This is going to take me weeks.....

[littlespark]

Haha. Well this is awkward…

I’ve just reported #29 as a possible bot / hacked account as I couldn’t see how the content referred to the thread…. But as there has been messages since by the same author, I may have jumped the gun somewhat.

Apologies.

 

[pc1966]

Haha. Well this is awkward…

I’ve just reported #29 as a possible bot / hacked account as I couldn’t see how the content referred to the thread…. But as there has been messages since by the same author, I may have jumped the gun somewhat.

Apologies.

Well at this point in time #29 is by @marconi and he is definitely human!

 

[DPG]

Well at this point in time #29 is by @marconi and he is definitely human!

Yeah that's worked out a bit unfortunate now that the post had been removed and the numbering changed

 

[littlespark]

Yeah that's worked out a bit unfortunate now that the post had been removed and the numbering changed

Still there for me ??

Second cottage to do next week, finish the workshop…. Then start on big hoose!

Better get my running shoes looked out and make sure my Fitbit is charged up.
I’m expecting 20k steps a day!

 

[Rockingit]

It's cases like this where it's the duty of the Inspector to remember the first principles of the task - is it fit for continuing safe use?

Yes, we use markers and references to various regulations to help us make that decision and that now outdated concept of 'did it meet the regs in place at the time' is thankfully no longer an opt-out, but ultimately it's the experience and judgment of the inspector that's on the line. For example - you IR a circuit buried in an old hollow wall and get a reading of 2.1MOhm, technically that's compliant so not notable, yet to any of us with experience it instantly rings alarm bells and is probably either very old cable at the point of severe deterioration or vermin damage. So now you have to consider continued safe use, not just what's on your meter. And that decision probably isn't just electrical, it's informed by all the other adjacent information around us - is that cable buried in a stone wall or does it likely run up through that roof void full of tinder dry old crispy mice nests...... etc.

It's a responsible thing to do, which is why all these fly by inspection companies boil my pee so much.

 

[littlespark]

not come across any spurious readings so far, but I bet the 80/90’s t&e will break down before any bulletproof MICC….
A bad pot would have failed well before now.

The cost of replacing fuse boards when some are built into bigger panels is going to be cost prohibitive, but there are some rcd sockets been fitted in rooms that were used for catering.

Other boards have been changed in the past where the old fuse board has been used as a joint box and a newer CU fitted.

Can’t wait to open than literal can of worms.

 

[pc1966]

Unless you had a duff brand/batch of T&E its usual downfall are mice, UV exposure, or mechanical abuse (trapped, nail, etc).

I too would be very weary of IR readings below 10M unless I could identify why!

 

[littlespark]

Unless you had a duff brand/batch of T&E its usual downfall are mice, UV exposure, or mechanical abuse (trapped, nail, etc).

I too would be very weary of IR readings below 10M unless I could identify why!

There could be mice… possibly.

It’s a shame when an otherwise great installation with neatly clipped MICC, surface conduit etc gets ruined by a bit of sticky backed mini trunking down the side of a lovely period architrave.

 

[littlespark]

Getting well into the workshop today… just the general power and I’ve got issues.

So it’s the white CU I’m testing in the middle.
Top left MEM SW/fuse feeds the cafe, top right feeds the public toilets and in turn, the two holiday cottages.
Bottom left is main sw/fuse “M” turns off everything. And bottom right is busbar chamber that everything feeds off.

Haven’t checked fuse sizes in “M” yet. Cannot isolate white CU without turning off cafe and cottages. Whatever size is in “M” is the OCPD for this white CU. I’ll find out when I can turn off the cottages… there’s guests in just now.

But… from the CU. There’s an rfc with 3 doubles. From this, an unfused spur goes into the shop next door… for another 8 points!
I’ll either suggest fusing down here, or pulling out the spur, extending the cable back to CU and making the shop its own radial circuit.

Workshop and shop also share the lighting circuit. Could do with separating that as well.

Only 4 circuits out of a 5+5 dual rcd board used, so plenty spares.

The 2 RCDs are tripping out at 46 and 62 ms. At x1 I

 

[Rockingit]

I'm assuming (hoping!) that the 3ph red conductors out of the MEM are suitably 'slotted'?!