5 Deadly Hidden Electrical Faults

Electricity can be very dangerous, more so when you don't even know what you're doing. Unfortunately, many homeowners still decide to work on their own electrics despite the potential risks. In this episode, we're challenging our apprentice Reuben to find five electrical faults, that are far more common than you may think.
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This video is for entertainment purposes only please do not attempt to copy or recreate it. Do so at your own risk.
#sparkylife #electricianlife #artisanelectrics

[@artisanelectrics]

Sign up to TRADIFY using code ‘ARTISAN’ to get 50% off your first three months - bit.ly/3JNjPGS

[@christurner6430]

It's easy. Don't turn that lamp on! (Joke)

[@peterfletcher2611]

Do electricians get jobs from tradify or is it just an accounts/planning app?

[@johnavery15]

It’s lovely to see Reuben’s confidence growing. His sense of humour is coming to the fore with the increased confidence. Great video guys and a real life fault finding course! Very good!

[@andrewbrady7909]

The problem isn’t DIY’rs, it’s the trades race to the lowest possible standard bottom over the last 20 years.

[@Sparks1Plumbers0]

Biggest culprit... New Builds. Often total nightmares that get signed off by Stevie Wonder inspector's!!!

[@TheTW11]

This is the problem I have now - I need a full EICR and a new board. I guarantee my place has faults cos the bloke I bought it off of was an idiot. But finding someone I can trust to do it properly is not so easy.

[@Mike-ms6he]

@@TheTW11Are you near Bristol?

[@AmauryJacquot]

the main issue is people's salaries haven't followed the crazy inflation numbers, preventing them to afford to pay tradespeople a decent rate

[@brendancooney9401]

True, house I bought 15 years ago had numerous faults and it was trades who were responsible, not diy as it was only 5 years old.

[@JGE_Installations]

Impressed with Reuben, some electricians I work with wouldn’t be that confident with those faults

[@Ragnar8504]

I can think of at least one experienced KZbin spark who might be chasing his tail on these, at least for a while 😀

[@danielelise7348]

​@@Ragnar8504who are you talking about?I won't say anything, it'll be just between us.😁

[@Ragnar8504]

@@danielelise7348 Delroy the Spark. He's a really nice bloke but sometimes he can get a bit confused.

[@owenlerry6339]

Well done Reuben, having someone like John teach you like this & give you such knowledge is golden & should fill you with confidence, just keep learning put the hard work in at college & you will become a great electrician.

[@artisanelectrics]

Couldn't agree more!

[@michaelanderson8010]

Well done guys! That’s a great way to teach next generation electricians about the dangers and importance of electrical safety!!👍👍.

[@acespark1]

Great video simulating real life situations is difficult, but I liked how you let Reuben try to work it out as he will have to do on his AM2 or AM2s, and in the real world. Training like this is invaluable 👍🏻

[@kinkam5516]

is it me or does Jordan's consumer unit look a bit messy? LOL

[@thesteelrodent1796]

Thanks, John, for explaining the need for proper polarity. Here in Denmark we don't have polarity on our electrical system. Everything is still wired according to the proper ISO polarity, but double-pole (or four pole for 400 V) breakers have been a legal requirement since 1975, and were used for several years before that, so it's not something we consider a big deal. It's still important to pay attention to it in old installations that have single pole breakers, but there are luckily very few of those left that have yet to be replaced - since our regulation require, that whenever you do anything that requires making changes to the board (like adding a circuit or replacing the breakers) the whole board has to replaced with one that complies with current regulation - it's a pricey rule, but ensures you don't pull more out of the board than it was designed for. One criticism about this test, though: NEVER trust the colours of the wires, especially when fixing DIY installations. And although you explained how a ring works and should work, you also succeeded in explaining why they're a terrible idea, which is the reason no other country uses them, or allow that high a rating on such a thin cable.

[@okaro6595]

In Finland there is polarity all the way up to the socket. There is a custom to put the phase on the right but it really is not an error to do it otherwise. All breakers and switches are naturally on the phase. In the UK system polarity really matters as the plug has fuse on the live. If you get a ground fault on a device it would completely bypass the fuse and the protection would be up to 32 A the breaker if you had no RCD. Alternatively on a short it could blow the fuse on the neutral and it would remain energized. Not a nice thing if the short was caused by a water spill.

