Electrical Advice

What's happened to the 'polls' option? Discussion ThreadWhat's happened to the 'polls' option? Electrical Advice

I was trying to start a new thread today, with a poll. I can't seem to find the option though. Has it been taken away? Polls are fun!

Also, I notice on other threads that had polls, I can no longer see the poll... What is your hourly rate as a self employed electrician? (2023) | on Free Electrical Advice - Electricians Forums -...

 

What is under this lid? Discussion ThreadWhat is under this lid? Electrical Advice

I am thinking of having an air source heat pump installed on the concrete path in front of the blue wood-clad structure (see photos), but there may be impediments. One is a hinged iron lid with "Stop ****" on it. Inside is not a stop **** but some sort of a metal projection with a single black wire attached to it. It has been suggested that this is an earthing rod, but then what are the twin cables...

 

Can I charge my caravan battery from my car alternator with a DC to DC while idling? Discussion ThreadCan I charge my caravan battery from my car alternator with a DC to DC while idling? Electrical Advice

Can I charge my caravan battery from my car alternator with a DC to DC while idling?

Can I charge my caravan battery from my car alternator with a DC to DC while idling? for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Have a washer and dryer with related power supply issue Discussion ThreadHave a washer and dryer with related power supply issue Electrical Advice

Have a washer and dryer that are plugged into separate sockets and both have 13A fusesl The electrical wiring passes through the washing machine socket and then on up to the the dryer socket above.
There was no power to the dryer so I changed the fuse in the isolator and now it works fine.

But for some reason, the lower washing machine...

 

Where does the yellow wire go Discussion ThreadWhere does the yellow wire go Electrical Advice

ecently got a smart motion sensing light switch for an office. It’s a 3-way switch (2 total switches). I am having a problem hooking it up.

Old switch has 2 reds/white/green wires

new switch has red/black/white/green/yellow wires

I tagged the one red wire as it seems to be the “common”.Not much luck gettting the right wires hooked up

Here are some pics of what I am dealing with. Also...

 

Dodgy Aico smoke alarms Discussion ThreadDodgy Aico smoke alarms Electrical Advice

Hi all,

I made the apparent mistake of ordering some aico ei3016 alarms from amazon, I needed them asap for today and amazon just seemed like the easiest option as they were offering prime delivery. The price of them was just over £40 each, so in line with some wholesalers and online wholesalers. Basically no reason to think they would be anything other than a genuine new product.

Today they arrived...

 

Unusual lighting wiring? Discussion ThreadUnusual lighting wiring? Electrical Advice

Hi. Today I was at a friend's house having a look at a couple of lights that weren't working (turned out that quite simply one of the neutrals had worked its way free in the first rose).

It was all too tight to see for definite, but I think the wiring was basically as per the drawing I have attached.

Could this be correct? In the "old days" was there a 3 core cable that was red/blue/black/yellow...

 

Dodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views! Discussion ThreadDodgy trade pictures for your amusement! - 1 Million Views! Electrical Advice

Right ... Just been nudged to set this up by Paul.M and sounds a good idea following recent threads I've done in the Arms..

Rules....No Offensive material... edit if required before posting as this is the public arena.
Anything to do with the trade or in and around it ...H&S pic's welcome...

 

If you can't split a circuit? Discussion ThreadIf you can't split a circuit? Electrical Advice

I am a retired electrician and I've been out of the game for a while. My son asked me a question the other day and I wasn't too sure how to answer it so thought you lot might.

He wants to use rails to supply 5 modules, each module will have 40 small actuators that operate at 24VDC at 0.9As. Normally I said he would split each module up into a separate circuit with each one on an RCBO but...

 

Fluke 1664FC firmware Discussion ThreadFluke 1664FC firmware Electrical Advice

Fluke 1664FC. Has anyone tried to upgrade the firmware to include the 6mA RDC-DD test?

Fluke 1664FC firmware for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Fluke T5-1000 tester Discussion ThreadFluke T5-1000 tester Electrical Advice

For sale Fluke T5-1000 with original belt pouch and Fluke voltage tracer pen ( it was a set )

this has never left the house just been sitting in a desk drawer as I got it as a spare one donkeys years ago and forgot I had it

looking for £125 to cover postage as well

paypal money transfer only

Fluke T5-1000 tester for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Thermal Imaging Query Discussion ThreadThermal Imaging Query Electrical Advice

Hi guys,

Just a quick one regarding thermal imaging really.

My business has had numerous requests to carry out thermal imaging assessments at various locations throughout the UK.
This is not something I am familiar with so have used the excuse of being unavailable due to workload in order that I might have some time to do some research on the subject.
Aside from the TI equipment being excessively...

 

Inspection - Basic fault coding questions Discussion ThreadInspection - Basic fault coding questions Electrical Advice

I have to re-sit 2391 photo coding assessment (having passed the rest), and have a couple of simple scenarios I was unsure about last time. (I know I will get different photos this time). I'm curious how everyone asses these:

The task is to identify all faults (if any), likely outcome, and code C1/C2/C3/FI.

1) Switch isolator mounted to wall (switched ON and...

 

Has the world gone crazy, tool prices Discussion ThreadHas the world gone crazy, tool prices Electrical Advice

So, a bit of insomnia kicked in tonight after a hectic few days and I found myself scrolling and saw this sparks doing a bit of a tool price vid.
He paid over £400 for a wera torque screwdrive, 4 small vde joker spanners and 1 standard joker.
400 QUID
worlds gone mad when a screwdriver and a handful of spanners affords over 400 QUiD

Has the world gone crazy, tool...

