How far away would you make Next Inspection?

[Octopus]

Apparently we're a long way from the transformer. Why are you worried? I called in a professional, he changed the CU, tested everything, and gave me that advice. I just wanted to understand why he only gave 6 months to the next inspection, because some tensions arose afterwards. But maybe this is why, as I half suspected, but I wanted to be sure it wasn't vindictive.

You would only give 6 months if the test results are really poor. Can you give us an indication of the insulation resistance readings? Also how long was he onsite and how much did you pay? All sounds a bit fishy to me.

 

[keith42]

I'm worried because of your posts mate, it sounds as if someone has not done their job properly. Obviously I can only speak for myself but I'd have included bonding of the tank and installing the earth rod in the price if it was my professional opinion that they were needed. We could then have decided between ourselves whether you wanted them. Had you refused the additional work I'd have walked away.
Did he give you a certificate for the new CU?
There could be any number of reasons why he's stipulated a 6 month retest period, is there any chance you could post up a copy of the installation certificate and any EICR he carried out beforehand?

I can't see a way of posting or pm-ing the certificate without revealing his name, which I don't want to do. It's kind of you to offer to take a look, let me know if there's a way.

To be fair he did flag up the earthing issues before he started, but I think he didn't want to appear like he was trying to get more work out of me.

So do you think the 6-month thing was a compromise?

 

[keith42]

England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland - this is important.

Ah, England.

 

[Octopus]

Ah, England.

A cu change falls under Part P of the building regs - have you received a notification? As you ducked my question about the time and costs I'm guessing this was a cheap job!

 

[Pete999]

Or, dare I say it a S.E.C.T or Electrical Trainee

 

[keith42]

You would only give 6 months if the test results are really poor. Can you give us an indication of the insulation resistance readings? Also how long was he onsite and how much did you pay? All sounds a bit fishy to me.

Let me try to give you the figures....
External earth fault loop impedance = 1.47 Ohm
Means of earthing section = all N/A
Schedule if Items Inspected = all ticked
Distribution board details...continuity Ohms All Circuits R1+R2: 0.46, 0.96, 1.21, 0.56, 0.71, 1.21
Insulation Resistance all N/A or 999

He was here about 2 hours, I paid £230 all in.

Is there anything else I can tell you?

 

[trev]

I fail to see how the means of earthing can be N/A
Same with IR results. If there's a circuit there he has to have a result for it.
2 hours is very quick for a CU change and a full test

 

[keith42]

A cu change falls under Part P of the building regs - have you received a notification? As you ducked my question about the time and costs I'm guessing this was a cheap job!

Hey I haven't ducked anything!! At least, not yet

No I haven't received a notification. It took me 4 chases to get the certificate, I had to get a bit assertive.

 

[Pete999]

£230:00 and 2 hours and numerous chases to get a cert and no notification, sounds like a cash in hand rip off to me, leaving the Earth Rod and Bonding, that's a bit like changing a CU without checking the gas and water earthing conductors are installed correctly.

 

[davesparks]

This sounds very fishy, one of the means of earthing boxes must be ticked, you've got an earth fault loop impedance so therefore must have an earth connection of some kind.

With an earth loop impedance of 1.47 ohm you either have an earth rod in very good condition or a electricity board supplied earth in poor condition.

Based on what you have posted here I would say your electrician has not complied with the current wiring regulations. I'd also advise you engage the services of a reputable electrician to look at your installation and advise you about it. Then go to trading standards and get something done about the original guy.

 

[Octopus]

After 2 hours often I'm just in the process of putting the new board on the wall!

 

[keith42]

Or, dare I say it a S.E.C.T or Electrical Trainee

Hmm...5 Week Wonder? What's a S.E.C.T.?

He's a young man from ratedpeople.com. He has a lot of 5* ratings and references. His van is smart and branded and so is some of his equipment. He seemed fine as far as I could tell, until I found he'd fitted the standard set of mcb's with 32A on the rings when I'd told him I have spurs and wanted 16A. Then he told me they had to be 32A, and then that a spur is fine on 32A but I have multiple sockets on a spur not 1 or one double or fused triple. So we fell out a bit over that, then when the certificate kept not arriving we fell out some more...

Then I saw 6 months on the Next Inspection, and just wondered what that was about.

 

[trev]

Hmm...5 Week Wonder? What's a S.E.C.T.?

He's a young man from ratedpeople.com. He has a lot of 5* ratings and references. His van is smart and branded and so is some of his equipment. He seemed fine as far as I could tell, until I found he'd fitted the standard set of mcb's with 32A on the rings when I'd told him I have spurs and wanted 16A. Then he told me they had to be 32A, and then that a spur is fine on 32A but I have multiple sockets on a spur not 1 or one double or fused triple. So we fell out a bit over that, then when the certificate kept not arriving we fell out some more...

Then I saw 6 months on the Next Inspection, and just wondered what that was about.

Oh deary deary me.
Post up your rough location mate. One of us will be near you and will come and give you proper advice.

 

[trev]

I could have picked more holes in that but it's not really worth it tbh

 

[Octopus]

Is he a member of Elecsa, Napit, NICEIC, Stroma, BSI?

 

[keith42]

Oh deary deary me.
Post up your rough location mate. One of us will be near you and will come and give you proper advice.

I have to go and eat. Thanks SO much everyone you've been a great help. I have to sort out the oil tank bonding and earth then get someone else in, clearly. I'm in LE143QG if anyone is near.

Thanks again

 

[Pete999]

Hmm...5 Week Wonder? What's a S.E.C.T.?

He's a young man from ratedpeople.com. He has a lot of 5* ratings and references. His van is smart and branded and so is some of his equipment. He seemed fine as far as I could tell, until I found he'd fitted the standard set of mcb's with 32A on the rings when I'd told him I have spurs and wanted 16A. Then he told me they had to be 32A, and then that a spur is fine on 32A but I have multiple sockets on a spur not 1 or one double or fused triple. So we fell out a bit over that, then when the certificate kept not arriving we fell out some more...

Then I saw 6 months on the Next Inspection, and just wondered what that was about.

S.E.C.T. Short Electrical Course Trainee

 

[davesparks]

One more thing, it is unlikely to be the oil tank that needs bonding, rather the copper oil pipe as it enters you property.

 

[Pete999]

It depends on what you describe as a spur, you can spur off of a RFC 32a, there are several ways to do it though. Do you mean radials, sorry but the more this thread carries on the more dubious it sounds

 

[HandySparks]

It depends on what you describe as a spur, you can spur off of a RFC 32a, there are several ways to do it though. Do you mean radials, sorry but the more this thread carries on the more dubious it sounds

I suspect that the OP is more clued up than his electrician in some respects; see his post No. 32. Although he may be being a bit over cautious here; a 20A MCB would likely do the job, depending on cable size and installation method.