Botchery, line tracing & core drilling

My apologies, this one is a bit thrown together; we hadn't planned to be filming anything. Still, some of the testing is shown, plus use of the line tracer and one of the easiest core drilling jobs I've ever undertaken!
Sorry too for the pap audio, I've normalised it as much as my video editor will allow. A couple of affiliate links are below for the line tracer and Armeg Switchblade torque screwdriver:
Line tracer*: amzn.to/2KBEXCn
Armeg switchblade: amzn.to/2DTgtAL
*This isn't the line tracer I use as it's no longer manufactured. I have no experience of this model I've linked to, but it shows the kind of kit I'm using, and if mine died then this is what I'd probably purchase to replace it.

[@enloubarpropertyserviceslt7254]

This is by far one of the best Installation video on KZbin. No glory hunting, simply teaching/showing how it should be done from start in the real world. So many other "Electricians" come on here and moan about others and they never show one test procedure, which at times makes me wonder!!? Please continue to keep up the standards. Which CPS are you guys with?

[@howlingwolven]

Coring holes wet is pretty amazing. No dust, no hammering, and nice quick cores too. Plus you don't blow out the back.

[@dsesuk]

A good tip, ta!

[@CdEmm50]

Protect your ears David , I've been protecting my hearing since '79 ; working on generators back then and I passed one of those tests where you get sounds all the way down to those tiny sounds. Although wife says I only hear what I want to hear , thanks for video upload.

[@dsesuk]

I know, an oversight here as I do normally wear ear defenders when core drilling. That said, I have already done too many jobs without them in my time and now have mild tinnitus.

[@NBundyElectrical]

Another great video, I’m 27 from Stafford and have my own business, I take pride in my work unlike most jobs I go to fix, I’ve been videoing my last few jobs hoping one day to my my own channel, any tips or pointers Dave? Cheers Nick

[@dsesuk]

Hi Nick.People are certainly keen to see videos on-the-job. iMovie or Movavi are easy to use video editors. It can eat up an awful lot of time, and no matter what you put up there will be some who want to give you a comment bashing. There are certainly far more popular chaps than myself on this platform, so I guess I'm not doing it right or giving people what they really want! That's okay though, I'll carry on knocking out the odd video so long as it's not a chore and isn't bad for business. Audio is my biggest headache, I can never seem to get it quite right. Have a play with an editor and see how things turn out. I sometimes find that the videos I think are the most shonky and least prepared favour more views and better feedback, so that shows all I know!

[@tlangdon12]

I want the word "want" and a fullstop at the end of that sentence, but apart from that you are giving me what I want. Your videos are thoughtful and informative.

[@NBundyElectrical]

No that’s great thanks, I realise there will always be someone who thinks they know better, I follow a few sparks on here but you have a laugh and get the job done at the same time 👍 I’m editing my first video now and it’s taking longer then me getting qualified so I know what you mean. Keep up the quality work 🤙

[@NBundyElectrical]

Hey Dave I got round to doing a video, would love it if you could take a look if you have the time cheers nick kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIuxgHilpKmqqpo

[@Callllum]

👀

[@rscelectrical7091]

Test-um cable tracers are excellent bits of kit. Like yours, my test-um tracer is years old & well used but keeps going strong.

[@dsesuk]

The display's staring to fail on mine, but it's still going strong!

[@rscelectrical7091]

@@dsesuk : Hi David thanks for the reply, mines the test-um long distance tone tracer. Can't remember the number off hand, but it's served me well for tracing alarm & telecom cables on large Commercial / Industrial sites. Keep up the excellent videos. Andy

[@dennisphoenix1]

I was told 20 years ago to ground any unused cores in a multi core cable or any unused cables in a bunch to stop induced voltages , still doing it now with cables at DB'S

[@apartmentswales]

Spot on, old tricks are the best tricks. I have been on site and picked up nearly 200v after the Main Swt was pulled, only to find it was capacitance held in bunched cables, simply grounded the energy soon disipitated the voltage to zero Mr Spence Eng

[@fallingdownalot]

I’ll have to dig my old BT oscillator and amplifier out and see if it’ll work for cable ID on ring circuits .

[@stephengreen909]

Thanks for the tip on using haste. 👍👍👍👍

[@dsesuk]

Fine folks I find!

[@adamosko9913]

I am starting my adventure with electric and f loving your videos

[@DaveMcLaughlin]

When you see the installations done in Indonesia, what you had there is pure gold standard in comparison. The biggest source of fires in homes here is electrical shorts. I had to get the fuse box rewired as all the jumpers were 1mm squared cable. No bus bars, just 1mm squared cable jumpers. :(

[@dsesuk]

I think the difference here is that the homeowner has probably been charged a fair whack for this work, and they're under the impression that it's been installed by a professional and is an improvement over whatever was there before which may not be the case. Elsewhere standards may be lower as a consequence of the economics, but people know that and work with what they have, often with pretty awful consequences as you describe.

