A got a call out from a local church this week.  He was a little concerned with the heating.  He had to switch it on and off by going in here!

It is a sea of botched wiring and plug in timers-truly scary…..!  Anyways, he asked could I fix it and of course I said yes, with a sly gulp!  He wanted the three zones controlling on individual time clocks so I wandered off to the wholesalers!  This is how the job went….

First task was to identify and mark all these pyros.  Next I chiseled through the rusty screws and dropped the panel.  This system had stuff that the church had never used, like vent fans so they asked for it to be all disconnected. All they want is their three heating zones…..

That is more like it!  Notice this box is smaller than the old one. The conduit is now a little short so that was the next job!

Now this is a tool you just have to have!  This is a self levelling lazer.  You can see I have put a dot on the side of the adaptable box ready for the drill.  Just got to set the new conduit by 25mm and cut to length…..

Now we hit rough waters!  All the pyros coming in the top are easy peasy, but this is where I need to be careful!  Because the new box is smaller, these boiler pyros from the bottom are short! What I did was to re-bend them to make them shorter still and gland them off to a metal adaptable box.  Remember, these are old cables with no earth tail, like you see these days.  The earth continuity must be good and it is achieved via the gland.  Tightened up here now, all is well!  It was then a simple job of joining the boxes with a small piece of tube containing  pvc wiring including a cpc connected to the metal box. Here is a closer look…..

Note the cpc fitted.   Also see how I set the different length cables to reach the same spot.  Yes, nice but it could turn ugly if the cable now fails it’s insulation resistance test!  Of course I am kidding- it all tested OK after the fettling!  Notice I have fittted a small peice of ‘din rail’ in the back and fitted what are called ’sax terminals’ .  Makes a real neat job I feel.  Anyway, nearly there now!!!

Now I did cheat here as the lid bit, I did in the garage the day before- a bit like ‘blue peter’- remember that- “Here is one I prepared earlier”  I made up the front, more din rail and sax terminations.  The rail also carries the three relays I need to make this work.  I have terminated all the cables I need and loomed up all the spare ones at the top….That is us all done now….

And so, there we are!  I have put an isolator on the unit for good measure and marked it all up…… Now a brief explanation of how it works.  Basically the power comes into the isolator and then out to the clocks.  Each output from each clock runs it’s respective pump.  As well as running its pump to also feeds the energising terminal of it’s own relay.  The three relays are wired in a parallel  fashion so when the pump supply pulls it in the relay switches on the supply to the boiler.  That way any clock will switch on its pump and boiler without affecting the other zones……. clever eh!

Till next time, all the best!

Alan

I am sorry for not posting for so long.  It has been a busy summer doing…….mmmm well not so sure.  That said, I have done an interesting install today and will write it up later.  For now though, the latest news is this:

I have applied for a full time post at my local college. Why am I doing this after all this time on the fringes?  Well, in July I took a job working for a large national contractor on a shopping centre outside the city.  Of course, it is normal to be treated as a child with the obligatory 2 hour H&S induction.  This one though had a twist!  In line with the modern site, you now have to wear big gloves to protect yourself.

During the induction the big boss invited questions-so far.  As a doctor of 30 years experience, I have never worn gloves full time so asked how I was supposed to connect up a ceiling rose.  The answer was quick and decisive, “Not my problem”

When I eventually got out on site, I started to dwell on this……… I went out into the street for a fag and thought about how it had all changed in my time.  Little Hitlers, who know nothing about ‘work’ have banned music, smoking etc- now I had gloves and goggles on to connect little wires!

I put the fag out, took off the hard hat, popped on my helmet and moonwalked to my beloved Goldwing- (oh by the way no parking for workers either). I surprised my long suffering wife as I walked in and announced my formal retirement from the construction industry!

So now I will only entertain little jobs where Hitler cannot afford to be employed…… Somehow, I am sure I will survive with no gloves and radio 2 in the background.

So to today.  This post at college has been advertised nationally so I could be up against formidable adversaries.  The applications closed at 5pm this afternoon, so win or lose I promise to let you know….

Bye for now!

Alan

I was back in Ireland last week on a family visit and just went round to look at my sisters mansion!  I will have to finish that first fix sometime- a good excuse for another visit me thinks!

Anyways a couple of pics for you peruse this week….. The first concerns the difference in Irish regulations to ours.  Check out my mothers consumer unit…….

Not very clear, this, but first the story.  Ireland gained full independence from the UK around 1937.  The UK nationalised our supplies around a decade later.  The Irish government  went to the Germans for help so the Irish adopted German regulations and this is the result. On the left is a SINGLE POLE MAIN SWITCH.  Next along is a ‘diazed’ MAIN FUSE of 63A rating.  After this is then regular breakers of which there are four.  Next is an ELCB (Earth leakage circuit breaker) which we call an RCD. After this there are three RCD protected breakers supplying sockets.  Finally there is an RCBO at the right end that I fitted donkey’s years ago to supply a shower for dear mother.

The supply is what we call a PME (protective multiple earth) or more recently a TN-C-S.  The Irish have a real cool name for this…… Get ready…… ‘neutralised’!

The second of this weeks pictures was took in the street outside the pub!  So you see, even when in party mode, I still put my readers first, all seven of you!  (that is a joke!)

This explains why, across Europe the regulations people adopted the 230/400V standard.  It is mid way between us on 240/415 and our European neighbours who are all on 220/380V.  With our tolerances we can all be good 230/400V Europeans!!!

During this Easter period, I have been sitting around and catching up with my Cert-Ed, which is a qualification that I must have to practice as a teacher.  It is not interesting really but it has to be done, as they say!