 

Replacement ideas for fluorescent strip lights. Discussion ThreadReplacement ideas for fluorescent strip lights. Electrical Advice

What fittings are people using for replacing fluorescent strip lights? Looking for something with bulbs that customer can change rather than integrated? There are obviously plenty of led tube options but surely there must be something smaller/less bulky?

Replacement ideas for fluorescent strip lights. for the original thread on Electricians...

 

Hello Discussion ThreadHello Electrical Advice

Just want to say hello everyone!

Hello for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Posting hi so my account doesn't get deleted. Discussion ThreadPosting hi so my account doesn't get deleted. Electrical Advice

...... hi

Posting hi so my account doesn't get deleted. for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Fluke 1662 MFT with Calibration Certificate Discussion ThreadFluke 1662 MFT with Calibration Certificate Electrical Advice

Fluke 1662 MFT with calibration until Jan 2025, brought from CEF October 2022, had very light use and kept in good condition as shown in photos. No longer required. Local pick up preferred.

£400...

 

Hispec heat alarm Discussion ThreadHispec heat alarm Electrical Advice

Hispec mains heat rf alarm in situ for 2 years no problems..started beeping intermittently changed battery still beeped..changed unit to 1 with lithium battery fine for 2 days then started beeping...meanwhile the original alarm on a shelf in a different room not beeped since ...any ideas?

Hispec heat alarm for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Electric meter advice Discussion ThreadElectric meter advice Electrical Advice

To be clear I have no intention of messing with this, I just need to pick a few brains on the following.

British gas are sending me this on a regular basis, a ploy I think to get me to install a smart meter which i don't want.

"The radio service that supports your meter is being switched off. So we need to replace your electricity meter to make sure it continues to work after June 2025.
Your current...

 

Would like to have full membership again Discussion ThreadWould like to have full membership again Electrical Advice

Hi folks.Glad to see you are all alive and well and keeping this valuable forum up and running.Hav,nt been in a position to post for a while and need to log in now as "a guest".Also don,t receive any notifications.Have emailed staff but unsure if they had a chance to respond.In any case I,m hoping this "first in a long while post" will help to get me up and running...

 

Becoming an Electrician, best learning route? Mature Man Discussion ThreadBecoming an Electrician, best learning route? Mature Man Electrical Advice

Hi,

I am interested in completing training and to get the qualifications needed to get to where I want. I have looked at local colleges who only seem to offer heating engineer type qualifications and other courses that seem to only scratch the surface of what I am likely to need.

Could someone let me know the qualifications that are...

 

Replacing fused spur and hard wired kitchen appliance (fridge freezer) with a standard plug socket Discussion ThreadReplacing fused spur and hard wired kitchen appliance (fridge freezer) with a standard plug socket Electrical Advice

DIY'er here...


After my fridge failed (less than 5 years old) I replaced with a new one.
The old one was hard wired in a wall socket connected to a fused spur above the fridge.

So I replaced the hard wired socket with a normal plug in one.

When I...

 

Distance between meter and cut out Discussion ThreadDistance between meter and cut out Electrical Advice

My main cut out and meter is in a small cupboard above a kitchen sink. The CU is in the utility room next door. The tails are approx 2 meters long. The DNO has said there is not enough room for a smart meter in the small cupboard.
Is it allowable to fit the smart meter next to the CU in the utility room as long as the tails do not exceed 3m? Or is there a max allowable distance...

 

Section 7 checklists Discussion ThreadSection 7 checklists Electrical Advice

When doing an EICR on something like a swimming pool there is a section on the inspection checklist which asks about any other special locations and asks to record the results of the inspection separately. My question is are there any templates for inspections for special locations (especially swimming pools)

Section 7 checklists for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Greetings all, first post to say hello Discussion ThreadGreetings all, first post to say hello Electrical Advice

Just a post to say hello. Great forum and very useful

Greetings all, first post to say hello for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Hello! Discussion ThreadHello! Electrical Advice

Posting here otherwise I have been threatened of being forcibly ejected!

Hello! for the original thread on Electricians Forums

 

Intro Discussion ThreadIntro Electrical Advice

Got a message asking me to post, so here's my initial post...

I have found answers to some electrical questions on this forum over the years and finally decided to register. I'm not an electrician! But I did study electronics and have done quite a bit of my own small house electrical wiring fixes over the years.

I often look power poles and wonder what's going on. Usually I can suss out what's going on like ok, there's the 3 phases...

 

Cables within stud walls Discussion ThreadCables within stud walls Electrical Advice

Hi All,

Wondering if I can get some advice. Basically I’m having exposed joist ceilings in my house and I’m in the process of slowly changing all the cables over to new.

Currently I have 2 sockets within the lounge area chased into the brick plaster walls however I’m potentially looking to transfer over onto a stud wall. Basically the stud walls are insulated with space roll insulation which then...

 

Fraudulent EICR Discussion ThreadFraudulent EICR Electrical Advice

Hi guys, I'm looking for your expert advice and thoughts on the EICR that was issued back in April 2021 for the house that we rent and live in.

When the inspection was carried out, the electrician said that it was Unsatisfactory due to 2 C2's.

They were:
1. Db1 has no RCD protection on any of the circuits to allow for faster trip out times under fault conditions.
2. Batten light fitting outside the bathroom is...