually a 4.5mm drill) whether the manufacturer's instructions say to or not. With outdoor bulkhead lights, I'll sometimes cut out a small section of the rubber gasket at the bottom edge.
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The problem with that though is ants. I investigated a clients swimming pool area where 3 sets of lights were tripping the RCDs. Each and every bollard (12 in all) was full to the top with an ants nest and damp soil and I had to replace the lot.
Manufacturers instructions take priority and if they don't say to drill a drain hole, then they've designed and made the fitting so it should not need one so I don't.
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For outdoor panels we regularly use a small container with mothballs in it to keep the ants, spiders and even snakes out. Not sure if they're still in favour from an H&S point of view though or whether they've been found to cause cancer or kill dolphins....
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Usual forum posting issue.
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Agree about the ant problem.
I regard manufacturer's instructions as a guide only.
The water seals on equipment may be OK when new, but after they've started to harden and deteriorate, and especially if disturbed, they'll no longer work as designed. So I think that adding drain holes is a sensible move unless there's planned programme of seal replacement, which usually there isn't.
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This shouldn't be read as a challenge @Wilko - not everything is a challenge!
The dolphins shouldn't be messing with your outdoor panels if they don't want to get hurt - seriously, get back in the sea!
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Some of the cheaper end of the range of floods don't have the seal around the edge always seated correctly leading to condensation or ingress of water.
It shouldn't be down to the installer to check the manufacturers workmanship. looks bad on us that have to return to site and replace.
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They were probably going for 'bad spelling" and hit "old" instead - could be worse, could be "dumb" - that would have you cussing!
Reply to Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views! in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
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