[@DerekHundik]

19:55 why red and blacks go to CPC bar ?

[@dsesuk]

Just to stop them coming into contact with any live parts while they're floating around inside that consumer unit and someone else is working on them.

[@jcamerz]

Thanks for showing and explaining the line tracer appreciate the video 👍great bit of kit.

[@dsesuk]

Sorry for the delay, I intended to have this out at the Easter weekend, but I ended up on other duties!

[@ediijay9897]

Great cable tracer. Sadly it doesn't seem available anymore.

[@dsesuk]

Ah, that's a shame. Still, that's the kind of thing and the kind of price I'd be expecting to pay unless someone can show me why the likes of the Fluke 2042 commands such a high sticker price!

[@paultaylor4032]

Do you not have to have rubber grommets fitted on each of the cutouts? I have seen loads of CU's and dist boards where grommets have not been used

[@markpunt9638]

Hammer mode is supposed to wreck the diamond tips. Also I believe ear defenders and eye protection is recommended 🤩

[@dsesuk]

Yeah, but I've been on the same Erbauer core for years (surprisingly) and despite one missing tooth, it's still boshing holes in walls on Hammer Time!

[@marktully2718]

Does it say any where in the regs about grommets being required¿

[@dsesuk]

In the consumer unit? 522.8.1 and 522.8.11 talk about avoidance of damage to the sheath and of sharp edges. There's also the requirement for the top of the CU to be to IP4X (416.2.2). There won't be anything specifically about grommets though.

[@MrPaul1f]

Quality video, that line tester looks a really handy bit of kit.

[@LAsparkTVWireTestLimited]

One of my favourites! Like the use of the signal generator. I have one, only used rarely but might get it out tomorrow as I have a huge mapping operation on a multi-board commercial edifice near the office. I just want to get a handle on how much time it'll take me, how much help I need, and how much full EICR is going to be charged out at. I'm thinking thousands at this precise moment, so may not get the job. It's been without a watertight roof for four years, has 3 phase boards and all sorts, a lift too.

[@dsesuk]

Largest EICR I undertook was at an office with a warehouse and kept three of us busy for a week. These days, I'd rather take on little house bashing jobs for a simpler life!

[@LAsparkTVWireTestLimited]

@@dsesuk I'm thinking two of us for two weeks at this point, and the landlord's expectation is... well, we'll see. Or we won't see, because it'll just go quiet....

[@wwsxa39]

Not really surprised that there's no installers label on the board. I wouldn't want to put my details on that POS either.

[@ashmanelectricalservices4318]

😂😂😂

[@bostedtap8399]

Manslaughter electric style. Thanks for sharing and best regards from the Black Country.

[@digitalradiohacker]

Lets kick it off... "LARGE!" ROFL - I find domestic electrical work to be a really boring subject, but this channel is like an adaptation of Blackadder with David playing the part that would have normally gone to Rik Mayall.

[@dsesuk]

Ha! That would make NIgel akin to Baldrick then??!

[@SamMegadeth]

@@dsesuk do you pay him in turnips? 😂

[@dsesuk]

@@SamMegadeth He's worth his weight in turnips!

[@dangerousdave5076]

Haha, David's next challenge is to get Rik's characters "WOOF!" into one of his videos...

[@dsesuk]

@@dangerousdave5076 Challenge accepted!

[@zedman442]

That tone generator is a great bit of kit. Only problem is if you are tracing shielded Cat5/6 it won't pick it up.

[@RRAADDIISSKKUULL]

Unless you get to the end where they are not shielded or if you put the tone down the shielding

[@danielelise7348]

This dude narrates his vids like David Atenborrough, "ever seen 2 switchboards mate in the wild?" well sparks will fly" I assure you!! 😂😂😂

[@JPSElectricalServicesBristol]

New tool added to the wish list, thank you :)

[@gavindebrito7117]

Would the usb sockets give you a lower than normal IR result?

[@dsesuk]

If I was testing between line and neutral then they would have given me a zero reading as they're a connected load, but they shouldn't affect a reading when line/neutral are joined together and tested to earth.

[@MysticShiv3r]

I know you've been told before matey but get them ear drums protected! I've done it myself and cored fans out all week without ear defenders and suffered for days on end with that ringing etc. Having said that, great video and content as always!

[@dsesuk]

Yeah, I normally wear them, kicking myself for not having them on in this one, it's a dumb oversight!

[@melvinanezi9236]

Looks a decent bit of kit that MFT-PRO always been a megger man myself currently using the old megger MFT1730 but looking to upgrade to the megger MFT1731 but this look decent what’s the MFT-PRO costing when re-calibration is needed?

