I guess we are going to see a lot like this one.....

[ProDave]

Went to look at a job today, original call was "can you give me a quote for a new CU"

When I got there, it seemed the "problem" was he had solar PV fitted 10 days ago, and there were no spare ways on the existing CU.

Now in that situation, I would expect a competent electrician to henley off to a separate mini CU for the PV, particularly as the existing CU had no RCD.

No, instead, he disconnects the immersion heater, and connects the PV inverter there. Then says "you'll need an electrician to re connect the immersion heater."

Still it's a couple of days work for me, new CU, fit missing water earth bonding, and a few other minor alterations.

There was me thinking with MCS etc, all the sparkies doing this were well trained and did things properly.

 

[steptoe]

:slap

do you really think a lot of them are sparks Dave?

there are loads of fast track guys that dont really have a clue out there.

the customer really should be reporting idiots like that though.

 

[Jono Pashley]

Seems our friend Mr Cack is getting all around the UK now!

 

[ProDave]

Well it's a local solar PV firm that did this one (not a national firm) so hopefully I'll get more jobs like this to sort out their failings.

Not an electrical issue, but it's also one of those ugly solar PV installs where the panels (16 of them) are in 3 groups spaced over a complex and awkward roof. the sort that make people say how ugly solar panels are on a house. I much prefer nice neat installs with a nice rectangular block of panels all together.

And did I mention there was no paperwork for the electrical side, no EIC or MWC.

 

[Sidewinder]

Dave,

Photograph & document EVEYTHING, and get the client to report them under their MCS or Electrical scheme before you do ANYTHING.

It is the only way to weed out these muppets!

Their quote should have allowed for the required materials and work.

Is this immersion feed in on the load side of the main RCD by the way?

 

[ProDave]

:slap do you really think a lot of them are sparks Dave?

there are loads of fast track guys that dont really have a clue out there.

the customer really should be reporting idiots like that though.

Ah, so MCS is a mechanism to stop qualified and experienced sparks like myself from doing solar PV work, because I can't be bothered to stump up several hundred

 

[steptoe]

more or less Dave,

when I did my course they simply taught you to pass the exam, absolutely no practical training whatsoever!!!

one guy did the exam 3 times with the instructor telling him each time what he had got wrong.......

Ive just done a re-wire on a council property with PV installed,

my EIC

'extent of work' - complete re-wire of standard install only, solar PV unaltered

'comments on existing installation' - solar PV install is of shoddy poor workmanship and fails to comply with BS7671 or MCS guidelines

Im just wondering what the council are going to do about it...... probably nothing.!

 

[ProDave]

Dave,Photograph & document EVEYTHING, and get the client to report them under their MCS or Electrical scheme before you do ANYTHING.

It is the only way to weed out these muppets!

Their quote should have allowed for the required materials and work.

Is this immersion feed in on the load side of the main RCD by the way?

There's no RCD. It's an older style Wylex board with just a main switch and 10 MCB's I'll try and remember to take my camera.

 

[Jono Pashley]

slight deviation here but has anyone tried the Wylex CU's with all the PV malarky build into it

11 Way High Integrity Dual Supply PV Consumer Unit c/w MID Certified Meter

 

[Sidewinder]

Jono,

Is that the metal one?

 

[Manator]

Jono,Is that the metal one?

That's the polycarbonate one Sidewinder

 

[Jono Pashley]

Fully intergrated insulated "17th" Boards been thinking of using them for a job i have coming up.

 

[kerching]

you could always disconnect the Solar PV, put back the immersion heater as it was before it got 'twonked' and tell him that he needs someone to reconnect the Solar PV for him......... :innocent ............. :coat

 

[Theorysparky]

you could always disconnect the Solar PV, put back the immersion heater as it was before it got 'twonked' and tell him that he needs someone to reconnect the Solar PV for him......... :innocent ............. :coat

but in the mean time put the cables in a bucket to catch the money your losing !!!!!!!