No Earth at all!

[MalcyB]

Hi

Just come back from a job where I was asked to replace 3x 4" floris (can't spell flourecentsWet Fish) Like for like.

There had been a leak in the bathroom above so the ceiling had to come down.

On changing them I found that there was no cpc to the lights, apart from one, but the cpc didn't go any where in particular!

Because of this I have changed them for class two fittings.

The problem is I cannot see any main earth or bonding at the CU. I have told the owner this (an 85 year old man) He told me he wired the house up 60 odd years ago (he was an electrician).

He said he put an earth spike in but could not tell me where.

I have voiced my concerns to his relatives but they just say that they will have it sorted out in the future!

It's not like I could insist on anything as I am not really doing any work on the circuits, just doing what a lot of people do and change a light fitting.

 

[a1]

Well, you have done the right thing in changing them to class II fittings.

Oh Florries or Fluorescents. ]

 

[septiclecky]

HiJust come back from a job where I was asked to replace 3x 4" floris (can't spell flourecentsWet Fish) Like for like.

There had been a leak in the bathroom above so the ceiling had to come down.

On changing them I found that there was no cpc to the lights, apart from one, but the cpc didn't go any where in particular!

Because of this I have changed them for class two fittings.

The problem is I cannot see any main earth or bonding at the CU. I have told the owner this (an 85 year old man) He told me he wired the house up 60 odd years ago (he was an electrician).

He said he put an earth spike in but could not tell me where.

I have voiced my concerns to his relatives but they just say that they will have it sorted out in the future!

It's not like I could insist on anything as I am not really doing any work on the circuits, just doing what a lot of people do and change a light fitting.

When is that when he has electrocuted himself and died.

 

[MalcyB]

Either that or natural causes, which ever comes first.

 

[steptoe]

HiJust come back from a job where I was asked to replace 3x 4" floris (can't spell flourecentsWet Fish) Like for like.

There had been a leak in the bathroom above so the ceiling had to come down.

On changing them I found that there was no cpc to the lights, apart from one, but the cpc didn't go any where in particular!

Because of this I have changed them for class two fittings.

The problem is I cannot see any main earth or bonding at the CU. I have told the owner this (an 85 year old man) He told me he wired the house up 60 odd years ago (he was an electrician).

He said he put an earth spike in but could not tell me where.

I have voiced my concerns to his relatives but they just say that they will have it sorted out in the future!

It's not like I could insist on anything as I am not really doing any work on the circuits, just doing what a lot of people do and change a light fitting.

not very big lights are they.?

 

[m4tty]

not very big lights are they.?

:^O

 

[matt.leung]

did u try taking a Zs at all from a socket, this will tell you if there is an earth at all or not... also by taking a polarity test at the CU, aginst E-L, L-N, N-E

 

[MalcyB]

4" floris

not very big lights are they.?

:slap :Chair fall:Blushing:z

They wouldn't let me test anything, I just had to change the fittings! headbang

 

[Andy™]

not very big lights are they.?

but more 'green' than a 4'...

 

[tom1]

did you issue a danger notice?

might get the relatives thinking

 

[MalcyB]

I did wonder about doing that.

But with not working on the circuit as such.

They do understand the danger, the old guy used to be an electrician!

 

[tom1]

just re read the op,

60 year old, whats the cu like? any rcd?

earth rod some were if any were, makes no difference either way as the you say no bonding and no earth at cu.

did you do a zs any were?

 

[MalcyB]

CU is old 6 way rewireable wylex, not an RCD in sight.

"earth rod some were if any were, makes no difference either way as the you say no bonding and no earth at cu."

I told them that, even though the old fella said there was a spike somewhere, the system would need an RCD in place.

I didn't do any tests, as this was just supposed to be just a straight swap of fittings I thought I'd take my chance to send my MFT for calibration.

I was going to borrow one but they didn't want me to bother. Obviously coming up with more problems would have cost them more money.

They told me that they have two more houses that they rent to students and are considering using me to rectify any problems. I can imagine what they will be like. At least then if I have working on a circuit, I can go through the proper procedure of issuing a danger notice.

 

[Evans Electric]

They sound like cheapskates Malcy , there may be an earth onto the water pipes, they used to install a solid strand 2.5 ish to cover plugs only as domestic lighting had no earth .

 

[speedster]

HiJust come back from a job where I was asked to replace 3x 4" floris (can't spell flourecentsWet Fish) Like for like.

There had been a leak in the bathroom above so the ceiling had to come down.

On changing them I found that there was no cpc to the lights, apart from one, but the cpc didn't go any where in particular!

Because of this I have changed them for class two fittings.

The problem is I cannot see any main earth or bonding at the CU. I have told the owner this (an 85 year old man) He told me he wired the house up 60 odd years ago (he was an electrician).

He said he put an earth spike in but could not tell me where.

I have voiced my concerns to his relatives but they just say that they will have it sorted out in the future!

It's not like I could insist on anything as I am not really doing any work on the circuits, just doing what a lot of people do and change a light fitting.

Best walk away if no earthing on the installation.Or recommend partial rewire ie lighting circuits,but installation MUST be earthed!!! You must tell the client if the installation is dangerous.Don't do any work until it is safe.You may be prosecuted. Be warned !!

 

[MalcyB]

Owner knows the installation is dangerous.

I've made it safer than it was by putting class 2 lights up.

They said they are going to get me back to rewire the whole thing when the old fella goes to meat his maker.

Hopefully not in the near future.

 

[kme]

Did you provide ANY paperwork (including descriptive invoice?)

If the answer is yes, you MUST issue a danger notice, countersigned by the customer or representative - else it is your rear end hanging out in the wind........

You`ve "told `em". D`you think they`ll protect you if he gets a shock off his old standard lamp`s twisted flex? I don`t.

You KNOW the property is unsafe. You need to make `em aware of that, in writing, for your own protection.

KME