[@dsesuk]

Calibration pricing should be the same regardless of the MFT. The wholesalers usually have calibration days with fixed fees applied to the type of tester (MFT, PAT, single function, etc.)

[@ratsalive]

Hello (half expecting you not to spot this or answer and I totally understand if so), however, in regards to a tester for rcd, resistance, continuity etc, wow they're expensive! As a new electrician, which would you recommend when budget is limited?

[@dsesuk]

When it comes to an MFT, splash out as much as you can afford. Some good second-hand bargains can be found from those who bought the toys perhaps intending to retrain or go it alone before deciding against it; two in my collection were picked up in a practically unused condition from eBay and CEX. To future-proof yourself, try to get a more modern model that supports Type-A and perhaps Type-B RCD testing. The best tester I own remains the Metrel MI3100S because as well as being well featured, it displays the most information at-a-glance. It's about the most important tool a sparkie has, so it pays to get something as fully featured as your budget allows!

[@ratsalive]

@@dsesuk thank you.

[@SeanBZA]

Had to drill some of those larger cores, so went out and rented the drill instead. Took a while as I had to go back for another drill, because the first one decided to die, not turning at all under light load. Wanted 50mm, but instead went with 65mm, because that size was available, and was brand new to boot, never used. Wonder why? Just drilled 2 little holes through 350mm of concrete, only took an hour per hole, using an electric rock drill, that was conveniently the right weight to drill down under no pressure. Would have hated drilling up with it, seeing as it came in at around 30kg with the bit and the 1m mandrel I needed. Didn't even notice the rebar either. When needing a 110mm hole I got wise, called the corers, and they came and put the hole where indicated, going through 2 diamond corers, and incidentally over a half meter of mostly concrete. you point they drill, and if there is anything important there it will be sectioned out nicely.

[@dsesuk]

Can't say I'm a fan of it, especially at height. Domestically speaking, it's not too bad with the SDS, we only have to knock in a few every year. Anything tougher and I'd happily pay someone else to take it on!

[@pyrrhical3423]

David I’m in the stages of planning a full rewire on a house I’ve just bought, I’m a marine sparky so it’s quite new to me, could you advise me on any particular considerations? Is cat 6 through the house worth it for example

[@Synthematix]

lol if anything a metal distribution board is even more dangerous, reinforced ceramics would be better. Your videos are ace mate, love these install and fix vids

[@crashk6]

Some of My favorite boards over the years had full metal exteriors, and a flame retardant plastic interior lining. Great combination of material, the interior is thus resistant to electrical shorting and arcing from loose conductors/cores, and the exterior provides fire containment and the earthed metal outer enclosure provides noise shielding and physical protection. I wish they were all made that way.

[@loteknomad5032]

scotch eggs and sushi. love it :) Enjoy your videos. thanks for making them.

[@stevethomas5849]

Mr Savery is that one of those Boddington screwdrivers. As soon as you threw those switches on the mcbs the lights went out here spooky. All it was the daughter turning the lights off simultameously.

[@dsesuk]

Or maybe my drunken powers extend beyond rural Warwickshire....

[@stevethomas5849]

@@dsesuk Crikey all the way to the port of Bristol. Apparently you are never more than 72 miles from the coast Thats impressive.

[@marcjackson9943]

Would you have usually sorted the board out? (if it was'nt just going to be for the work you had done on that 1 circuit 🤔)

[@dsesuk]

If something were immediately dangerous, then I'd make it safe, but when it comes to unbotching poor workmanship I have to be careful. For something like this, I'd draw up a specific list of what is wrong and what is to be fixed and agree it directly with the client. I got caught out once when righting someone else's wrongs when the homeowner pointed at something shonky we hadn't even spotted and accused us of having done it! It can be a can of worms working with someone else's mess.

[@RWATraineeElectrician]

One eyed willie must have put those cables in the consumer unit 😆😆😆

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

Interesting video thanks, so what the gen on no seals these days do you ring the supplier to report them as missing?

[@dsesuk]

No, I don't bother, but I always note it on the certificate under 'Comments on existing installation' along with when the installation was last known to be tested and inspected (if ever).

[@quigofamily6362]

David you crack me up mate!! 😂 love the videos...

[@ashmanelectricalservices4318]

I love the line tracing unit... Does it work just as well on metallic switches and sockets too?

[@dsesuk]

No reason why not. The trick is to not put between line/neutral unless you know all loads have been removed (or the signal will be suppressed), and to disconnect neutral/earth at the board to prevent it crossing into neighbouring circuits.

