Problem with Security Lights

[jimbop81]

Hi - I've posted this on another forum so hope I'm not repeating myself to same audience.

Just had 2 new Timeguard security floodlights fitted by an established electrician but one is not working. Having difficulty switching them off to check anything and since the fitter has not responded to my calls I was hoping someone would help me understand what could be wrong.

One of the lights is wired from the back of one of the 13 amp sockets in the bedroom. The cable goes out the back of the box but there is no switch - should a switch have been fitted to let me switch it off without killing all power upstairs?

The other one comes from the shaver socket in the bathroom and a switch has been fitted beside it. I've opened up both of these and I'm confused by the wiring. It would be best to show a photo but let me try to sum up. The new cable is 3 core and a separate earth. The red wire is connected to the brown on the shaver socket and at the other end goes into one terminal of the switch together with the red wire from the cable going through the wall to the light. The black wire is connected to the blue on the shaver socket and at the new switch has been wound together with the black wire from the light cable but is otherwise hanging loose. Both the grey and earth wires in the small connecting cable have been cut as has the grey wire on the light cable. The earth wire on the light cable has been connected to the other terminal of the light switch.

Sorry if this is confusing - if I could have added a photo it might have been clearer.

Anyway when it gets dark the outside light comes on and I can't get it to go back off. Anyone got any ideas what is going on.

Many thanks

 

[steptoe]

in all honesty this does not sound at all good,

in fact,

it sounds like either

A

some guy down the pub needed some beer money

B

some idiot has just ripped you off

sorry,

 

[steptoe]

I have just read your post again,

and I would very strongly advise you getting an electrician in ASAP to have a look at this,

this does sound nasty., and I havent been on the buckfast yet.

 

[Badger]

Hi - I've posted this on another forum so hope I'm not repeating myself to same audience.Just had 2 new Timeguard security floodlights fitted by an established electrician but one is not working. Having difficulty switching them off to check anything and since the fitter has not responded to my calls I was hoping someone would help me understand what could be wrong.

One of the lights is wired from the back of one of the 13 amp sockets in the bedroom. The cable goes out the back of the box but there is no switch - should a switch have been fitted to let me switch it off without killing all power upstairs? a fused spur should have been fitted to protect the light fitting in question, fitted with 3 amp fuse!

The other one comes from the shaver socket in the bathroom and a switch has been fitted beside it. I've opened up both of these and I'm confused by the wiring. It would be best to show a photo but let me try to sum up. The new cable is 3 core and a separate earth. The red wire is connected to the brown on the shaver socket and at the other end goes into one terminal of the switch together with the red wire from the cable going through the wall to the light. The black wire is connected to the blue on the shaver socket and at the new switch has been wound together with the black wire from the light cable but is otherwise hanging loose. Both the grey and earth wires in the small connecting cable have been cut as has the grey wire on the light cable. The earth wire on the light cable has been connected to the other terminal of the light switch. sounds like a right bodge as a switch should not have been fitted under any circumtstances inside the bathroom, you want to be giving the guy this from me and many other members :redcard

Sorry if this is confusing - if I could have added a photo it might have been clearer.

Anyway when it gets dark the outside light comes on and I can't get it to go back off. Anyone got any ideas what is going on.

Many thanks

my comments in red

 

[batty]

Established my eye no established sparks would wire a security light directly off a socket. I think you are either having a laugh with us or you have been seriously ripped off.

 

[jimbop81]

I am not having a laugh - in fact the more replies that come in the more worrying this becomes.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Hello Jimbop81 welcome to the madhouse! GuinnessGuinness

Right here goes:

several things concern me:

1/ An established electrician, what exactly do you mean by this phrase?

A proper qualified competent person who issues the relevant electrical test certificates for their work verifying compliance with BS7671.

or

Just some one who has been dabbling with electrics for a long time?

or

Other?

1a/ Do you have an electrical certificate for the work, signed by the Electrician with his test reading on it?

2/ It sounds as though the work has been carried out within the past 12 months. In which case you could be invalidating any manufactures warranties by messing around with it yourself!!!!

If any items are genuinely faulty you will have statutory rights under the Sale of goods act 1979 & the Supply of goods and services act 1982.

Basically All goods and services should be fit for purpose and of merchantable quality.

3/ Red & black cores - No means of isolation?

sounds like someone has been using wrong colour cables for new work?

And as badger points out the installer probably didn't follow manufactures instruction which probably suggest an isolation switch and/or fused spur connection unit

4/ I assume you have an address for this established electrician? I would write to him using a 'signed-for' recorded letter, requesting he comes back to fix the deficiencies in his work F.O.C to yourself. If still no response get in touch with Trading Standards & they can pursue him for you.

5/ Is the "established electrician" a member of any of the contractor bodies... ECA, ELECSA, NICEIC, NAPIT, BSI ect... ? it sound like you have good ground for a formal complaint to the relevant body?

Obviously IF this is actually a DIY 'try-to-do-it-on-the-cheep' alteration gone wrong....... then you are rather up the creek without a paddle....

I would then recommend Steptoes suggestion..

get a proper qualified competent spark in to come and fully test and fix it.

:|

 

[jimbop81]

Hi

This guy says on a trade website that "All work carried out in accordance with BS 7671 and by fully qualified tradesmen. The electricians under employment are all qualified to 17th edition and are well versed in the British Standard IEE wiring regulations."

I suppose this was the type of sucker phrase that laymen fall for.

 

[steptoe]

I would say PM me the website, and you can well do, or you can perhaps PM more astute members such as SL or as I would think in this instance, you could well post a link to this website and let us take a look, as at this time no one here has actually derogatorised this as such just yet,

but just you wait,

by the way, I assume the shaver socket was in the bathroom, then this work was notifiable to building control so he has actually broken the law if he has not notified them and provided you with a certificate

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

HiThis guy says on a trade website that "All work carried out in accordance with BS 7671 and by fully qualified tradesmen. The electricians under employment are all qualified to 17th edition and are well versed in the British Standard IEE wiring regulations."

I suppose this was the type of sucker phrase that laymen fall for.

Well IMHO to start with he's missed the mark one one of the simplest regs:

Page 19 BS7671 Regulation 134.1.1

Good workmanship by competent persons or persons under their supervision and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. Electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the equipment.

Did he issue a certificate... e.g. in accordance with guidance in regulation 134.2.1?

Draw your own conclusions?

Trading standards need a call maybe?

:|

 

[Robojin]

It's hard to believe that a qualified electrician did this work, if he were a Doctor he be struck of for gross misconduct

Was this an invoiced job, or something less formal?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

It's hard to believe that a qualified electrician did this work, if he were a Doctor he be struck of for gross misconductWas this an invoiced job, or something less formal?

Indeed! :Salute :Applaud:Applaud:Applaud

Concur with Mr Robojin! :|