Recent content by Dartlec

Fear not 8) I couldn't persuade them to replace the entire fuse box, so I will be fitting a new 1/2 Way CU for the new cable

First prize to Adam :) With an honourable mention to conny! Yes, apparently said friend knew enough to put a meter across it when it stopped working a couple of years ago, and discovered there was no connected neutral, so decided that connecting Neutral to Earth with some 10mm stranded was...

Here's a pic for you all - see if you can spot the rather worrying problem (no its not that the cover is hanging off! :wink: ) This was a job I went to last week where the customer told me the shower wasn't working. Checking in the meter cupboard and finding the trip switch down I thought it...

apologies - I meant screentuf which I got from my local supplier a while back - I've found it ideal for outside lighting and not that difficult to terminate. But for a DIYer flex is a better way to go I think.

Gary, yes in general flex is fine outside, though you should always take into account the risk of damage - the position you mention doesn't sound a problem really. There is a product called HiTuf which has some slighter better protection if you want to do a really nice job - it has an...

Hi Gary, Standard T/E isn't really suitable for use outside without protection. You could run it in plastic conduit, though it would probably be easier just to use flex. Gavin

What fuse is in the SFCU? nothing wrong with daisy chaining from the first light, assuming you can fit two flexes into the supplied junction point. Flex should be fine unless there are particular harsh conditions or likelihood of damage in the location. anything of 1.0mm2 or above will be...

After the build up I'm disappointed you couldn't find a more novel way to break it :lol: In that case cable damage is unlikely, so I see no reason why you couldn't tackle the job. Just make sure you have a voltage indicator you know works and ensure everything is isolated! Gavin

Its a very common problem. Though often its because the 'electrician' or general contractor only informs the client after they've had the money that their Part P has lapsed, or the electrician has had to leave the country, etc, etc. The 'correct' answer is that only an LABC officer can...

Yes that is the most likely situation. That makes the above even more likely. You would join an elite club! Its a chemical reaction with the cable that affects some cables of the era yours look to be from. see here

True, but the mcbs are more likely to have come new from the manufacturer and not in a jiffy bag via the Royal Mail's careful handling... And of course the original certificate and 10 yearly PIR documentation will show you the history.... :wink: :roll: (When was the last time someone turned...

Cheap and cheerless I agree, but what isn't these days... :roll: Last time I installed a John Lewis chandelier it was no better designed - and possibly worse... Gavin

Ditto to that! Main Switches on boards are generally BS EN 60947-3 on new ones, or BS 5419 on older ones like that. Is it flats split from one supply perhaps, or above a shop? As BAS says you couldn't do any work on this without finding the main fuse - the DNO will have one somewhere -...

You don't think we are going to let that go without asking do you? :lol: The replacement wasn't this one was it - dated 1965?! Steve gives generally good advice, but I would be very wary of using a second hand mcb and relying on it to still work as promised. (There is no easy way to...