Recent content by MySparky

Apologies if I didn't explain what I've done properly. I've run a coax and cat5 cable from each room downstairs to a central downstairs location, then in the upstairs rooms I've done the same thing (because the route down can't take anymore cables) and then between the two central locations...

So, I use the Cat5 cabling to distribute internet and TV? What would the coax cable be used for then? I read up on building the network and all the places I looked suggested a coax and a Cat5 to each point/room I wanted to network. I'm a little confused now having done all the hard work building...

Hi, I've recently installed coax and cat5 cables to each room in the house (1 of each to each room) and due to cable routing through the house I've run the downstairs cables to a downstairs location, the upstairs cables to an upstairs location and 1 coax and 1 cat5 cable between the two...

That's right, cos the lights wouldn't work if the previous 'sparky' had done that and then tried to switch them on. The customer wouldn't let him leave without working lights, surely not? Yes? No? So we boil down to whether or not the OP has a goddam earth or not on his Class II lights (which...

In all your years of experience you've never inadvertantly connected loop to live, or live to loop (even someone with an IQ of 10 can get neutral into the Neutral terminal (unless they are colourblind) - which can happen so let's not mock the afflicted). What happens when you cross connect loop...

Many people don't know what a Class II fitting is or how it affects how it should be installed. I'm sure the Wiki has information available to explain the differences but again, many people don't check it/won't check it. General rule of thumb: Class II light fittings require an earth...

We're talking to a DIYer who doesn't have our expensive test equipment (presumably). We're also talking to him about a couple of light fittings, not a 10mm equipotential bond that hadn't been connected properly by a 'professional' sparky. Let's take the kid gloves off and dispense with the...

Wow, everyone has so much time on their hands to go digging up latin phraseologies, or they're sooo busy reading Part P from front to back, back to front, probably even upside and through a mirror just to be sure they haven't missed a comma somewhere in there - that they don't have any time to...

Nevermind. I'll change pendants, you remain a pedant.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. If someone wants your house that badly they're not going to quibble over a light fitting, plus I'd be surprised if you didn't take down your expensive new lights and stick a £3 plastic pendant up there when you come to actually move out.

Not if all they are changing is one pendant for another, which was the case I stated. How would the cpc at the MET suddenly become disconnected if that part of the system hasn't been touched? And if polarity is reversed they'll soon find out about it when the lights won't switch off, or on. I...

There is some ambiguity in the legislation regarding non-notifiable work by DIYers and the issuing of certificates. Although the legislation states that DIYers can still make changes to their own homes it also states that they must install and test any new circuitry to the same standard as a...

Building control make no distinction between a sparky working on his own home and doing a job for a customer - if it's notifiable, it's notifiable. Electricians do move house the same as the rest of society so how will BC know what's in a particular house just because a sparky did it to his own...

Your OCD won't take too kindly to a bit of defibrillation to get your heart going again if you leave this unrectified. Your safest option is, as others have advised, to reinstall a socket and have a functional outlet, or blank it off completely with a proper blanking plate and back box, and, if...

In the short time I have been here I have found this site to be very useful with good quality information that DIY enthusiasts can turn to if they get stuck on a project and need a professional's input. A site like this thrives on such input but it is undermined by keyboard warriors who take...