[@jacklowe1]

Probably the best video you have done in a while. Educational. And makes a difference to the usual just fitting car chargers.

[@raymondburke1261]

Really good information. John, your good at explaining things and you have patience….a rare quality these days..👌⚡️

[@kittsdiy]

6:25 fun fact in Germany/holland/Begium we don't have polarized sockets.. L on the left or N on the left is both ok . Also you can reverse the plugs in Germany/Holland ( shucko) in Belgium we have earth pin .. buth double insulated appliences you still kan put it in both ways . And even more fun fact ..in Belgium we still have a lot of grids 3X230V .. so in a socket you have no neutral it's L1 & L2 .. of L3 & L2 etc .. ( also main reason why we all have use double pole protected brakers .. so on both wires fused )

[@Ragnar8504]

Correct polarity is vitally important if the BS1362 fuse in the plug is needed for fault protection, i.e. in circuits without RCD protection. Otherwise not so much if you follow basic safety precautions like unplugging floor or table lamps with Edison sockets before replacing lamps, particularly since EU Edison sockets from the past 60 years are reasonably safe even with reversed polarity, there's only a small metal spring that connects to the lamp's thread if the lamp is fully inserted, the threads in the socket are plastic or ceramic. I always laugh when I see Schuko socket testers that indicate "reversed L-N polarity" - well, just flip the sodding thing 180 degrees and the fault's gone!

[@kittsdiy]

@@Ragnar8504 good luck with that in Belgium.. we still have a lot of grids 3x230v.. so no neutral. . Is also the reason why double pole ( with protection on 2 poles ! Not an neutral mechanical connected to live contact ). Also new regulations here in june... all sockets / lights on 30mA rcd. With a max of 8 on 1 rcd.. ( before all on 1 main 300mA ..bathroom om 30mA ) And yes my tester always says wrong.. I always do L on the left.. N on the right. we have pin earthing.. we cannot rotate the plug like in holland or germany.

[@Ragnar8504]

@@kittsdiy Yes, I know, plenty of older 3x230 V supplies in Belgium. I had to find my way around the basics of Belgian electrics years ago when someone showed up on German electrical forums searching for an explanation of the installation report on his newly bought house in Belgium. Basically he wanted to know why his installation had failed and if that was dangerous. My French wasn't nearly good enough to understand the certificate at that time but I found the Flemish version of the form online and could make enough sense of the report to see that the main fault was an earth impedance exceeding 99 kΩ. I told him in no uncertain terms that yes, it was quite dangerous because that was just a very technical way of saying he had no earthing system in his house at all, even though all the sockets had the correct penaarde.

[@kittsdiy]

@@Ragnar8504 correct .. earth impedance has to be =< 30 ohm .. so when inspector checks and above 30 ohm it fails inspection ; We have to provide our own earth .. we don't get it from grid ( like in uk PME ? TNC .. )

[@jason2508]

From this video I decided to check one of the wall sockets I replaced 3 years ago. One of the wires were loose. Potentially a life saver. Thanks guys

[@TheXeroid]

Excellent video. John is an excellent tutor and explains things clearly. Reuben is cooking on gas too. One thing, whoever out that washing machine drain next to the DB, wants shooting. One blocked drain away from a lot of hassle.

[@The_Real_Pope]

Who’d have thought a “neat or not neat” reveal of Jordan’s consumer unit would be that birds nest!

[@2391Sparks]

Good skills young man, you’re already better than 50% of testers out there. Keep hold of that knowledge, it’ll earn you decent money in the future. Also nice to hear a sparks quoting GN3 (0.05 ohm disparity on conductors of the same size), not enough people know that..

[@graemescott990]

Well done John and Reuben that was a great teaching episode both from the material and the way that John mentored Reuben.

[@Rockspencer12]

Amazing video-idea and execution! Educational and entertaining as always, guys.

[@artisanelectrics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@omaximal1092]

Thank you once again, I'm about to do my fault testing on my course soon n this has been helpful! Specially when they talk about polarity!

[@djohnsto2]

No ring circuits here in Ontario, Canada - Good thing too, it's so easy for them to go wrong and pose a hazard without any warning whatsoever. That combo washer/dryer is pretty cool too - I've never seen that before.

