Its the little things that annoy !!

[baldsparkies]

For example,
Ever noticed how on a double pole 45A switch your replacing for a cooker (for example)
They always manage to put the Load terminals at the top. And the Supply terminals at the bottom.
Surely after all these years manufacturers would have considered that 9 times out of 10 the supply is likely to be coming down to the switch, with the load fed from the bottom.
I bet I'm not the only one to have a moan about this one. :yes:

 

[telectrix]

it's so you can leave the tails longer.

 

[baldsparkies]

it's so you can leave the tails longer.

Doesn't work when your replacing though Tel, and the old switch has terminals the other way around. :mad2:

 

[telectrix]

yep, i know. same with double sockets. L and N on opposite sides and one tail too short

 

[Andy78]

For me its the cheap crappy FCUs that have terminal screws that have to be accessed from every side of the accessory. Ugh !

 

[Paul.M]

For me its the cheap crappy FCUs that have terminal screws that have to be accessed from every side of the accessory. Ugh !

As above but with 10mm t&e for a shower pull cord

 

[Robert Turnbull]

As above but with 10mm t&e for a shower pull cord

Shower Pull Cords In General are the devils work, 9/10 call out this year has been due to loose terminals in shower pull cords burning them out and melting cables.

 

[Robert Turnbull]

Accessories That have the screws all done up from factory. Think about it, that has wasted years of my life

 

[Paul.M]

Most C/U's are big enough to put your boots in but never enough room to neatly terminate 12-15 t&e's????

 

[uksparks]

I totally get what you mean, it's a pain in the bum!

 

[NDG Elecs]

Shower Pull Cords In General are the devils work, 9/10 call out this year has been due to loose terminals in shower pull cords burning them out and melting cables.

Yep agree, and very very very few brands have good old double terminal screws on them. A shower is only pulling, what, maybe 35A, the single screw won't work loose now will it! Makes you wonder what rigourous testing these things go through!

 

[NDG Elecs]

For me its the cheap crappy FCUs that have terminal screws that have to be accessed from every side of the accessory. Ugh !

I do like Hager and MK for this very reason. Doing a rewire for a mate at the mo and he has bought accessories that are a step below Marbo! Not looking forward to second fix.

 

[Andy78]

I do like Hager and MK for this very reason. Doing a rewire for a mate at the mo and he has bought accessories that are a step below Marbo! Not looking forward to second fix.

I use Hager sollysta too for this very reason, all upward facing screws. So much easier for second fixing and testing.
I have recently used the new Schneider Lisse which are a good budget option too.

 

[cprfenom]

I use Hager sollysta too for this very reason, all upward facing screws. So much easier for second fixing and testing.
I have recently used the new Schneider Lisse which are a good budget option too.

I like the dedicated neutral terminal on the switch plate from Hager

 

[baldsparkies]

And as for the single SOFT clamp screws on the ALL plastic 100 amp c/u main switches, mounted onto plastic din rails you know !! The ones that can take up to 35 mm tails (Yea right)
Oh sorry, I forgot, its all going to be encased in steel soon, so no need to worry.

 

[Paul.M]

Ok this is another CU rant!

The manufacturers must be aware that we have to put at least one 16mm main earth into the earth bar (majority of the time). Why cant they make an MET that can take a 16mm easily? All they have to do is change the casting on the mold and increase a hole!

 

[Andy78]

Or just include a 2 part brass clamp at the end of the bar like they used to.

 

[ample current]

And as for the single SOFT clamp screws on the ALL plastic 100 amp c/u main switches, mounted onto plastic din rails you know !! The ones that can take up to 35 mm tails (Yea right)
Oh sorry, I forgot, its all going to be encased in steel soon, so no need to worry.

not strictly true, I bought a plastic amendment 3 CU made from "self extinguishing" material just yesterday

 

[GB.Kayak]

not strictly true, I bought a plastic amendment 3 CU made from "self extinguishing" material just yesterday

For something to self-extinguish ... unless we are talking about 'ceasing to be' ... it has to have 'caught fire' first. Therefore ... how can it be non-combustible?

