a charity building i know had A/C professionally installed in 2022, but now had an' electrical installation condition report 'done which flags faults with that installation as "C2 potentially dangerous" ( wrong glands on swa cable, rcds too big for cu so you have to force the top shut). ... Advice ? Inspector Just being picky ? Is that sort of mistake something the original electrician would be keen to correct free, to avoid some kind of complaint ? who would they complain to ?
Professional install flagged by electrical inspection
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RCDs it would seem is a valid problem, as to glands on SWA it does depend on earthing system, sometimes using a stuffing gland is correct, but where the problem lies is coding.
C2 = potentially dangerous. It does not mean does not comply with current edition of wiring regulations, that code was dropped as being unhelpful.
230 volts AC is always potentially dangerous, so it does seem an odd phrase to use, in real terms it means it needs fixing, whereas C3 means you need to be aware if any other work is to be done. So yes the RCD problem needs fixing.
So a consumer unit (CU) is a type tested distribution box, designed to be accessed by ordinary persons. To get the type testing, the units fitted inside it have to have been tested for use with that make and model of CU. So in real terms, a Wylex CU can only have Wylex items inside it.
Where the line has been superseded then we can be faced with changing the whole CU because we can't get the parts, so we do see where to save money a MCB/RCBO/RCD of another make has been shoehorned in.
This makes the CU into a DB as to if it matters, depends on who is using it.
But an EICR is the inspectors personal opinion, it is not like an MOT where there are very well-defined pass and fail criteria. And it is between the installer and the inspector to work out what is safe.
C2 = potentially dangerous. It does not mean does not comply with current edition of wiring regulations, that code was dropped as being unhelpful.
230 volts AC is always potentially dangerous, so it does seem an odd phrase to use, in real terms it means it needs fixing, whereas C3 means you need to be aware if any other work is to be done. So yes the RCD problem needs fixing.
So a consumer unit (CU) is a type tested distribution box, designed to be accessed by ordinary persons. To get the type testing, the units fitted inside it have to have been tested for use with that make and model of CU. So in real terms, a Wylex CU can only have Wylex items inside it.
Where the line has been superseded then we can be faced with changing the whole CU because we can't get the parts, so we do see where to save money a MCB/RCBO/RCD of another make has been shoehorned in.
This makes the CU into a DB as to if it matters, depends on who is using it.
But an EICR is the inspectors personal opinion, it is not like an MOT where there are very well-defined pass and fail criteria. And it is between the installer and the inspector to work out what is safe.
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Presumably they've used standard swa glands instead of waterproof?
Rcds too big for DB I'm not sure how that happens?
Rcds too big for DB I'm not sure how that happens?
^This
I have worked in houses where someone has fitted any old MCB. They then bent the pins on the busbar to accommodate the incorrect MCBs.
It took me a couple of hours to find someone on ebay selling the correct, old stock but unused MCB and busbar.
As an aside, I replaced the busbar and MCBs... Am I legally allowed to? I didn't add any new circuits or change the CU wiring layout.
* just asking for my identical twin...
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Why did you bother
The last time... they were regular customers. The previous electrician had left gaps in between the MCBs. I purchased the correct MK blanking plates but couldn't fit them in because the MCBs tilted to the right (presumably because the busbar had been deformed to accommodate the other MCBs).
They were grade A customers. If I saw something wrong, I would fix it.
I turned up one Monday, the British Gas guy had been out to work on the boiler over the weekend. He snapped the cover off the lower heating element on the megaflow and left it as it was. I spent ages sourcing a cover but hey, why not?
Any photos?
Need more info and pictures really before constructive comments can be made
The exact wording is " SWA Cables on circuits 13 & 14 not correctly glanded, compression glands used instead of SWA glands" . so ???.
Now I have a photo of the CU , it looks really simple. perhaps ? , the tin cover is pressing on the bottom edge of the 2 LVE RCDs , Is the solution to just cut the tin cover to fit ( see red) ?
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Simples. those cheapo RCBOs are not the correct ones for that CU. As mentioned above, to maintain type certification the whole assembly should be from the same manufacturer.(NiGLON) Think of it like fitting Fiat oil filter to a BMW!
Niglon RCBOs are readily available from many suppliers.
eg https://www.electrical4less.co.uk/p...-32a-curve-b-30ma-bi-directional-a-type-rcbo/
No excuse. its short-cut cowboy stuff. See it a lot and charities are these peoples easy target.
Niglon RCBOs are readily available from many suppliers.
eg https://www.electrical4less.co.uk/p...-32a-curve-b-30ma-bi-directional-a-type-rcbo/
No excuse. its short-cut cowboy stuff. See it a lot and charities are these peoples easy target.
Ideally you'd call back the cowboys and make them fix it, or at least, pay for someone competent to fix it - given they are cowboys, would you really want them back ? OK it's been 4 years, but that's no blocker to holding them liable for a problem which has only just been brought to your attention.
Of course, that's if they are still around and haven't phoenixed through several new companies already to escape liability.
Of course, that's if they are still around and haven't phoenixed through several new companies already to escape liability.
As per my earlier post... is it likely that the MCBs/RCBOs are tilted because the busbar was deformed to accommodate the new MCBs?
And if the busbar pins have been bent, does the whole bar need to be replaced?
I was under the impression that bending the pins back once the correct items had been fitted was a no-no. That said, the strip is copper, so would it really make that much of a difference?
And if the busbar pins have been bent, does the whole bar need to be replaced?
I was under the impression that bending the pins back once the correct items had been fitted was a no-no. That said, the strip is copper, so would it really make that much of a difference?
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And possibly not the right type for aircon anyway
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