Fuse box installed for £150 what!!!

[jamie-spark]

No just your usual domestic house with say ten or 12 circuits on it.

Like i said im not allowed to sign off test certs so usually an approved spark comes at my back to test the boadr any problems and i return to rectify them.

Visual inspection doesn't take too long a quick look around the existing board and a sample of sockets, switches and light fittings to check the general condition of the wiring and bonding of course any visible faults are fixed at an additional cost depending on the time they take although generally houses i have worked in have all been in good condition with nothing like borrowed neutrals etc.

And no needaspaks my work is not like spaghetti, guess im unlike yourself in that i do not hang a job out and prefer to get straight down to business.

Would also like to point out that my cheapness is what has gained me repeat custom from the 4 guys (all landlords with multiple properties) i get most of my private jobs from and what gains me more jobs through word of mouth.

Im talking about private jobs as i do not run my own sparky company nor am i self employed

Why are you notallowed to sign installation certs off? you do not need any qualifications tocertify work ,you just need to be a competant person and this can be done byproving (if need be) relevent nvq level 3 ect ect 2391 ect


- - - Updated - - -

No just your usual domestic house with say ten or 12 circuits on it.

Like i said im not allowed to sign off test certs so usually an approved spark comes at my back to test the boadr any problems and i return to rectify them.

Visual inspection doesn't take too long a quick look around the existing board and a sample of sockets, switches and light fittings to check the general condition of the wiring and bonding of course any visible faults are fixed at an additional cost depending on the time they take although generally houses i have worked in have all been in good condition with nothing like borrowed neutrals etc.

And no needaspaks my work is not like spaghetti, guess im unlike yourself in that i do not hang a job out and prefer to get straight down to business.

Would also like to point out that my cheapness is what has gained me repeat custom from the 4 guys (all landlords with multiple properties) i get most of my private jobs from and what gains me more jobs through word of mouth.

Im talking about private jobs as i do not run my own sparky company nor am i self employed

Why are you notallowed to sign installation certs off? you do not need any qualifications tocertify work ,you just need to be a competant person and this can be done byproving (if need be) relevent nvq level 3 ect ect 2391 ect

 

[Guitarist]

i tell you what, standards must be going downhill fast. i cant beleive it took you ALL day! I bet you had to do a written test and everything!

You will know when the profession is in trouble, as the tests will be multiple-choice....

 

[getgraham]

I work in the south-west. Self employed sole trader. I change a ten way CCU for approx £300, tested and certified. I allow a day but it usually takes 4 - 6 hours. I buy the CCU's from B&Q or Screwfix (same retailer) for £50-60 as wholesalers such as CEF charge me £70+ trade price (eh?). Even with extras such as earth bonding I make £200 per change which is a fair days pay for a fair days technical work.

Compared to a plumber who charges £1,000 in labour for a boiler change it's cheap.

 

[electric will]

Shame we can't set a job up in a house and get one of these £150 cu changes in, all on camera and see what we get

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Shame we can't set a job up in a house and get one of these £150 cu changes in, all on camera and see what we get

If you want a real laugh, go back and read post 21 in this thread, get his 'mate' to install one, then I bet you would like to see that in action!!

 

[electric will]

21 mins I'd still be identifying the circuits

 

[Strima]

21 mins I'd still be identifying the circuits

I'd only be halfway through my cup of tea and morning smoke...

 

[ipf]

I'd only be halfway through my cup of tea and morning smoke...

....and that's not allowing for setting your stopwatch

 

[electric will]

I don't see why there's such a big race when dong cu's I allow all day, if I get done by 3 then that's great, bet most of these that rush/short cut them only go home or pub after anyway

 

[mec]

£150 is just not realistic for the complete job and should not be taken seriously. £150 is probably for labour only, and may be excluding Vat, and is probably only the starting price. Ask the same company for a definite detailed quote for a replacement including all labour, materials, paperwork and vat then see what the real charge is. An estimated £150 for replacing a CU does not tell anyone whats included in the price and whats not!

Most people don't have a clue about electrics so will believe anything that they are told £150 just gets their attention and draws them in like throwing bait to catch fish.

You normally find the end price doubles (at least).

If anyone want's to fit a CU for £150, Crabtree 10 way CU with RCD's etc including labour materials testing vat and all paperwork including in the £150 anything else that may crop up with changing the unit then get in touch. I'll sign you up to a contract and be laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[imago]

It's not just the electrical tradethat is suffering from this type of male bovine effluent quoting. As an example there's an ad on eBay now for plastering in the Birmingham area, offering a 12" by 12" room skimmed, walls and ceiling for £150 all in. That's a full days work for anyone. OK the materials aren't dear, probably £50 in plaster and PVA. So that leaves £100 for the platerer and his labourer plus all the costs (tools, van, insurances, workwear, tax etc etc).

You don't have to be a business finance expert to realise either they aren't insured, paying tax etc. Or, the actual cost is going to be much higher.

Anyone thick or greedy enough to want work doing at those sort of prices for ANY trade deserves everything they get.

 

[Guitarist]

Anyone thick or greedy enough to want work doing at those sort of prices for ANY trade deserves everything they get.

It is hard to feel sorry for people who pay a builder or plumber to change their CU on the cheap, let alone a pretend electrician, then moan when they get no certificates and the RCD's keep tripping....

 

[richy3333]

It is hard to feel sorry for people who pay a builder or plumber to change their CU on the cheap, let alone a pretend electrician, then moan when they get no certificates and the RCD's keep tripping....

yep, buy cheap, buy twice

 

[BigAndyB]

Well for £150, i'd do my neighbours board, but, only if it was to upgrade an old 4 way wirelex board!!
And i would go as next door but one, but for that money, no further.

