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The oft reviled “meter monkey” has come in for a bit of stick by just about every spark I’ve come across on the usual sites [screwfix, diynot, iet]; but are we being too harsh? I came across one today who’s made me think. Okay he’s a bit of an exception, I think, but still. My naturally superior...

My apologies. 422-01-02: Where fixed electrical equipment is installed having, in normal operation, a surface temperature sufficient to cause a risk of fire or harmful effects to adjacent materials, one or more of the following installation methods shall be adopted: (i) mounting on a...

I understand that today’s C.U.s are enclosed and are therefore ok to mount on untreated wooden surfaces, but if you decide to bring the cables in from the back and cut out holes through the C.U. and wooden backing board, does this contravene any regs, such as 422-01-02? Cheers

It seems every time I come across previously buried SWA, that rarely do I see the use of protective tiles and warning tape; and the depth is usually too shallow as well. Even conscientious sparkies I know rarely use tiles and tape though they do try to bury it about 18inches down. Reg.522-06-03...

Okay. Thanks for that gentlemen :) .

Sorry if this is a bit basic but just wanted to make sure. Going on a cruise around Italy, Spain etc. tomorrow for a couple of weeks (ok...I'm just showing off now! 8) ) and wondered if I'm supposed to completely turn off the gas before I go and re-ignite the pilot on the Baxi FS501OF when I...

Check the current-carrying capacities of the aforementioned cables. 2.5mm T&E cannot be protected with a 32A rcbo (I'm assuming it's a radial). Also, don't assume the same sized SWA and T&E have the same CCC; they don't.

Hello folks, Is it acceptable to re-use sections of old metal conduit on a house re-wire as long as you earth each piece to the socket/switch it leads to, or should it be completely ripped out and start again? Cheers, Ants

Norv, Single phase - Zs (non-rcd protected) I use the two lead (green & red) or plug lead 'Hi Loop' test, as I believe it gives a more accurate reading. Two lead 'HI Loop' for Ze. (As an aside, try using both two and three lead methods on the same non-rcd circuit and it's quite alarming how...

Hey, thanks everyone for the input. Much appreciated. It's now going to be conduit throughout the install so 20mm conduit and singles it is! However, as always I've learnt a few things from you guys so your advice is never wasted on me. Cheers. :D

From what I’ve noticed, metal surface back boxes only ever seem to have 20mm knock outs. How do you attach 25mm conduit to them? Is there a reducer to allow 25mm to enter the 20mm knock out or do you use some kind of drill bit to enlarge the hole? I’d rather use 20mm conduit and singles to be...

Aahhh...lovely place, RF. Worked in Ilkley nigh on 15 years. Not a patch on Burnley, my birthplace, of course :lol: ! Round about the Barnoldswick area these days and that place doesn't even know which county it's in!! Enough of this, I'm be getting all nostalgic!

RF, so on a PIR, for example, what would you put for the service fuse size? I take it you would have to get it "by enquiry". Thanks for the answers, by the way. I do learn a lot from them. Of course, coming from Lancashire it does take time to sink in :D ! (I work in Ilkley...can't afford...

Thanks everyone. More pics.. (..and yes it's a Wylex!!) I did replace the M.E.T. and cover the CU while I was there (with some improvisation on the cover!). Even though I was only passing through, I didn't really want to leave it like that. Sorry for the confusion; I was just...

Hello folks, I would value your opinion this cold night. Looking at a friend's electrics today, I was less than impressed at the state of the installation. Am I being Mr. Fussy or is this unsafe? Many things to note, including: M.E.T. hanging loose and in poor state. Main earthing cable...

Not as far as I'm aware. I'll check the data sheet but I think it sends out 25A on the high current test (so understandably trips) but only 15mA on the three-lead non-trip test.

Ahh...thanks Gasman. Looks like calculations then!

Hiya Securespark, Yes it trips the MCB. I'm attempting to measure the Zs from the furthest point on my lighting circuit, to compare with the Ze+r1+r2 reads. I've tried both the hi-current two lead test (red lead to phase/ green lead to cpc) and the low current three lead test (add black lead to...

Is there any way to do a Zs read at the furthest point of a 6a mcb protected lighting radial without the mcb tripping? The circuit is not RCD protected. I can understand why the high current two lead test would trip it, but the non-trip three lead test also trips the mcb. Is this usual? Should I...

Thank you both. The fittings are indeed class 2. All the switches and JBs have very good r1-r2 reads, so it does seem above board. Thanks again.