Hi All,

As well as being a little contractor, part time teacher, small time author, good father and husband ………in my spare time I also help people out where I can. My local Royal British Legion asked me to fit a new time clock for their old central heating system after having a few problems.  I nipped round yesterday…..

No problemo! A bit scruffy perhaps but a quick fix nonetheless. The only thing that worried here was the lack of an identified neutral to the clock (note they are all red!).  I drilled a hole through the wall to the kitchen on the other side, fitted the new time clock and flex  and came back to it. When I opened up the wiring centre, this is what confronted me!

Note the pyro cable exiting the top left with the disconnected earth and dodgy connectors.  Now as a doctor, I can figure most things out but all the bum colours threw me completely! I decided to quit and withdraw going back today armed with connectors and other sundries.  The first job was to strip it all out to see where it was all going to fit.

Now it is getting better! I am pulling a little slack on everything here to make life easier. Here it is near enough finished now….

All that is left here to do is to pull a new flex between the isolator and wiring centre to finish off.  In all the excitement I forgot to photograph it, but you get the idea! Notice the pyro is earthed out now!

I gave it all a quick insulation resistance test and earth loop impedance test and guess what…..it passed! (Phew, I was real worried about the pyro especially) Another thing to discuss here is your IP codes.  Section 416 of your big red book says all equipment should be to IP 2X(finger proof) BUT all horizontal tops of enclosures which are easily reached should be to the standard of IP 4X ( 1.0 mm wire proof).  This is why I have fitted a stuffing gland on the top for my flex entry.  You don’t think I would pontificate about regulations to you and not do it myself do you?

Anyhow, it is now 9.30pm and am going to do an out of hours call to the Legion to make sure all is well which I am sure it is.  I don’t know if i can resist a couple of shots of the devil’s juice though!

Bye for now….