[@razvanlex]

"That combo washer/dryer is pretty cool too - I've never seen that before." We have many models like that in Europe, usually they are not that good than separate models. Many new individual dryers are heat-pump based, I have a Samsung model in grey colour, matching the washing machine.

[@iainmcdougall3628]

John, Reuben, bang on the money with the theme of video that should be produced. Post watch, “are budding electrician viewers better off from watching” YES.

[@sukhi17]

Great video 👍 Huge amount of knowledge you guys have! I definitely learnt some things from this video! 👌

[@artisanelectrics]

Happy to hear that!

[@MsMelv1980]

Excellent job guy's, really happy to see you taking the time to teach your apprentices properly and in real world style situations. Great job keep up the good work to help improve our industry standards.

[@simonmiddleton4977]

Great to see Rueuben’s progress 👍😃

[@dobplastering8410]

Great video really enjoy these sorts of videos really helps thanks !

[@drwizzle]

Fair play. Reuben has grown in charachter and knowledge so much with you guys. Great to see some fresh blood learning the trade and also great to learn new skills with these vids. Keep up the excellent work and I can see Reuben going places.

[@lonewolfgeoff]

ok now we know reubens grasp of the force is nearly complete! absolutely awesome! 😁

[@MrDrewmcfly]

Excellent job, this definitely helps apprentice in open worls problems train them correctly and they will be a dam good spark

[@user-ip1tr5fr2i]

Cracking video - very educational and full of useful tips. More videos like this please guys 👍👍👍

[@Bringitohm]

This video is spot on . Wish this was available when I was learning but at least it’s here now for others . Good work as always lads

[@artisanelectrics]

Appreciate it!

[@jf723]

That was excellent. I am new to the trade and really those faults very useful to know.

[@mathman0101]

Excellent video would love to see John do some of the extra tests in GN3 how about a floor and wall insulation test? Not really done in a residential setting but worthwhile for people to see it.

[@fattoamanowoodwork3638]

Thank you for this guys, really really helpful for me that I do very basic maintenance always leaving the important/potentially dangerous jobs to a qualified electrician. This make me realise even better the importance but also provides me with valuable tips if I want to do simple faceplate swaps or simple jobs that can end up being very dangerous or fatales in my rentals. Thank you

[@matthewseymour8972]

A really slick, and entertaining video... great stuff

[@scottishsparky7927]

nice idea demonstrating how many different faults there could be and how easy it is to make a mistake! good video

[@pwaelectricalltd29]

Good video guys. Keeping the public informed 👍

[@jessiepooch]

Helpful and informative,thanks.

[@jedisith25]

Well done guys! That’s a great way to teach next generation electricians about the dangers and importance of electrical safety!

[@davidcousins5493]

Well done Reuben, good job, as for John, your just sneaky. Very good video guys, hopefully may safe a life.

[@jonathanblankley3546]

Great video. Nice to see Reuben's progress over time. Perhaps he could tidy up that DB to Artisan standard? 😜

[@RODALCO2007]

Great teaching for Reuben finding electrical faults in the kitchen circuit.

[@tm2204]

Brilliant video. Learned a lot from this 👍

[@mohamedsiadabdille7631]

That is really enjoying fault finding is great and I am really enjoying thanks thanks for your time appreciate that

[@martinburgess2322]

Well executed Ruben 👌John knows his stuff good teacher 👍😀

[@jboomhauer]

Very good content! Had no idea about some of these! (I'm not an electrician, but have changed sockets, lights etc. at home)

[@artisanelectrics]

Always good to know, that's the scary thing all of these are hidden other than the tripping light.

[@busman2000]

This is a very good episode from your videos. Hopefully there will be a reduction in house fires and electrocutions. You are so right. You can not see, hear or smell or feel electricity. Unless there is something going wrong.

[@MyImperfectEcoJourney]

Great video guys. This is why I employ an electrician for any electrical work now and never do it myself.

[@artisanelectrics]

Cheers John

[@dretrodealerakasparkz5406]

Reuben is going great guns, I’ve apprentices who wouldn’t have a clue on faults let alone testing, even though you get them hands on and trying to get them thinking about it they are clueless, well done on getting him to engage u should be proud of him! Consultants on most jobs (commercial) expect to see the CPC’s split in accessories forming part of a ring ie High integrity and i always make the boys do so on any ring final, if one cpc becomes loose or damaged the socket still has a chance to remain safer until discovered/sorted than no earth. IMO of course its open for discussion

[@Spark101.]