[@gd-bq7em]

When doing your insulation resistance live and neutral to earth do you still unplug as many items as possible off the circuit. Also do you make a note that you only tested it this way

[@dsesuk]

Both the minor works and EIC have fields for recording Line/Neutral and Line/CPC IR results. On many minor works, I'd probably just do the one test with line joined to neutral and tested with respect to the CPC in which case I'd put LIM or N/V into the first box, then the test result in the second box. If the result is high enough, I'll probably not bother going around unplugging items, but if it's low then I'll want to know why. If it's on an EIC, then I'll likely have either installed the circuit or will have undertaken major work on it, so that would be fully tested.

[@gd-bq7em]

@@dsesuk ok mate thanks. The ir tests can be a pain if lots of sensitive equipment such as lights with transformers all in the ceilings and you can't get to them. Would this just be live and neutral combined to earth.

[@ashmanelectricalservices4318]

Horrendous fuseboard upgrade... I completely agree with you in relation to the implementation of 3rd amendment boards, rather than addressing the cause of consumer unit fires, the IET are more concerned about containing fire by changing the material in which the consumer unit is constructed from.

[@dandare2586]

17:26 I would definitely be wearing mostly ear defenders at this point :(

[@dsesuk]

Quite right, and normally I do when core drilling. This was a surprisingly soft brick and I was through it quicker than expected.

[@skamuk1]

Ay?

[@muzikman2008]

I now need a line tracer 😂 cheers!

[@steogorman]

Me 2 they look class

[@muzikman2008]

Bought the PunEng one £30 works a treat. Evil bay. 😁

[@kangtheconqueror]

Another great video David. Scotch egg and sushi? Meal for Kings? Flamin' Nora... sounds rank!

[@dsesuk]

Smells worse.

[@Paulrogbucksbeach]

Hi David. I really enjoy your videos. I tried to go back to one of your old videos related to this question. What brand of rubber drill dust collector when doing gib cut-outs do you use? It looked great for collecting dry wall dust etc. Cheers from NZ

[@dsesuk]

Thanks Paul. It was the D.A.D.E. shown in the Five Lesser Known Tools video from December 2018. It stands for Dust And Debris Eliminator if I remember rightly!

[@acelectricalsecurity]

You do realise when the other electrician takes the cover off and sees the red and black going to the earth bar, he will be thinking which idiot done that, 😂🤣😂 and probably call you all the names under the sun.

[@dsesuk]

Probably. But if he gets a shock, he can't blame me for moving the those wires into contact with live parts.

[@apartmentswales]

Bang on, the ends of any and all dead unused cables should be as a minimun std be terminated within a suitable sized crimp and a lable affiexed "Dead Cable" . I personally prefer to pull them out of the board and terminate them in a JB and then labele on the outside cover "Dead Cables" But as to the general mess that board was in, it called for a notice to be issued to the householder informing him of the dangers and faults present, then walk away job done. Mr Spence Eng

[@donnierobertson3088]

Good job

[@crfgunclub]

Your tester is a belter

[@jamesswinyard530]

With a consumer unit looking like that I dread to think what the rest of the installation is like. I’m a DIYer and finishing off a full house refurb. I ran in all the cables and fitted the accessorises. Paid an Reg’d electrician to supply and fit an RCBO board. All tests fine, all cables run in correct zones. Grommits used on all boxes. It’s a sense of pride for me to do a job properly. What is wrong with these people!?

[@MS-Patriot2]

Time and money.

[@nw5835]

Enjoyed the far to brief display of Irish dancing.

[@throttlebottle5906]

did the plumber do the previous electrical? :)))

[@williammartinculleton7523]

Don't you love it when you hit a tie wire when drilling through a wall 😂

[@muzikman2008]

Always use a core drill with a clutch, and keep awake and alert whilst drilling. ⚠️😂

[@l4Green]

Confused David - you did perfect initial tests which included insulation and then wandered around with the signal generator and found sockets with things plugged in... some sockets still switched on (yes... I paused and went back to check). Please enlighten me - insulation test with appliances connected should probably fail or / damage the equipment. PS. I'm a fan not a critic. ;)

[@dsesuk]

Hi Laurence. It's always tricky when turning up at an unfamiliar site to know which circuit serves what. You can unplug all loads, but you can't be completely sure something somewhere hasn't been missed even if a continuity test between line and neutral shows no loads. In this case, I didn't remove any loads before undertaking the test, but the test was performed with line and neutral tied together which means although the test voltage is being applied to both, there's no potential difference between them, and little risk of damage occurring. It's not really any different to a PAT test. If we were PAT testing the appliances at this house, we'd plug them into the PAT tester and do the same thing: stuff 250/500VDC up line and neutral together to see if anything leaks out to earth. There is a risk that something plugged in to a single pole socket which is switched off will see the test voltage applied only to the neutral and not the line, but this could also happen on a PAT test where the appliance is tested where a single pole power switch is left off, there's a fractured core in the cable or if the fuse has failed in the plugtop. Here, the connected equipment will skew the numbers, but the advantage of testing with appliances connected is that you're seeing what IR that circuit as a whole is currently presenting which is something you need to know in an RCD trip fault such as I waffled on about in another recent video. The result I got here was a pass with everything connected, but the actual number for the circuit wiring alone is likely to be a lot higher. I guess the bottom line is that with the exception of specialist equipment I'm not likely to find in a pensioner's home such as this, whatever kit they have ought to be able to withstand a PAT test. To date, I've not had any complaints of fried electronic goods from either IR or PAT testing, although it's always a risk such could happen. I hope that explains it?!

