Reading the wall lights off ringmain thread reminded me I had this one to post.
For the first time last week I turned down a cu change + install MEB's............went and did pre check of the 1930's place before the quote was done because the customer told me on the phone
"your the 4th sparks I've had out to quote. Please dont do as the others have & not bother comming after I've accepted the quotes. we moved in 6 months ago & need toget the fuse board changed, not all bad at least I've got all the decorating done & the bathroom floor/walls tiled in that time"
Now the old chuff is twitching so I go to town on the pre check.
I get there and have a chat with the customer, the other sparks have:
Famous last words from the customer "The neighbours said the last owner rewired the place late 90's"
4 way woodbacked cu
Simple you'd think........
Lounge (flat roofed) only had wall lights for lighting & all eight were off the ringmain, opened switch and only the T/E switch drop there so a JB is lurking somewhere & no fcu supplying the lights.
Did end to end of ringmain at a socket in the longe............oh dear no continuity on anything, whipped off all 9 socket fronts in the lounge & yes a spur off a spur off a spur I suspect all from one of the kitchen sockets, couldnt check for definate as the kitchen sockets have been tiled in flush.
Boiler fused spur wired in 1.5mm T/E off ringmain recently done (well post harmonisation any way).
Groundfloor toilet light again straight off the ringmain.
Lifted one board in hallway as it wasnt fixed down to find the socket in the hallway has two short legs of white sheathed Black/red T/E JB'd to original VRI.
Isolate the immersion circuit & off goes immersion .....................and the oven, no cooker/oven isolation switch in the kitchen.
Two of the bedrooms are rammed with boxes & furniture as is the front ground floor room where the cu is & along with the place having been decorated to to bottom.........now I'm thinking partial or full rewire & spending half he working day shifting the clutter before any work can begin & not damaging decor + the bathroom & kitchen tiles.............................It was at this point I thought F***it he's getting the bad news.
I highlighted the issues I'd found that would need resolving & advised a partial rewire with the addition of a new socket circuit for the kitchen & turning the lounge sockets to their own radial circuit & told him it would mean the decor might suffer some, but it was a good job no carpets were down.
The bloke went white infront of me.
"the carpets are being fitted next week"
Well rather than me messing you about & quoting then not doing the work, I have to say I just genuinely do not have the time to do this work for you.
I felt bad leaving the guy, he was nearly in tears.............................but I could just see to many problems onthe horizon if you know what I mean.
For the first time last week I turned down a cu change + install MEB's............went and did pre check of the 1930's place before the quote was done because the customer told me on the phone
"your the 4th sparks I've had out to quote. Please dont do as the others have & not bother comming after I've accepted the quotes. we moved in 6 months ago & need toget the fuse board changed, not all bad at least I've got all the decorating done & the bathroom floor/walls tiled in that time"
Now the old chuff is twitching so I go to town on the pre check.
I get there and have a chat with the customer, the other sparks have:
- 1 Looked but didnt bother sending a quote, even after a few reminder calls from the customer.
- 2nd turned up looked about for half an hour said there were issues but would send a quote. Quote accepted but sparks kept giving excuses why he couldnt do the work so customer gave up.
- 3rd spent 2 hours looking about & testing didn't even quote, called by customer & got the fob off & eventually said he was giving up electrical work so the customer best find somebody else.
Famous last words from the customer "The neighbours said the last owner rewired the place late 90's"
4 way woodbacked cu
- socket circuit
- immersion
- Lights up
- Lights down
Simple you'd think........
Lounge (flat roofed) only had wall lights for lighting & all eight were off the ringmain, opened switch and only the T/E switch drop there so a JB is lurking somewhere & no fcu supplying the lights.
Did end to end of ringmain at a socket in the longe............oh dear no continuity on anything, whipped off all 9 socket fronts in the lounge & yes a spur off a spur off a spur I suspect all from one of the kitchen sockets, couldnt check for definate as the kitchen sockets have been tiled in flush.
Boiler fused spur wired in 1.5mm T/E off ringmain recently done (well post harmonisation any way).
Groundfloor toilet light again straight off the ringmain.
Lifted one board in hallway as it wasnt fixed down to find the socket in the hallway has two short legs of white sheathed Black/red T/E JB'd to original VRI.
Isolate the immersion circuit & off goes immersion .....................and the oven, no cooker/oven isolation switch in the kitchen.
Two of the bedrooms are rammed with boxes & furniture as is the front ground floor room where the cu is & along with the place having been decorated to to bottom.........now I'm thinking partial or full rewire & spending half he working day shifting the clutter before any work can begin & not damaging decor + the bathroom & kitchen tiles.............................It was at this point I thought F***it he's getting the bad news.
I highlighted the issues I'd found that would need resolving & advised a partial rewire with the addition of a new socket circuit for the kitchen & turning the lounge sockets to their own radial circuit & told him it would mean the decor might suffer some, but it was a good job no carpets were down.
The bloke went white infront of me.
"the carpets are being fitted next week"
Well rather than me messing you about & quoting then not doing the work, I have to say I just genuinely do not have the time to do this work for you.
I felt bad leaving the guy, he was nearly in tears.............................but I could just see to many problems onthe horizon if you know what I mean.