Brilliant video…..i like you 2 lads. This is a great way to learn.

[@artisanelectrics]

Cheers!

[@thomasthompson9130]

Great video keep up the good work

[@pbarnfield]

Great video this to highlight to both DIYers and also Electricians. I'd go as far to say that some "qualified and competent electricians" could learn a lot from this. Maybe even the guys who have been to my own house to resolve a couple of issues over the years and install a new Shed CU..... not once did I see any of them use a torque screwdriver on the MCB's and RCBO's! Good job I went and checked the stuff for my own sanity with my own torque driver as much of it wasn't tight at all!! This is why I prefer to do most things myself where I can, and get someone to check it. Just shows how things can be "wrong" without even realising!! I too had a Live Neutral reverse which I found on garage spur after testing with a basic plug in tester - didn't realise the full consequences of such wiring until more recently. Simple mistake to make I guess, but it all worked fine. Reuben - you'll go far buddy, great fault finding!!

[@AngelaPeters-fy1tc]

Great video really enjoyed it. Well done Reuben you will go far and beyond with your methodical approach and with yer man john teaching you the theory in the real world boys a dear this blue speck will be your oyster.

[@robertturner2516]

Great coaching session.

[@thedodger1387]

great set of faults . Lucky lad to have such a teacher

[@michaelcostello6991]

Very clear presentation

[@johnparker2636]

Its never a waste of time to watch a video like this.Thanks

[@patkaskrisztian8486]

Nice job, guys! It should be practiced in electrician schools, too.

[@marymadigan9707]

Nice one Reuben you have a great teacher nice one guys 😎🇮🇪👏

[@4addevelopments139]

Studying to become an electrician and been taught to times by 1.67 didn’t know you could decide by 2.5 then times by 1.5. Thanks!

[@Ragnar8504]

It's not really any easier though, just easier to remember (because L and N are 2.5 mm2 and the CPC is 1.5 mm2). 2.5/1.5=1.67.

[@canisferus]

Very cool episode!

[@davehunter6920]

excellent work Reuben

[@BiohazardX9]

proper learning - very good

[@szaki95]

Someone's got a very messy distribution box, it's definitely not made by Artisan Electrics :D

[@artisanelectrics]

😬

[@MS-Patriot2]

Trades own houses are rarely an example of their skill. They’re too busy fixing other peoples places for the money 😎

[@szaki95]

@@MS-Patriot2 I know :D

[@bryanhobson1822]

Hey John, Reuben stole your screwdriver whilst you weren't looking @ 8:50 :)

[@SteRumbelow]

8:50 We saw that, Reuben! 😂

[@delrey-p]

More employers/companies need to do this with their apprentices. Its a great way of making good sparkies!

[@michaelthomas6398]

Well done, Reuben👏🏽

[@NBundyElectrical]

great video guys

[@artisanelectrics]

Cheers bud!

[@jonathanblankley3546]

They even simulated the DB to look lashed in :)

[@anthonywilliamson915]

Well Done. Your going to make a great electrician. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@clintonelectricsa394]

Awesome video!

[@cedard5388]

More teaching videos like this 👏

[@l3d-3dmaker58]

loose connections are truly one of the most dangerous fault when wiring something up, had a family member lose $5000 in electronics because the main breaker's neutral was loose and arcing, its so quick to use a torque screwdriver and get it right, but cowboys do dodgy stuff and possibly put your life at danger. luckily im an electrician, replaced the breaker and torqued it down proper to the 2.5Nm it requires (AND even worse, it was 3 phase 380v, completely burnt the neutral terminal, insides were completely melted and didnt operate anymore + the cable was also melted, no a fun saturday night)

[@Ragnar8504]

Oh yes, loose neutrals in three-phase or split-phase setups can be quite nasty! My granny had that happen one Sunday. There was a splice in the line from the meter (outside) to her fuse board and the neutral had come loose in that junction box. If I remember correctly, it even formed a high-resistance connection with one of the neighbour's phases, causing them to go through main fuses like crazy. Not a dead short but enough to blow 20-amp fuses pretty quickly with any loads on in the apartment.

