Jantest

10/02/2026

Travels in domestic land:
Changing a communal space consumer unit in this job: not much space to get a new consumer unit in. Modern units are larger than the tiny little Wylex unit with its BS3036 rewireables. Inevitably when you pop the cover there are multiple circuits stuffed into single fuses, meaning extra space. So, a simple CU change? Nope.
First job was move the door entry gear up besides the old switch fuses. Then I want to introduce separate isolator so the communal board can be isolated without going into the DNO’s service head, which I had to do on this occasion. Managed to use a 50mm bush and cut down coupler to bolt the switch isolator to the CU enclosure. Then rewired with new tails throughout, stabbed the circuits in and switched it back on. Will be returning to test. Took bloody ages but a good result 👍

10/11/2025

PAT testing: what could be wrong here? 🤔
That fuse ain’t protecting what it should be. You only find this by opening the plug and checking. These are the things that cause fires and yet some of the prices I see offered for PAT testing tells me that wouldn’t be getting found….

31/07/2024

So the day went like this:
Arrived at 09:00
Removed existing board to find a bunch of air where the fixings need to be.
So, needed to craft a new back board at 11:00. Keep some fire proof plaster board for such occasions. Fixed this and the new board and got the Temp board connected at 12:00 (for work light and charging batteries etc).
New board mounted and connected with temp supply disconnected 14.15. Completed insulation resistance tests on the circuits to make sure they don’t all trip on the RCBO’s and for cert. energised and polarity and Zdb. By then the tenants back and wanting to work. Packed and out at 16:30. Still got to return to finish full tests for cert.
Intense day in a hot sweaty cupboard, not designed for 6’2 sparky to operate in! And goes to show how long these board changes take if your testing properly. Home with beer 🍺 now 👍

31/07/2024

So here is my office for the day. Nice warm cupboard for a CU replace 😂

01/05/2024

South of the river today….testing

24/04/2024

Interesting use of English here…

16/02/2024

Travels in domestic land:
Here we have a job which has been running intermittently, electrically wise, since October. Two flats becoming one by way of a factory built staircase being inserted into a staircase size hole. Unfortunately, both fuse boards for the respective flats are where the new stairs are going, and the family have been living in the property throughout, so the challenge has been:
Rationalise two electrical installations into one. Maintain required electrical supplies every night throughout the project. Transfer all to new consumer unit position with new armoured sub. Don’t fall down the hole!

02/02/2023

Sometimes circuit protection doesn’t work: this plug was melted in to this socket. Having levered them separate, the live pin, which had welded itself to the socket was left sticking out, and very much Live! Nasty business!
BTW: the overload was a washing machine and tumble dryer on one plug….

27/11/2022

Following on from the last post: The works carried out to improve the old situation. A 125A 3 phase isolator, a 3 way 3 phase Ryfield board, new sub consumer unit, fused main switch’s for remote sub main supplies and metal trunking encasement. Did it over a weekend and got all the power back on Sunday night, in time for the three businesses to start on Monday morning. Actually finished this last summer but got a bit of catching up to do on the page for various reasons. But a good job turning a very dodgy installation into something compliant.

08/06/2022

Here are some shots detailing an EICR inspection at a commercial premises. The list of observations was long and included a code 1 for the Ryfield board which was missing internal covers and had exposed live parts. When I spoke to Ryfield they said that it was a fixture which they themselves had condemned as not fit for use. Who put it in is not clear but replacement was the recommendation and this was done.
Amongst other eye openers were exposed bus bars and homemade isolator covers.
It was a long report: but the work is done. Will show the results next post👍

06/10/2021

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.electriciansforums.net%2Fthreads%2Fpoor-eicr-report-results-in-prosecution.197408%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3qBpWIjmXTDrStlXJ2-l9bQi5a9ji7CnmBMAf45XaWUvj_le4d47Too3U&h=AT2AXU98j6d2uN_g6YOCcEK6ZzDVNdO2kMTMg0svTVZdJEU7hmiTzRU75BvWa4RohZgt83HeLl5XnMD-9bwCBL6Rb7OuuG7TcuRCGiZ9NFMeA81V-h3Jqkn78l2o&s=1

I've just stumbled across the below elsewhere online, anyone aware of it? PRESS RELEASE: ELECTRICIAN’S GUILTY PLEA OVER REPORT SIGNING OFF UNSATISFACTORY ELECTRICS -- A Pembrokeshire electrician has pleaded guilty to supplying a report claiming the electrics in a household property were...