After the initial success of the Part P Doctor Second Fix, I have dusted off the lap top and am busy again!  I have decided that people need a no non-sense guide to the 17th Edition of the regulations book.  All these years as a student and teacher reading ‘the opposition’ has made me ill!   Anyhow, I have been on it now a few days and have put lots of stuff down.  I will be off to see the intrepid Dave Gee tomorrow to start doing his magic with artwork for it.

Game on!

Last week I dusted off the tools and went back over to my local Royal British Legion.  They are fed up with soaring electricity costs so asked me to put the toilet lighting on motion detectors.  It was nice little job so I took a few photos for you.

The first thing is SAFETY FIRST! Just because it isn’t school or you’ve been doing this for years you must follow your safe isolation procedure. I have pulled the fuse for the lights and checked for ‘dead’ there.  I am now back at the mains checking the lamp.  By the way I am in the building alone so not locking off the whole mains is not required, I am perfectly safe.

Next job is to connect in the sensors.  Now this pretty easy as the club is wired with ‘Greg’ type ceiling roses.  ”What?”, you say.  This is what I mean….

All the fittings are on socket outlets that fit on conduit boxes.  There is a spare ‘loop’ terminal in these so I don’t even need a connector.  Here is one of the detectors……

When I finished each part I then tested.  One of them didn’t go so well when I came to it, but more about that in another posting!

Bye for now.

This week’s chit chat is about education.  As we know the economy is in tatters so cuts have to be made.  The Government have decide to scrap the NVQ system changing it to a new system called QCF.  ”So what?” I can hear you say.  Well Government funding is to be withdrawn unless you are in the trade on an apprentiship.  This means my days are probably numbered in my local FE college.  I work through an agency so I feel I am walking on thin ice!  As a writer and teacher I am not match fit but will be OK once I get back in the groove.  So has anyone anything they need bodging fixing up

I was teaching this week and the fire alarm guy was round servicing the big panel in the entrance hall.  The panel sits there with no wiring showing, so it must be wired from “round the back” so to speakso of course curiosity got the better of me and I wandered around the reverse of the wall….

nice job, yes?  The original installer has glanded off everything into an adaptable box so the tails can pass straight through the wall to the other side.  The bottom left one is a real fat one so must be a multicore cable, perhaps a seven core.

I have pulled down the shroud to the right of it to let you see closer. This is real class cable and not mush installed these days. In class, I only have one bit of advice, look out for “Billy the burr”

This is a not too clear picture but that does not matter.  Billy lurks deep inside the pot and is a little wisp of copper that peels off and bridges the cores when screwing the pot on.  Watch out for him, he is bad news!

Till next time, see ya!

Now the title of this blog has your inquisitive juices flowing let us proceed with gusto!

I went over to Northern Ireland this week-end to visit an old school chum. On the day I was leaving I was stood outside a cafe in a little town and found something for you!  Firstly you may remember this……

For those from another planet or below 25 this is Hilda Ogden posing with a picture of her beloved Stan and her treasured flying duck mural in the background! So then how could I make the link in “busman’s holiday mode”…….….. well here it is!

This is known as a “mural main”.  The picture is not too close as I risked being run down but here it is anyhow!  The pole to the left of the orange shop is carrying the supply to the whole block.  From here the mains are clipped along the building, just below the guttering. The mains then loop in and out of each property on the block.

Now you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a TT supply but think again! It may or may not depending on the electricity authority. Yes it was TT once but it is not unknown for the powers that be to convert the mains by diverting the earthing conductor from the electrode to neutral block.  Remember they make their own rules up- unlike most of the rest of us!!!

Bye for now,

Alan

All of my career, so far, I have always been struck by the two distinct strands that exist in our field……

• Those that “write” about how to do it
• Those that actually “do” it

As you know I am a new writer and have set out on a one man mission to put all this nonsense right! Now the “Part P Doctor, Second Fix” has been safely launched I am trying to squeeze some time to do other books! My next project will be to show the rookie (or rusty pro) all I have learnt in 30 years on tips and tricks to do with installation.

As all my regular readers are aware I also do quite a lot of teaching these days which leads me on to this weeks blog.

The college, where I lecture have decided to launch a new short course called “The fundamentals of inspection and testing” which is also known as the 2392 …………….This is a test rig for the practical element of the exam.  However, this is not the subject of this weeks blog!  The rig was on the opposite side of the room from the nearest supply point, so action was required. you can see the supply, in steel conduit, on the left of my picture which ends in a box containing a neon lamp. This is fitted to illustrate when the supply is “on”  so this week it is conduit we are talking, hence the title!

Now for those who are expert at this, they know the only way to succeed is to:

1. Mark out the room with chalk lines
2. Fix the saddles to these lines
3. Make the conduit to fit the saddles

After all these years I continue to  be surprised how many sparkies cannot do this!  Hence it will be in the new tips and tricks book which is on it’s way…..Here it is in all it’s metallic glory

I gulped as the pressure mounted, but the tube dropped in to the double bend with a click.  That coupling was an existing one already fitted on the tube when I started with a straight length.- We are off and running!

A pipe in the way? Nah, I simply jumped straight over it.  The “bubble set” can be problematic until you know the secret!

Test rig not flushed into the wall? So what, a quick double set and we are rocking!

I hope you have enjoyed my report this week. To be honest I sort of floated away myself, back to simpler times gone by!  I think you know that I really enjoy everything I do and I hope that comes across! As for me, it continues to reinforce a vow that I made to myself years ago.  I was not prepared to follow the old “Those that can’t, teach” ethos!

I also wonder, with respect how many of my rivals, in the world of writing could have done this and made it fit first time?  I wonder?

Till next time, be good and be safe….

Alan

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….