[@l4Green]

David Savery Electrical Services I missed the line and neutral tied together and that answered the question perfectly, I was thinking test was between line and neutral... perfect again, please go back to your well deserved beer. Thanks for the videos (and humour) mate.

[@dsesuk]

Haha! It's a rare night off the sauce for me, I need some sleep! If I am testing L-N, then I usually perform a continuity test first to ensure it reads as open circuit, then I test at 250v. If that comes back as clear, then I might whack it up to 500 or just go with the 250 result.

[@artisanelectrics]

I’ve got to ask... the McDonalds Cap... did you work there or was it a charity shop find?! Great video as always by the way!

[@dsesuk]

My daughter worked there for a year, it was hanging around after she left so I nicked it.

[@artisanelectrics]

Ha ha I worked there for a year part time after I left school and kept the M apron and my mum still has it!

[@dsesuk]

They're quality McGarments!

[@SeanBZA]

@@dsesuk I got a name badge from the one employee, and used a labeller on it. Gave it to a sweet girl who I know, who would never get a job there for reasons beyond her control, but who is just so nice anyhow.

[@philcollins6498]

Learnt the hard way myself 😩😩 once you’ve gotta good 1/2” to 1” depth on the core core itself , take the pilot big out of the middle !!, will reduce the snatching on the drill itself and the likelihood of you snapping your hand of forearm 👋👌as you probably well know it feckin hurts when it snatches 😢🤣👍 just sayin 😏🤷‍♂️, one last thing , prepping the oven for said Turkey 🦃 , special brew 😳 seriously 🤷‍♂️ pre-Crimbo is a good single malt time ffs 🙄🙄😜👍🤣🤣 boss vids !!👌

[@ghspaelectricalservices9296]

Top job David

[@alexdougherty4905]

Do you make a note of the outstanding faults on your minor works mate?

[@dsesuk]

Not a definitive list on the cert itself, but I'll note that there is 'evidence of poor workmanship which fails to satisfy the requirements of BS7671" or suchlike. I also always note when the last inspection/testing date was if there's a sticker or chart indicating such (or I'll explicitly state that it is unknown and recommended if not).

[@alexdougherty4905]

@@dsesuk nice one cheers.

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks Dave

[@adamparkin4791]

Brill video mate many thanks

[@darraghjoyce5663]

I’m loving it

[@dsesuk]

Bu-duh-bu-duh-baaaa!

[@ashmanelectricalservices4318]

I would have been a little but cautious with this job... The client already has electrical contractors onsite doing bits in the kitchen, why ask another contractor to install a fan and do some underfloor heating.....🤔

[@dsesuk]

I know what you mean, it was a bit odd turning up to find a Clarkson Evans van already on the drive (they disappeared after we arrived so we didn't get to chat with them). I think they're appointed for the kitchen refit, but the bathroom was something that the plumber had been left to sort out, and he used us as his preferred electrical partner. I don't know what they thought of the state of the CU or what testing they had already performed as part of their work.

[@tomorichard]

David Savery Electrical Services clarkson evans doing something other than a new build house??

[@dsesuk]

Not something I've seen before either, I thought they just did the big contract work(?)

[@Bin216]

David Savery Electrical Services Sub-contractor to the conservatory company? It’s almost new build...

[@dl8966]

@@dsesuk probably find that the electrician from clarksons is doing a side job and disappeared so he doesnt get clocked and reported.

[@cunning-stunt]

I should have worn hearing protection for 17:30. I've obviously been spoiled, I'm used to AVE muting the recorded loud bits in his uploads.

[@dsesuk]

So should I.

[@cunning-stunt]

​@@dsesuk I'm sure the internet H&S club has already told you that. That junction that was shown at the start of the video is that going to be inaccessible once the wall linings go on? How do they get away with that sort of thing?

[@dsesuk]

That got tidied up and enclosed in a Wagobox. Different countries have different rules when it comes to inaccessible junctions, but in the UK enclosures and connectors complying with BS5733 and installed to the manufacturers' instructions can be left inaccessible (regulation 526.3). More on that here: www.dses.co.uk/index.php/free-advice/180-inaccessible-junctions

[@cunning-stunt]

@@dsesuk We can do crimp joins with two lots of heat shrink in NZ otherwise it must be accessible. Can't be hidden in a wall.

