New alarm nightmare.

D1GG3R

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Good Morning DW.

Bit of advice if I may?

Yesterday I had a local company in to fit my house alarm.
They decided to put the main control box right above the electric distribution board in the hall way.

Long story short, they drilled through a cable, twice Obviously a bit of a flash & bang and then no electricity.

The owner of the company came out to have a look. His solution was to knock some of the plaster away to expose the cables. He then cut the cable and stripped it back. He's rejoined the cable using one of them chock block screw terminal things and said "you won't see it when the box is on".

Can any electricians on DW tell me if this is safe?? The drilled cable looked like the smaller 1.5mm lighting circuit?

The cable that was drilled was covered by one of those conduit cover things and then plastered over.

Behind my alarm box is now a gaping hole in the plaster and an exposed chock block thing. Addmitantly, you can't see any of if because the box covers it.

If I move house and want to take the alarm with me (wireless and bloody expensive) I assume that I will need an electrician & plasterer to out it right??

Any advice would be great.
Cheers
DiGG


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I think you need the electrician and plasterer now, not when you move house, and the cowboys who did the installation should be paying for it!
 
I think you need the electrician and plasterer now, not when you move house, and the cowboys who did the installation should be paying for it!
Are there any regulations that I can throw at them??

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No need for any regulations they botched up a lighting circuit and you want it putting right, Take photo's as evidence as this could end up going to trading standards
 
I'm not an electrician but I would doubt that the repair meets building regs, no doubt a leecie will post soon and tell you, you should complain and tell them you want it repaired properly, have you paid them? if so how did you pay?

And you want a electrical installation/modification certificate to say it's complied with the electrical regs
 
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No need for any regulations they botched up a lighting circuit and you want it putting right, Take photo's as evidence as this could end up going to trading standards
Can't really take photos because the alarm main box covers the hole.
I can't take the box of because it's pamper proof [emoji17]

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I'm not an electrician but I would doubt that the repair meets building regs, no doubt a leecie will post soon and tell you, you should complain and tell them you want it repaired properly, have you paid them? if so how did you pay?

And you want a electrical installation/modification certificate to say it's complied with the electrical regs
You pay when the installation is complete. They took that long their office was closed, so no payment made

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You pay when the installation is complete. They took that long their office was closed, so no payment made

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Oh your laughing, DO NOT PAY ANYTHING until everything is to your satisfaction.
 
I'm no sparkie but i do know any type of electrical repair should have been done with a junction box rated to the current going through which needs leaving exposed so that future tests and inspections on it can be done and at the moment its coverd over which is a No-No.

Even the 'Choc Bloks' have ratings for different cable, as said previously wait for one of the sparks to reply but for me i would want it ripped replaced for new re-plastered and re-decorated back to its former self.

Geez did these people not even have a detector used before drilling checking for live cables,studs etc...
 
I'm no sparkie but i do know any type of electrical repair should have been done with a junction box rated to the current going through which needs leaving exposed so that future tests and inspections on it can be done and at the moment its coverd over which is a No-No.

Even the 'Choc Bloks' have ratings for different cable, as said previously wait for one of the sparks to reply but for me i would want it ripped replaced for new re-plastered and re-decorated back to its former self.

Geez did these people not even have a detector used before drilling checking for live cables,studs etc...
They're a liverpool company mate. Been going for 38 years or so they say. So you would expect some competentcy?

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Good Morning DW.

Bit of advice if I may?

Yesterday I had a local company in to fit my house alarm.
They decided to put the main control box right above the electric distribution board in the hall way.

Long story short, they drilled through a cable, twice �� Obviously a bit of a flash & bang and then no electricity.

The owner of the company came out to have a look. His solution was to knock some of the plaster away to expose the cables. He then cut the cable and stripped it back. He's rejoined the cable using one of them chock block screw terminal things and said "you won't see it when the box is on".

Can any electricians on DW tell me if this is safe?? The drilled cable looked like the smaller 1.5mm lighting circuit?

The cable that was drilled was covered by one of those conduit cover things and then plastered over.

Behind my alarm box is now a gaping hole in the plaster and an exposed chock block thing. Addmitantly, you can't see any of if because the box covers it.

If I move house and want to take the alarm with me (wireless and bloody expensive) I assume that I will need an electrician & plasterer to out it right??

