Recent content by ProDave

I am sure they exist, but I have not found one yet. Any ideas please?

I am surprised it got a satisfactory EICR with a missing blank. I am willing to bet there is a busbar finger waiting for an inquisitive finger next to the main switch. Because there is only one RCD, for the shower I would fit an rcbo next to the main switch. Then that leaves another missing...

Actually it would suit me just doing a few odd jobs in the WINTER and no work whatsoever in the summer. I wonder what reaction I will get when I say "I can't do that until November"?

I'm finding it hard to retire from self employment. Those pesky customers just keep calling you. I decline all commercial jobs and big domestic jobs, but still do a few simple domestic jobs, mostly for customers I have known for years.

I have my old Landrover as my classic car, but that is what it is. It won't do all my "ICE car needs" It is not a good tow car, yes it will tow 2 tons, but it would be a slow dog on the road towing that, and it's not a long distance car, drive that 300 miles and it would take a week for your...

As it is a small flat, I would first unscrew and inspect the connections at every socket. That in itself will tell you a lot about the instalation.

This is where communication between you and the tester before the test is important. If he is sent to "test" than that is what he does. I prefer to talk to my customers and at least have a quick look to see if you can find the fault. This is a bit like an MOT tester failing your car because a...

The meter tails through separate holes is fixed by taking them out and putting a hacksaw cut between the 2 holes then replacing them with the correct size. Sounds like a wrong make MCB has been fitted, simple to swap for correct make. The more worrying thing is no ring continuity. Rather than...

IT was a DIY Joe additional spurred socket. Thankfully not far away in a stud and plasterboard wall, so correct cable pulled through and connected properly, CPC and all.

Doing simple little non notifiable jobs is not all plain sailing. This from today's "change a few switch and socket fronts" job.

It's commercial customers, who expect you to send them an invoice that are the usual slow payers. A card terminal would not speed that up. Stage 1 towards retirement, I don't fo commercial any more.

At the level the OP is intending to operate that won't trouble him. DEFINIELY stay below the turnover threshold for VAT registration, you don't want that complication (which will force MTD on you) I do my accounts on a cash basis, which basically means you record income and expenditure when it...

If they are just twisted together, chances are on a light fitting that you have not yet touched, they have come untwisted. All you can do is point out to the school that it might be a quick fix or might take a long time to find the fault. And by the sound of things you need to buy a job lot of...

I'm with Andy on this. Fill one out by hand and give to the customer, job done and complete. Anything else means going home, entering it into your computer (from your hand written notes) and printing it or emailing it to the customer. I do that for big jobs that need a EIC especially if it is...

It was wanting a low running cost house, the fact it is green was a bonus. There is no mains gas here so the choice is oil, LPG or electric. Making the house well insulated enough to work with a low power heat pump means similar running costs to mains gas, and no need for an oil or LPG tank...