[@dsesuk]

Seems common in a lot of countries that. Thank feck for 526.3 here, otherwise life would be a lot more difficult!

[@bikerchrisukk]

I do like your vids, nice one. Just wondering but are those core drills bothered by wall ties?

[@dsesuk]

I hit one when core drilling a couple of months back. I usually manage to chew through them. I'm always amazed at how well that core drill has lasted - I've had it years, and it was only an Erbauer one from Screwfix. One tooth chipped early on so I didn't expect it to last, and on most jobs I lose patience and whack it on hammer after a while, but it's still going strong!

[@bikerchrisukk]

@@dsesuk That's great, thank you very much! Really impressed by that screwfix jobbie, good info, nice one 👍

[@dannybrown4124]

They don't like plywood though

[@PHealey1981]

The cable entries on that DB have made me sick in my mouth. What a rough old bastard. 😡

[@dsesuk]

I know, that line core butted up to the sharp edge of the knockout.... there's just no need for such shoddiness!

[@Bin216]

Ok, so what is the story with the Golden Arches cap?

[@dsesuk]

Saves me combing my hair.

[@Chris-um9ds]

I was expecting the line tracer to be loads of dough ! ordered . Cheers Dave

[@dsesuk]

Low cost, high effectiveness! Indispensable on comms cabling, but comes in very handy for electrical installations too if used right!

[@jackedwards5618]

The McDonald’s hat 😂😂

[@Sash_Window]

What is it with the Mc Donalds hat? :)

[@kevvywevvywoo]

no worries, the electrician that installed that board has it all in his head.

[@zjzozn]

Hammer time !

[@tspirit99]

Michael Sheen, when did you become an electrician? :D

[@Bryan-fg3ey]

You would think the person who installed the distribution board wold think " maybe I should spend an extra 5 mins making the only thing the customer can see,neat and tidy?..... No sod it.

[@raymondchapman6951]

you kept me smiling though covid shit while i was on furlough now i got made redundant 20 odd grand ,and now an easier job and more pay ,just testing ,thanks ,nige will be retiring soon what ya gonna do then ,anyway keep up the good work

[@RandyDarkshade2]

Why no one fits grommets is beyond me. I am not an electrician (Well, not qualified) and recently installed a consumer unit in my shed, it was metal so I went out to a DIY store and got a pack of four grommets for 59p. They cost peanuts so why do these cowboys leave them off?

[@muzikman2008]

Annoys me too.. No excuse. That red live conductor on the CU hole edge was a short to earth waiting to happen. Unfortunately I see this in metal back boxes with no earth connected and making screws and class 1 metal housings live!..

[@londontrada]

stuffing glands are much better

[@jut20five]

Would really like to see a video of you critiqueing a decent job ! Not one of your own you understand, but hey , there must be some decent sparks out there?? Surely Dave ! Please show us a decent job before I get too depressed.!!

[@dsesuk]

I'll put my money where my mouth is soon and show something I've installed, then everyone can have a chance to put the boot into my work!

[@delspark]

Good vid and a well deserved lunch 👍

[@dsesuk]

Sushi n' scotch eggs: together at last!

[@j444bek]

17.05 No ear protection 🤣🤣🤣🤣😷👍

[@Davidhughes9467]

Was that job done by the 5 star electricians 😂

[@ChrisTheSparky]

My customers energy supplier sends someone out to install a double pole isolator for free, sod £60!

[@edwardholmes91]

Had one fitted for free when the energy supplier fitted a smart meter.

[@markyd2633]

The hat......and the chatty mate......another good one.....Thanks

[@imark7777777]

15:15 another USB and yet the phone is plugged in with a USB charger!

[@DerekHundik]

that MFT Tester costs around 1.3K

[@dsesuk]

Nah, that's just a catalogue price. CEF have them at £959.94 with VAT, Toolstation at £998.00. Even then, mine was second hand at £500 but looked like it had never been used.

[@dtec30]

line tracer also called an fset in telecom parlance

[@bikerchrisukk]

My god, that line tracer doo dad is only £16'ish on Amazon?!?

[@dsesuk]

It's not the same as mine (which isn't made any more), so I can't speak for the quality, but they are inexpensive.

[@bikerchrisukk]

@@dsesuk Yeah I saw that, still, if it does the job that'll do. Use it a lot, get a better one tis what I say. Keep up the vids, always good to see you speak your mind as well as seeing the job done 👍 to think you were an IT geek once a long ago 👌

[@dsesuk]

@@bikerchrisukk These days I can't even figure out to turn on Bluetooth!

[@bikerchrisukk]

@@dsesuk These days I think you have more useful skills...and knowledge of way more abbreviations - CPC, SPD, DNO, EICR, RCBO, RCD and more importantly, entertaining sayings that relate to a tin of...something (that last one made I laugh!).

