electrickery
Recently moved into another house. The previous tenants have re-wired.....



Pretty much all the wires hanging out were live and just going near it was a scary thing to do.

The power had been cut off when they skipped out without paying the bill. EDF had removed the big fuses from the outside meter box to do this and when I asked for it to be reconnected, the chap turned up, fitted the fuses, then said he would check all was well inside.
"wow, err....I didn't see that", and he left, wishing me luck.
(dave likes cheese, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 17:45, 10 replies)

As an electrician...
...I have seen lots of things like this, and everytime I think what in gods hairy knacker-sack must they be thinking when they do this?
You get it sorted? or go for the all too common 'if I can't see it, it'l be right' approach?
(fearsome mumbler is shit at telling stories, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 19:10, closed)

Ignorance
really is bliss when it comes to DIY electrics.
(Appleseed Is getting married 24/05/2014. All invited., Thu 10 Mar 2011, 19:13, closed)

fixed it
I did it properly. First thing I did upon getting the keys was to hoik the lot out and refit the box properly. Previous tenants were German, and he had labelled the wires in German, with bad handwriting, so figuring out what was what took some time. All the old stuff that was mounted higher up had to be disconnected and added to the new box, then I binned the old fuse holders etc.



Well, when I say properly....its still only temporary and screwed to the plywood as I still have to plaster and decorate that room, then build a cupboard to hide it away, but at least this way I don't risk being killed just walking past it.

The funny/sad thing is that all the stuff was already there. I had to change a load of the MCB's as they were not the right ratings, but apart from that, all it took was a couple of hours and some common sense - why couldn't he have done it right in the first place?
(dave likes cheese, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 19:28, closed)

Good show sir
Bravo bravo!
(fearsome mumbler is shit at telling stories, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 20:37, closed)

Very nicely done.

( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Thu 10 Mar 2011, 21:08, closed)

Good work fella

( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Fri 11 Mar 2011, 10:43, closed)

What
country is that in?
(Appleseed Is getting married 24/05/2014. All invited., Thu 10 Mar 2011, 19:12, closed)

France, where shonky electrics seem to be the norm. My last place had the fuse box mounted next to the bath, which was handy as when the lights tripped I didnt even have to get out the shower to put them back on. Nobody else here seemed concerned by this.
(dave likes cheese, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 19:30, closed)

I just inadvertently 'liked' your reply
Damn iPhone...
(Sir Itchalot has a very self-referential signature, Fri 11 Mar 2011, 1:21, closed)

that's a beauty
all it's missing is a bit of fire damage

also, nice job of sorting it
( parttimedogfish is a Born-Again Reincarnationist, Thu 10 Mar 2011, 20:51, closed)