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I'd only use them to indicate when something which is normally turned off is actually switched on (such as immersion heaters, outside lights etc.), more as a memory jogger than anything else. Apart from that I can't think of any reason to use them. Having them on circuits where they'd always...

All our scrap cable on site (large manufacturing plant) gets kept, stripped down by our contract electricians in their spare time and sold by them for beer money. On larger stripout jobs the value of the scrap is normally allowed for as part of the quotation. Couldn't believe my eyes last...

Wow. I could watch those clips for hours. The maintenance workers on the 500kV disconnect switch must have nerves of steel though. They're stood there calmly watching (apart from the guy at the front of the truck who has the sense to duck), whereas I'd have been giving it some legs in the...

Here you go. I knew I'd seen some info on this somewhere: http://www.edfenergy.com/core/factsheets/docs/whatcausesshortpowercuts.pdf I never thought I'd see the day when EDF would come up with something worthwhile :D

It's a long shot, but you could try and force him to have the meter replaced by referring to the Weights and Measures legislation. I'm not too sure of the specifics, but I think that if he is charging you for something based on a measurement he has to be able to prove (to trading standards I...

I'd have thought it'd be a lot of expense, hassle and mess for very little benefit. You'll never get the new brickwork to match whats already there (even if you match the bricks exactly, the chances of getting the same sand for the mortar and the same mix are pretty slim, ignoring the 6 years...

It's probably been built with a wall starter system which is the normal way of doing it when the brickwork can't be tied in. Something along these lines: http://www.ancon.co.uk/products3.asp?ID=47 http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=101892&ts=52954&id=41311

I had a similar problem recently where we had to supply some lighting on a footbridge accessible by the public from our private substation (long story :wink: ). Total cable length and load were similar to your situation (I can't remember the specifics now). In the end the advice we got was to...

We used to specify this in all our offices, but don't bother with it any more (although we've got a fair bit of it still in use). It's was just too expensive, and unless you're always moving sockets about it doesn't give much benefit. All the sockets were non standard, and IIRC even the...

If you're worried about it, surface mount the box. If you're not, chase it into the wall. Personally I'd chase it into the wall. Simple. Not rocket science.

On the other hand, it's been there nearly fourty years, and (presumably) hasn't caused a problem yet.... I think this type of arrangement is actually quite common (my house is the same, as is my Grandparents one). When you think of the added weight most loft structures take (flooring, boxes...

Wise words indeed. A good point well made. Food for thought for all of us there :P

Probably worth a call to your local trading standards as well. If they get several complaints about the company from different people then they should investigate further.

I live and learn. I'd always thought that BICC stood for British Insulated Cable Company! I don't know where I got that from! Where I work it's always called pyro. We only use it to wire fire alarm and emergency lighting systems which need to have some level of fire resistance, so the...

Building regulations are available for download free of charge: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1130478

What about the spare wylex board on the wall to the right? I'm almost afraid to ask where that was originally supplied from.... :?

Well you've got me stumped. You're going to have to explain a bit more information about what you've actually done, why you've done it and what your question is. Whatever you've done sounds slighly worrying. The fact that you've felt the need to fit a 5 amp cartridge fuse to the lighting...

I've never come across a 30mA type S before. I'm mainly involved with the industrial ranges of DBs (MEM, Merlin Gerin etc.) which tend to have a much wider range of wierd and wonderful devices than the domestic stuff but I don't remember ever seeing a 30mA type S. I think the smallest I've...

I used to have the same problem with leaving the outdoor floodlights turned on (they're not visible from the front of the house where the lounge/ bedrooms are). In the end I bought a 240V panel mount neon from RS, cut a rectangular hole in a single gang blanking plate to take it, and connected...

Presumably if you're building a structure requiring that sort of foundation at the bottom of your garden you've got planning permission, and building regs approval? If so just ask the building inspector what he want's you to do. After all he'll have to inspect and sign off the work...