[@dsesuk]

You gotta do it onto, or into something!

[@simolatham03]

Dave just detstroying his hearing once again

[@totherarf]

I hate to say this but you did not test the Ze! The Ze is tested from the Supply (live side of the main fuse contact in the cutout) and the Consumers Earth Terminal .... with all earths removed from the CET! I constantly get call outs from council houses being inspected giving high earths! There usually is no problem with the supply but often the contact resistance in both the isolator (where fitted) and contact in the meter! Before people start shouting at me, I work for one of the electric boards and realise that most sparks are not authorised to remove main fuses .... but that is not our problem! This may be an area for the IEE to do a bit of thinking about (no don't laugh)

[@dsesuk]

Ah, well, I'm afraid whatever I do, there is always someone on KZbin to tell me it's wrong!

[@totherarf]

I was pointing out the discrepancy between what you as a spark are expected to do and what the regs say. Follow the rules and you can't fill out a periodic inspection form! Doing as you (and most other sparks do) gets round this but can cause problems ...... maybe we should expect the governing body to actually know what they are doing and care enough to sort it out?

[@dsesuk]

Ha! Fat chance! :D

[@rayc1503]

They call me the Executioner or is it an Electrician. Sometimes I forget. I'm definitely no butcher though. It seems like Bill the Butchers started doing electrical installs, naughty Bill. I hate seeing bodged electrics, it makes me cringe. No competent sparky would install a consumer unit or switchgear like this. I thinks Mr builder/butcher has been a very naughty man 🙈

[@ouroboros113]

Didn’t know Greg davies was a sparks 😂

[@dsesuk]

Taskmaster wasn't working out.

[@keithjohnstone9889]

Pisses me right off with shite so called tradesmen, I mean monkey's that think the job they have done is acceptable. Good video guys. 👍

[@dsesuk]

You have to wonder how they see this through their own eyes. They must assume it's acceptable, or perhaps they just don't care? Can't understand it myself. Doing it this badly means you just short-changing some other working stiff in their own home.

[@richardwilliamson3624]

Bag o shite. Amazing what other Contractors think is acceptable

[@sailing_raptor]

The plumber has installed the waste pipework in the ceiling joists illegally, it isn't permissible to drill holes in joists for waste pipework, the diameter is too great and the pipework has been run towards the bottom of the joist, which is also not permitted. Oh the irony of it!

[@dsesuk]

Building regulations don't apply to plumbers. They can install pipework wherever and however they like. Also, if you've been to site and drilled holes through joists in preparation for cabling, they're allowed to nick them for their pipework as they see fit!

[@steveemmawood8719]

@@dsesuk You are wrong. I refer you to www.gov.uk/building-regulations-approval It clearly states that Building Regs applies to any work to "install a bathroom that will involve plumbing". A wet room is classed as a bathroom. As a 'professional' trades person, you should be careful to get your facts right before flaming others.

[@adamdavis3735]

@@steveemmawood8719 I think you'll find he was being sarcastic!!

[@K-carbon]

How would you get the waste pipe out then ?

[@sailing_raptor]

Steve emma Wood the issue isn't the wet room, it's the incorrect drilling and notching of joists.

[@billynomatz9233]

As a fellow electrician ,I follow your videos as you seem one of the more levelheaded sensible electrician producing videos,Not like some of the kiss arse ,brainwashed electricians on here... though I think that fuse board is all wrong, is it just sparks are getting so fed up with the bullshit and constant over regulation of our trade that they’ve started to cut cornersTrying to make time to fill the 20 page certificates with irrelevant number !!numbers and readings which we keep repeating over and over again...I could say more but you get the drift

[@dsesuk]

I think the certificates are pretty awful and could do with a redesign, maybe even a split between domestic and commercial seeing as the requirements can differ so much between them. From my experience though, where the workmanship is this poor, the paperwork, if there is even any, will also be nonsense. Sadly, nobody checks it unless something terrible happens.

[@billynomatz9233]

David Savery Electrical Services ..I agree with your comments let’s just hope someone sees sense about the paperwork ,but let’s be honest some arsehole is sitting in his office and justifying his job by inventing more !!!

[@dsesuk]

Someone with letters after their name who hasn't worked on the tools in the past thirty years.

[@ScottMcD91]

Scary what people think this is acceptable. If anyone working for me or with me left anything like that they would be out the door in a flash. Also David still struggling to find quikreel, I have my wholesaler ( Holland house ) trying to source it

[@dsesuk]

It was CEF who asked me to look at Quickreel, and my understanding was it was about four weeks away from being in the store, but they still don't seem to have it. I told them I'd link to their product page in the description when it came out, but haven't heard anything further. As far as I know, it should be hitting the shelves sometime soon!