[@dans5101]

Quality video fellas

[@raymondgarafano8604]

u guys r bloody awesome! damn good too! in the U.S. the black or ungrounded cond. goes to the center contact of a bulb socket so as to keep power away from user as compared to having the screw-shell live as it would be much easier to touch and if standing on a concrete floor, the use would light up. YET it freaking works so, yes it is important to know that wiring MUST be done in a certain way, and that is according to the code and the consumer needs to know that wiring codes are in effect to protect the wiring and property.

[@mattyb1771]

My answer to people who say 'well it's been working for 20 odd years.' is 'No, you've been getting away with it for 20 odd years.'

[@elchapooo6668]

Love the way the boss is laying down legs up hahah

[@philipsmith0752]

well done Reuben, Jordan and John for teaching him

[@artisanelectrics]

👌

[@Liam_Hirst]

Seems like a top lad does Ruben. Top apprentice

[@piotrlobacz]

That's Jordan's house and cooker switch and extractor fan switch are less than 100mm away from hob. 😮

[@geordish]

It’s a rental, so he probably can’t change too much about it. I do wonder what his landlord thinks of that wall outside though!

[@stevedavis770]

There doesn't look to be an earth connection to the back boxes either.

[@JohnMyer999]

Great video kept him thinking 🤔

[@user-fw5tr8ht1e]

Love to see how close that washing machine drain is to the fuse board.

[@motivationhero7]

Great video, though Jordans consumer unit is surprisingly messy.

[@simonmaverick9201]

Those neon lamps on some fused spurs can be a pain in the neck when testing too.

[@carltaylor8113]

Great video

[@alvina69]

Great video… Reuben’s a credit to the company 👍

[@phillipbaker3860]

Nice job Reuben

[@davidclarke2513]

I have been an industrial electrician for 50 years and have NEVER had an incident were one leg of a ring has become overheated and I've had so many different faults on a ringmain circuits,I find domestic sparks are just too lazy to wire ringmains,they see more profit just running in radials and its so easy

[@peteglass3496]

As well as on the consumer units, do you all now use torque screwdrivers for the sockets on basic ring circuits, spurs etc.? If so, what torque setting for each cable size? Ta.

[@patricktuite32]

Nice video👍

[@Joey-JoJo-Jr.64]

I find the UK’s use of a ring system at low voltage within dwellings to be very interesting. This post explains it very well. Hello from the colonies ✋🏼🇨🇦

[@mike-ology22]

I'm.a plumbing and heating engineer and as a kid before being qualified in anything I knew what live neutral and earth was. I've never wired a plug wrong. However, I find light switches confusing with com and line. Because they don't state what wire should go where. Especially double switches. Sockets are easy. Most English people know how to wire plugs and sockets. However foreigners doing DIY, that may be a different matter. Great video though and Reuben has his head screwed on. Great work

[@bradh2066]

The argument here being once you’ve wired your socket… HOW do you know it’s okay?

[@kieranblackburn3465]

7:21 why is the washing machine drain pipe next to the mains power supply

[@the_real_hislordship]

Well done, good video. But what is different with Reuben?

[@colin125gwr]

good one

[@havoctrousers]

Was that a BG garage unit in Jordan's house! After all those times he's been snotty about them too!

[@Marks-Garage]

It is true, im not a spark but since i brought my house 8 years ago everything has worked as it should do. Upon inspecting my kitchen sockets i found 4 double sockets spurred off of a ring (32amp mcb) with no fuse to downrate it and then found a 13amp oven also added to those spurs. After that i was intrigued and tested ring continuity at the consumer unit which was all good. Upon inspecting other sockets on the same ring i found one with 2 neutrals barely making contact and another socket with one live hanging out of it. The guy who owned the house before me was a builder..... Luckily i have enough knowledge (18th edition and HV electrical engineer) to fix the easy faults and tell the other half we need to sort the wiring out on that circuit pronto or at least downrate it to 20amps.

[@AmauryJacquot]

good thing we don't have those crazy rings down here across the channel 🤣

[@steveksi]

Excellent Video... People think if it aint broke, leave it alone. Kinda like paint. Oh, it is not pealing, it is fine. You just might not see the damage.

[@MichaelB-wm5cg]

Or Buy a Jackery and have uninterrupted power when the Artisan guys come around. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@petergravy6893]

The ring circuits sound a bit dodgy, as if a break causes possible over overload of a cable.