£75 callout and first hour
£35 p/h after.

Well at these prices, i maintain return customers, and happy ones at that.

Unlike the stella, i don't think I'm reassuringly expensive.

 

[rich.250]

Fuseboard Supplied And Fitted And Tested Hager Wylex Crabtree Mk Niceic Register | eBay

nearly as bad!!

Sounds like thet are going to do a condition report for a install??
might just be me

 

[ipf]

Fuseboard Supplied And Fitted And Tested Hager Wylex Crabtree Mk Niceic Register | eBay

nearly as bad!!

Sounds like thet are going to do a condition report for a install??
might just be me

Desperate for work,IMO.

 

[Octopus]

Fuseboard Supplied And Fitted And Tested Hager Wylex Crabtree Mk Niceic Register | eBay

nearly as bad!!

Sounds like thet are going to do a condition report for a install??
might just be me

Mentions certificates, doesn't mention LABC/Part P

No mention of bonding either.

Madness - having said that who would "buy" this sort of service without meeting the person/company first?

 

[Guitarist]

Mentions certificates, doesn't mention LABC/Part P

No mention of bonding either.

Madness - having said that who would "buy" this sort of service without meeting the person/company first?

I wonder how many CU's get sold every weekend by the DIY chains? I bet it's in the hundreds nationwide, and only a small % sold will be to part P registered electricians. This firm could be just an odd-job-man for all we know.
I come across installs carried out by plumbers and builders too, all the time, but nobody really seems to care.

 

[rich.250]

I wonder how many CU's get sold every weekend by the DIY chains? I bet it's in the hundreds nationwide, and only a small % sold will be to part P registered electricians. This firm could be just an odd-job-man for all we know.
I come across installs carried out by plumbers and builders too, all the time, but nobody really seems to care.

Saving Money comes before safety for the majority of people!! Lol

 

[Guitarist]

Saving Money comes before safety for the majority of people!! Lol

I was referring to the authorities not really caring

 

[rich.250]

Oh missed that sorry.
They don't have a reason to care though. IMO.
It's not there safety on the line is it..?

 

[dpiers1980]

that consumer unit pic gave me wood nice an neat no copper showing top job

 

[gonefishing]

Firstly, Is this a CU change? looks like a first install as the wiring colours are up to date.... that's a bit suspicious. next the cable outer sheafs don't enter the enclosure as you can see the CPC coverings exiting the enclosure... and so many circuits not on RCD or RCCB , so it's not to 17the edition un less the unprotected circuits are all visible or run in conduit etc. the incoming tails really give it away as they are very scruffy and are "strained" and not in a natural position.
Before sending images perhaps it's best to ask a decent electrician for some advice,. And pretending you can do all this for £150 and still not get it correct...someone is pulling something and it smells like "....****"

 

[dpiers1980]

what? I think you have issues mate

 

[MDJ]

I did a db change today actually, a 5 and 5 split dual rcd board, took me 3 hours in total and it had 7 circuits, I also had to whack a rod in the ground as the meb tns earth had deteriated, all in all a simple job, the board was 50 quid from city electrical and I renewed the main earth and tails, 200 quid is enough in reality, but I charged 300, why not?

 

[rich.250]

Firstly, Is this a CU change? looks like a first install as the wiring colours are up to date.... that's a bit suspicious. next the cable outer sheafs don't enter the enclosure as you can see the CPC coverings exiting the enclosure... and so many circuits not on RCD or RCCB , so it's not to 17the edition un less the unprotected circuits are all visible or run in conduit etc. the incoming tails really give it away as they are very scruffy and are "strained" and not in a natural position.
Before sending images perhaps it's best to ask a decent electrician for some advice,. And pretending you can do all this for £150 and still not get it correct...someone is pulling something and it smells like "....****"

Plus the cables aren't In the right terminals!!!

 

[Dan23584]

I did a db change today actually, a 5 and 5 split dual rcd board, took me 3 hours in total and it had 7 circuits, I also had to whack a rod in the ground as the meb tns earth had deteriated, all in all a simple job, the board was 50 quid from city electrical and I renewed the main earth and tails, 200 quid is enough in reality, but I charged 300, why not?

Is that 3 hours including testing the 7 circuits?

 

[MDJ]

yep, it didn't take long, all the existing cables reached very easily and the actual board took an hour and a half, it took a half hour to whack a rod in the ground and clip the earth wire to the board and an hour to test the 7 circuits, the house was vertually empty and I didn't have to unplug hardly anything, I will fill the test sheets in tommorrow when I get home, all results and the DB schedule was written in my pad, I just have to fill the sheets in tommorrow and notify building control, admittedly it was easy this time, they are all different arn't they?

 

[Dan23584]

Not sure I could test 7 circuits in 30 mins, I suppose it depends on the limitations agreed with the client. If you add on cost and time to fill in the test sheets and certify too then £300 fair. Did your fit one of those BG board that CEF now stock?

 

[Octopus]

Not sure I could test 7 circuits in 30 mins, I suppose it depends on the limitations agreed with the client. If you add on cost and time to fill in the test sheets and certify too then £300 fair. Did your fit one of those BG board that CEF now stock?

I don't think its possible to test 7 circuits in 30 minutes - thats 4 mins 30 seconds per circuit!

PLUS I see you've not done your certs or notify either which I include in my timescales as a cu change isn't complete till thats done, and it all adds up the hours!