Any advice would be great.
Cheers
DiGG ��


Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

who put the chock block need take it out this the rules Requirements of 17th Edition
Wiring Regulations BS 7671:2008
This section aims to explain some of the regulations contained within
the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, regarding the connection of
conductors both for lighting and power final circuits.
Electrical Connections
The requirements of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations concerning
electrical connections are covered mostly within section 526. This
section states that every electrical connection shall have durable
electrical continuity, adequate mechanical strength and protection.
The wiring method illustrated here is a common cause of
non-compliance particularly with lighting circuits and the connections
to downlighters in particular.
s
)T CAN BE SEEN THAT THE SHEATH OF THE mEXIS NOT EN CLOSED 4HISIS
due to the junction box connection method not facilitating an easy
means of enclosing the outer sheath, a non-compliance with
regulation 526.9.
s
!NOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT DURING INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

mechanical strain may be placed on the terminations of the
conductors within the junction box. This is due to the lack of a
clamping method for the cable, a non-compliance with the
regulation 522.8.5.
 
who put the chock block need take it out this the rules Requirements of 17th Edition
Wiring Regulations BS 7671:2008
This section aims to explain some of the regulations contained within
the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, regarding the connection of
conductors both for lighting and power final circuits.
Electrical Connections
The requirements of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations concerning
electrical connections are covered mostly within section 526. This
section states that every electrical connection shall have durable
electrical continuity, adequate mechanical strength and protection.
The wiring method illustrated here is a common cause of
non-compliance particularly with lighting circuits and the connections
to downlighters in particular.
s
)T CAN BE SEEN THAT THE SHEATH OF THE mEXIS NOT EN CLOSED 4HISIS
due to the junction box connection method not facilitating an easy
means of enclosing the outer sheath, a non-compliance with
regulation 526.9.
s
!NOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT DURING INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

mechanical strain may be placed on the terminations of the
conductors within the junction box. This is due to the lack of a
clamping method for the cable, a non-compliance with the
regulation 522.8.5.
So these chock blocks are non compliance with regulation 526.9??

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Geez did these people not even have a detector used before drilling checking for live cables,studs etc...

Yep. Basic stuff if you're drilling holes anywhere where there's a possibility of cables, but above an electrical distribution board ffs! :Yikes:
 
Good Morning DW.

Bit of advice if I may?

Yesterday I had a local company in to fit my house alarm.
They decided to put the main control box right above the electric distribution board in the hall way.

Long story short, they drilled through a cable, twice Obviously a bit of a flash & bang and then no electricity.

The owner of the company came out to have a look. His solution was to knock some of the plaster away to expose the cables. He then cut the cable and stripped it back. He's rejoined the cable using one of them chock block screw terminal things and said "you won't see it when the box is on".

Can any electricians on DW tell me if this is safe?? The drilled cable looked like the smaller 1.5mm lighting circuit?

The cable that was drilled was covered by one of those conduit cover things and then plastered over.

Behind my alarm box is now a gaping hole in the plaster and an exposed chock block thing. Addmitantly, you can't see any of if because the box covers it.

If I move house and want to take the alarm with me (wireless and bloody expensive) I assume that I will need an electrician & plasterer to out it right??

Any advice would be great.
Cheers
DiGG


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Hi well to comply any joint has to be accessible so if you put Jb on it has to have an access hatch to it.
You could use either solder joints or crimps and heat shrink and tape where existing is and then they can be berried. But you should then have it tested as it is minor works and you may have to put a RCD on if there is not one.
 
They're a liverpool company mate. Been going for 38 years or so they say. So you would expect some competentcy?

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Ah there is your problem m8. Scousers are more used to ripping alarm boxes out not fitting them. ;) On a more serious note that cable should have been repaired as stated with the correct junction box and a certificate of authenticity to say it has been done to correct standards. Time to call the Sheriff's m8 the cowboys have struck again. :(
 
a photo

20160430_113329.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

behind that box to the right is a hole, half the size of the box, in the plaster with the damaged cable with chock block repair
 
That box to the right is the FCU (Fused Connection Unit).

Say you have spoken with an electrician and their repair doesn't comply with regulations.

Does anyone remember the old days of trying to keep alarm panel as far away from both FCU and consumer unit as possible?!?

I hope this isn't in same room as zone 1 (ie main/front door)?
 
That box to the right is the FCU (Fused Connection Unit).

Say you have spoken with an electrician and their repair doesn't comply with regulations.

Does anyone remember the old days of trying to keep alarm panel as far away from both FCU and consumer unit as possible?!?

I hope this isn't in same room as zone 1 (ie main/front door)?
It is mate yes. It's right next to the front door, why?

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How do you arm/disarm it (ie is it via key fob remote or anything)?

Is zone 1 on a delay entry?
 
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