Spurred sockets

[garmcqui]

Hi all,
I wanted a socket in the loft to run a network switch and a TV aerial booster and another in our spare bedroom for the TV. Now I've done wiring before, but it's a new house so I wanted it done properly (with minor works certificate etc) so I got a sparky in.

Nice guy, got good reviews on MyBuilder.com, came round and quoted £50 to fit the sockets and another £20 for the certificate.

The only place he could get a feed handily was from a socket in the next room. So he has spurred off the existing socket, ran 2.5mm t&e up the inside of the hollow wall, into the loft, fitted a double socket and then ran a feed from this socket down inside another hollow wall to the new socket in the bedroom.

I went up into the loft and rolled back the insulation to have a look and this is what the wiring looks like (I've added labels to the second photo to clarify):

Untitled

• garmcqui
• 24 Feb 2015
• 1

Untitled

• garmcqui
• 24 Feb 2015
• 1

Now to me, someone completely unqualified, it seems as this is an unfused spur off an unfused spur - no?

Now whilst I know there will only ever be milliamps needed from the loft sockets, and the most power-hungry device plugged into the bedroom socket will be the wife's hairdryer, I would have been happier had a FCU been fitted. Or am I being paranoid?

Cheers

 

[JohnW2]

I went up into the loft and rolled back the insulation to have a look and this is what the wiring looks like ...

What an unprofessional mess! Even though it's in a loft, I would expect better, even from a cheap electrician!

Now to me, someone completely unqualified, it seems as this is an unfused spur off an unfused spur - no?

If there isn't an FCU in the feed from the 'existing socket', then you're right - and, as you appear to know, that is strictly non-compliant with regulations.

Now whilst I know there will only ever be milliamps needed from the loft sockets, and the most power-hungry device plugged into the bedroom socket will be the wife's hairdryer, I would have been happier had a FCU been fitted. Or am I being paranoid?

Not paranoid. As you say, in common sense terms it's perfectly OK (and safe) so long as the loads in the loft remain minimal, but that doesn't alter the fact that it's non-compliant, and not something that an electrician should have done, even if he was fairly cheap!

Kind Regards, John

 

[deadshort]

Bad man !

Shoddy work he may have a cable clip allergy or just bloody lazy. Call him and ask him check out DIYnot ! to see his fan mail


DS

 

[garmcqui]

I can stick some clips on the cabling, that's not what bothers me.

I might just stick a 13A FCU in before the loft socket to make it safer. Or would that in itself need a minor works cert? lol

 

[deadshort]

Hi, to comply the fcu should be before both additional sockets.

Regards,

DS

 

[jamesmcbride]

Is the socket that this is spurred from protected by a 32A circuit breaker?

 

[JohnW2]

I might just stick a 13A FCU in before the loft socket to make it safer.

Hi, to comply the fcu should be before both additional sockets.

What the OP was proposing would be "before both original sockets", hence compliant.

Kind Regards, John

 

[garmcqui]

Yes, all protected by 32A breaker. Why does that make a difference?

Yes, I was intending to fit the FCU before both new sockets - am I ok to do this myself though, or does fitting it to an existing cable require a minor works cert too?

Thanks

 

[Iggifer]

Because if it was on a 20a or 16a it could have been a radial and then been acceptable.

You can fit the FCU yourself, just do a better job than this muppet (not hard)

Looks like you should have done it all anyway (you are perfectly fine to do so)

 

[securespark]

Could be an IP breach in the top of the socket pattress.

 

[Iggifer]

The hole probably doesn't actually enter the box but it's rough AF to put a broken box in

 

[JohnW2]

Yes, I was intending to fit the FCU before both new sockets - am I ok to do this myself though, or does fitting it to an existing cable require a minor works cert too?

You can install the FCU in the loft ('before' the loft socket) if that is more convenient (some might possibly disagree if the feed cable were very long). Strictly speaking, any electrical work, no matter who it's done by, should have either an EIC or a minor works cert. If that concerns you, you could complete a MWC yourself.

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

Another top quality job from a recommend-a-tradesman-because-I-can't-get-work-by-recommendation website

It's about time these shams were shut down.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

it's a new house

How does a new house have so little, and so patchy, loft insulation?

good reviews on MyBuilder.com

 

[garmcqui]

Looks like you should have done it all anyway (you are perfectly fine to do so)

See I don't understand this. I thought all electrical work had to be carried out by a competent person. Having a degree in electrical engineering, I would deem myself as complement to do a simple job like this, but it's not what I think that counts!! Therefore I thought it safer to get a registered sparky in who could make the paperwork official! All slightly confusing!!

John - how can I complete a MWC?

Regarding the insulation, I had peeled back several layers of the stuff to take that photo. There are two layers of it over the entire loft - is that not enough?