 

[baldsparkies]

not strictly true, I bought a plastic amendment 3 CU made from "self extinguishing" material just yesterday

We have been buying self extinguishing plastic consumer units for years !! It says so on the box of most, even Denmans Basec CU's
The only bit they seem to be adding if your correct is the amendment 3 bit
And if the manufacturers have the gall to quote as amendment 3 then amendment 3 it is.
After all we are all told to go by what the manufacturers state, are we not !! ?

 

[Lazlo]

Twisted CPCs on accessories and CPCs on rings in same sleeving @ DB, does my head in. Makes me sware.

 

[Taylortwocities]

not strictly true, I bought a plastic amendment 3 CU made from "self extinguishing" material just yesterday

What make was that?

 

[cliffed]

Young lads,who think they know it all,after a year at college,& asking to stop at Tesco Express for food & drink,then taking ages to get back in the van.Whatever happened to the lunch box & flask,oh happy days.
Cheers

 

[newtothis]

LOL employers who think a lunch break, is knocking your sarnies down yer neck while driving to the next job, discussing work, and (not being allowed to smoke). That said, I just take it on the chin, that's life

 

[Andy78]

Being cut up by vans pulling out of petrol stations because the occupant sparky and lad are bickering about lunch breaks and not concentrating on driving.

 

[amlu]

Yep agree, and very very very few brands have good old double terminal screws on them. A shower is only pulling, what, maybe 35A, the single screw won't work loose now will it! Makes you wonder what rigourous testing these things go through!

Apparently screwfix stopped selling marbo kit. They replaced them with their own brand, much worse quality than marbo ever was :-(

 

[NDG Elecs]

Apparently screwfix stopped selling marbo kit. They replaced them with their own brand, much worse quality than marbo ever was :-(

I think that's what I was 2nd fixing today, haha! Whatever the unbranded sockets (in a Screwfix bag) were that I had to fit, they were not to bad TBH. I always have a near full range of Hager stocked up in my van though, with a some BG and MK thrown in for variety.

 

[Dave OCD]

When changing a DB, fiddling all the previously stripped cables of various lengths into the top cable entries simultaneously when it's up close to a ceiling, that can make me swear.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Putting up fiddly light fittings in old dears house in winter and the heating is on full blast. This is worse in Victorian house with high ceilings, as it must be 15 deg celsius warmer up there than it is in the pleasant warmth of the sofa... Doesn't make me swear, just sweat. Keeps me trim though!

 

[tigerpaul]

Coming to 2nd fix and finding a 3.5 lug missing from the flushed in back box..
Customers own shop bought light fittings.
Other sparks just expecting to "borrow" your tools printer tester etc.. No! Get your f'ing own!

 

[Taylortwocities]

Other trades borrowing a "cross head" screwdriver and using MY philips to try to undo a pozidriv screw.
Result = knackered driver :nono:

 

[PEG]

Other trades borrowing a "cross head" screwdriver and using MY philips to try to undo a pozidriv screw.
Result = knackered driver :nono:

Item 1; "Other trades" are more likely to be allowed,a squeeze of mr.pegs' good ladys' boob,than a tool-borrow...

Item 2; The fixings should be the casualty,not your drivers...unless they are carved from a bread-stick...

 

[shanky887614]

Coming to 2nd fix and finding a 3.5 lug missing from the flushed in back box..
Customers own shop bought light fittings.
Other sparks just expecting to "borrow" your tools printer tester etc.. No! Get your f'ing own!

get some capacitors mate. if you want to be really cruel wire them upto a battery lol and wait

 

[shanky887614]

Other trades borrowing a "cross head" screwdriver and using MY philips to try to undo a pozidriv screw.
Result = knackered driver :nono:

some wnker borrowed my pz/sl and was using it for pz screws.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Niglon...(I think)...951 clamps my CEF stocks have reduced the size of the label clamping nut so that it is now smaller than the head of the clamp screw. A seemingly minor change until you try and get a tool onto the frigging nut. Swear?...not 'effin much.

 

[ETradesmen]

Cheap crappy terminals in basic switches and sockets. They all seem to be square shaped and the screw seems too small for the terminal which makes the conductor ride up the side of it when you tighten!

i loved contacting accesserories but they were going bust a while ago so my shop decided to stop selling there stuff