[@ScottMcD91]

Been keeping an eye out for it, got to be worth a shot. Keep up the good work anyway mate, tradesmen like you that give us all a good name! Nothing wrong with being to safe now a days. Everyone’s out to get a peice of you when some shit hits the fan

[@Synthematix]

17:29 DONT BREATHE THIS lol

[@RRAADDIISSKKUULL]

2:50 jeez. You really do come across some crap. You can normally call up ukpn/supplier and get an rec fitted for free.

[@dsesuk]

Different DNOs seem to have different approaches. I used to ask the client to call up directly and arrange their own isolator install, but got put off when one customer told me he'd been stung £150. For me, Haste are normally there in about a week, and sure, it puts up the price and prolongs the job, but CU installations are one of those things I want done properly. If the customer wants it fast and cheap, there are others out there just waiting to take cash for an end result like this.

[@RRAADDIISSKKUULL]

@@dsesuk that's so true. Lost plenty a job this way. It's even harder when arranging via a landlord or letting agent. Vde gloves are on the van incase of emergency surgery

[@Tommyinoz1971]

Must have been a Friday arvo cashie job.

[@SamButlerUK]

Tommy Oz never hear “arvo” outside Aus! G’day from the land of the poms

[@normanboyes4983]

Any professional electrician finding shoddy and dangerous installations like this (not unusual) example should make it their business to get the name of the Electrician and ensure they are reported (along with the video evidence) to the relevant authorities.

[@dsesuk]

The problem here is that the industry is unregulated. If the previous installer left no paperwork and took cash for the job, then proving they even did the work is awkward. Even if there is a paper trail, if they're not registered with a CPS, that only leaves you going down the route of Trading Standards and a private prosecution which most homeowners can't be bothered with for fear of reprisals and spiralling costs. If the installer was registered with a CPS, then the CPS will require them to go back and make good, but who wants a crap installer back in their house? If they couldn't get it right in the first place, why would you want them back with a chip on their shoulder? It's all down to the homeowner though; it's their installation and I can't force them to pursue a past installer, nor can I act on their behalf without their permission. In the past, I have produced reports for homeowners to explain why the work is unsatisfactory so that they can use it as a basis for making a complaint, and I have once acted on behalf of a homeowner in an official complaint to a CPS. These are documented on my website at dses.uk under the blog section: Cowboy Competition 6 and 5 are articles where I assisted the homeowner by producing written evidence of the poor workmanship. In #6, the homeowner didn't pursue matters I don't think, but my relationship with them went sour as explained in that piece. In #5, the homeowner was able to get some compensation from the high street kitchen supply company as they failed to ensure the work performed by their subcontractor was up to snuff. The article Cowboy Competition 4 explains what happens when I complained to a CPS about their installer, and how futile it all was. Without regulation, there are few routes for complaint, and the effort, potential costs and the effectiveness of those avenues that are open make it a difficult experience. What I can do which is easy is highlight examples of bad workmanship on this channel and on my website to make it more recognisable to the public, or at least to those who stumble across my ramblings.

[@normanboyes4983]

David Savery Electrical Services Thank you.👍 Maybe the solution is a mandatory disconnect of electrical supply if there is no evidence of installers details (that threat may flush out recalcitrant property owners). Supply may be reconnected after payment of full survey fee and contract agreed on remedial works. How does that sound? I think Gas Safe do this.

[@daxw2460]

How is there 9 people whom will not like this video?

[@couleddie]

Probably plumbers

[@royking1]

Can't believe the plumber was using push fit waste when its going to disappear into ceiling. Ffs

[@guysmith1192]

Looks a tad Eastern European to me. Seen it all too many times

[@ashmanelectricalservices4318]

That's remarkable... You can tell the nationality of the installer just by looking at the fuseboard 🙄

[@Ragnar8504]

@@ashmanelectricalservices4318 There are meticulous electricians almost everywhere and what is and isn't considered safe and neat varies a lot across different countries but I do feel some countries have, on average, a higher tolerance for truly shoddy work, and in Europe most of those are in the south and east.

[@radosaw4616]

As a qualified sparks from Romania I can agree a lot of eastern Europe people that aren't competent unfortunately do jobs like that for a cheap price and the customer will choose them over us because of the price a big problem in all trades at the moment I'm afraid

[@TheDeathBonus]

Another great video Dave. What an abortion that board is, all too common these days though.

[@ashmanelectricalservices4318]

Sadly the low cost of replacing a consumer unit these days is often reflected in the poor workmanship.

[@cjkokay]

Dust mask cab be appropriate

[@dsesuk]

It was remiss of me not to show the correct use of PPE during this drilling operation. I have a (rather expensive) full face mask on the van, as well as good ear defenders, and both are usually used when core drilling despite their omission here.