Part-P Books

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…..

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Hello All!

It is now a few weeks since we launched the “Second Fix”.  Sales have been very brisk with no advertising thus far!  Anyhow, now it is time to get down to brass tacks.  This page is my open surgery where I shall take all questions or comments on the book, or anything else that takes your fancy, electrically speaking!  I’m waiting……

Best wishes

Alan

Hello all,

When I was writing the new  ”The Part P Doctor” book, the project, as you know, revolved around the actual rewire of an old house.  The house in question was a large early 1930’s detached home.  It had been rewired in the past but as I was doing more work I stripped out these little gems to show you…...Lead, VIR and TRS Don’t worry if this is all double dutch, just carry on reading!

Starting at the top you can see lead covered twin cabling.  This went out of use in the 1940’s.  It consists of copper wire covered with tin, then rubber and finally a lead sheath.  This sheath was used as a cpc. Lead oxidizes very quickly, going black. However, I have scrapped a nice shiny bit for you in the picture.

Next down is old steel conduit with single wires fitted.  This was very popular in the 1930’s and 40’s.  The conduit is the cpc. The wires are called “Vulcanised Indian Rubber” wires.  Here, we have again tinned copper wires, rubber covered and topped off with a cloth tape or covering. Again, I have unwound a little of this to show you.

The last one is later again, perhaps up to the end of the 50’s.  It is called TRS which stands for “Tough Rubber Sheathed”.  Again, the wires are tinned copper but the cable is the same as you use today except you now use PVC instead of rubber.

I don’t know why they tinned the copper then but it must have had something to do with a reaction between copper and rubber.  All these old wiring systems had definite life spans for sure.  Th old rubber dries and crumbles away and insulation faults result!  My advice is to not touch anything that looks like this.  If you do disturb it and it all crumbles before your eyes, don’t say I didn’t warn you!  Finally, if you are just passing by this site and not an electrical person, do look out for this stuff in your home.  If you find it, please, please call out an electrician.  I am sure there are still many thousands of miles of this stuff lurking around out there!

The final question from customers and students alike is, “How long does PVC wiring last?”  Well, having worked in houses recently, built in the early 60’s I would say “forever!”  Remember the only thing that can kill PVC wiring is heat from bad connections or general overloading.

Bye for now……

Good evening all,
I was installing some “dado trunking” in an office recently and came across the dreaded ” not a 90 degree bend” scenario. You know how it works, they pre make 90 degree internal, external and flat bends but alas not say 135 degree ones! After I fitted the trunking, I set about trying to piece up the lid and that was when the fun started! Basically, it looked appalling!
So, it was time to think about it and then I had that eureka moment…..Here is how I did it.

I used a bit of geometry and eventually ended up here continue

Good evening everyone,
I am pleased to announce that in the words of Neil Armstrong, “The eagle has landed” and we are ready to take orders.
I have felt like an expectant father through all this and am so relieved that our labours have come to fruition.
A big thanks to all the contributors and sympathisers

Hello All,

Things have been hectic this last couple of weeks.  I have been mad busy with the intrepid Dave Gee finally getting the “Part P Doctor 2nd fix” to a finished state.   They say in show business, you should never work with children, animals or family (or something like that!)

For my sins, I went to Ireland last week to wire up my sisters new house/ mansion…….This is it from a distance….

It is set in the heart of the Irish countryside in 6 acres of land.  It was a visit to first fix and I had a lift from my sister Polly and her fella Mick.  I put in 800m of cable fully clipped in 3 1/2 days, truly exhausting!  It does not look that big in the photo, but trust me, it comes in at over 2,500 square feet so compares well to my 800 square foot town house in my slum!

My knees are killing me here!

There are lots of differences between UK and Irish install but so far I have established……

Wiring to points cannot be plastered in but must be in conduit

Wiring to switches cannot be sleeved for identification, you have to use single and twin browns everywhere

You have to install your own earth rod, no matter what the supply delivery

The main switch must be single pole, so no neutral switching allowed

No main bond to, water or gas. They run one into what they call the “hot press” . That’s a cylinder cupboard in old money!

I am sure there others that I have forgotten but I will post when we get to 2nd fix stage.

Bye for now!

Alan

Hi all,

This week has been a distraction from normal activities.  I am doing my first 2391 at my local college and I believe it has gone well!

Remember, if you are looking at doing this, you need to know the basics…..

GS38

Basic and fault protection

Exposed and extraneous conductive parts

Difference between B, C and D breakers

Breaking capacities of fuses and breakers

Earthing systems and earthing terminology

The testing order (CRIPPER) That’s Continuity; Ring; Insulation res; Polarity Dead: Polarity live; Earth loop impedance/earth electrode res; RCD.

Thats enough to whet your appetite for now!  the practical exams  are tomorrow. I will keep you posted……

stop press….

I had a verification visit today (Thursday) while doing my practicals!  Everything went well!

I have had calls tonight from some of the lads saying the exam had gone well. However, there is now a 10 week wait for the results! I will keep you posted…..

Bye for now…..

alan

I thought that would get you interested!  Today I am discussing different studs, joint box studs! Last week A customer phoned me to finish off his lounge.  He had scabby wiring to a center light and four wall lights. He wanted these in the same places plus an extra light in his new feature fire place.Now the way all these modern fittings work, there is usually a shortage of space to fit all the wiring.  On top of this he is wiring a fancy sound system with speakers in the ceiling. Therefore I decided to wire it all to a joint box in one of these speaker holes. 

A bit tight but a real good job. Let me explain…… continue

Hi 

A hello to all my readers, all two of you……(only joking!)

My travels took me to the IOM TT last week.  I had an enjoyable time, being an ardent motorcycling enthusiast.  However, as an electrician and teacher I am like a good policeman who is never off duty.  I was staying in the lovely seaside town of Laxey and spotted this….. continue

Hello students!

This part now gets us further into the book. at the end of part 2 we have decided that our grommet reg is somewhere in chapter 52. So leaving page 3 you now have to scoot over to the CONTENTS page for chapter 52.  This you will find on page 96.

you will see here……. continue