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Checking Appliance Earthing.

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Today I spoke to the manager of a local chain of domestic appliance retail shops. The chain sells and installs appliances like cookers and ovens etc. I asked the manager if they carry out an earth fault loop impedance test to confirm adequate earthing of the supply circuits and good earthing of appliances like cookers. He said that they did not. He asked me what test gear is used to carry  out the tests. I was shocked by this. People are having appliances installed by unqualified installers and the earthing effectiveness is not being tested.


Also his shop has nuisance tripping of the R.C.D. when several appliances are turned on. In particular washing machines cause tripping. Probably down to the 50 appliances each leaking a small current to earth via their internal mains filters. Get the cheapest quote. That''ll do. That's Norfolk for you.



Z.


Z.
  • 0
    As the only “evidence” available courtesy of whatever search engine was used appears to have found an unconfirmed incident from 2009, perhaps its not such a big deal. The liability insurers of the large appliance retailers obviously don’t see much of a risk with the current arrangements. 


    Regards,


    Alan.
  • 0
    My job on Friday was miles from home in South Wales, the customers a couple in their nineties have bought a table top dishwasher, now they need someone to install it.


    It’s a job I could do, but realistically to drive from the Midlands to South Wales to drill dome holes through the countertop along with doing the basic plumbing for the water supply and waste then plug it in I need to charge a full days wage plus traveling and a few materials, so the bill would be heading up towards three hundred quid.


    Everyone thinks they can be an appliance installer, I remember twenty years ago turning up at electrical evening classes and the head of department asking what I had been doing at work, I replied I had a busy day fitting the appliances in a kitchen, one of the other guys on the course laughed and made a sarcastic comment, I said he had obviously never tried it.


    Drill a hole with the core drill, install the cooker hood including wiring it.


    Cut the kitchen countertop out and fit the hob including wiring it.


    Fit the oven including wiring it.


    Fit the built in microwave and wire it to a 16-amp supply.


    Fit the built in coffee machine, warming drawer, steam oven and any other kitchen toys such as the waste disposal.


    Fit the built in dishwasher including the door and get it running.


    Fit the built in washing machine and get it running.


    Fit the built in tumble dryer including drilling out with the core drill to vent it and fitting the door.


    Install all the lights in and under the wall cupboards plus the plinth and ceiling lights.


    The college head of department laughed and said, yes that’s a busy day.


    Being an AGA cooker installer is demanding, one guy I used to work with regularly had his two daughters partners working for him. Between them they were registered as oil installers, natural and lpg gas installers, solid fuel installers and electricians with OFTEC, Gassafe, HETAS and the NICEIC.


    It’s all a doddle isn’t?


    Andy

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