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Electrical Installation User's Manual.

Zoomup
We are provided with user's/owner's operation manuals with many products these days, such as with new cars or domestic electrical appliances.


Should we provide one regarding domestic electrical installations, especially if we are letting a house or flat, or after a rewire? The manual could simply cover the use of the electrical installation and the operation of consumer units and internal devices such as the main switch, M.C.B.s, R.C.B.Os and R.C.D.s. Does one exist in printed paper form already?


Z.


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    Neil O'Rourke:

    Hi Zoomup,


    By day I'm a graphic designer who would do this kind of work (installation manuals, manufacturing guides, etc.) and speaking from this stance unless it's provided from on high it's too much trouble for anyone else to get involved in. If it's too detailed it'll be out of date by the time it's in circulation, and if it's too general you would wonder whether it's worth the effort when others are already doing something similar.


    There's also an unforeseen side-effect of handing someone a manual which possibly gives them a sense that they can tinker where they shouldn't. Instructions for individual components are (mostly) easily found and anyone wishing to know this can source them. As for how the whole installation works, wouldn't that be different for each install?


    All I can imagine being practical, for homeowners, is a guide on the basics such as: this is the main switch; this is an MCB, here's what it does; this is an RCD, here's what it does; and when X happens, do/don't do Y and call Z for help.


    On the other hand, if you really do want to produce a guide like this, here's my card ;o)




    Hello Neil,

                        yes I was thinking about a simple instruction manual describing what the main switch does, and what the other items in a consumer unit do. Nothing too complicated and nothing to do with altering the fixed wiring. Tenants in rented property may not be technically minded people. Some young people just do not have a clue about consumer units, but they are by no means the exception. Ignorance is universal and  non-age related. Why should landlords assume that tenants automatically know about the function of a consumer unit? Also there is the matter of testing the R.C.D. and/or R.C.B.O.s on a regular basis. Perhaps a mention about smoke and heat alarms and testing could be included as well.


    Z.

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  • 0

    Neil O'Rourke:

    Hi Zoomup,


    By day I'm a graphic designer who would do this kind of work (installation manuals, manufacturing guides, etc.) and speaking from this stance unless it's provided from on high it's too much trouble for anyone else to get involved in. If it's too detailed it'll be out of date by the time it's in circulation, and if it's too general you would wonder whether it's worth the effort when others are already doing something similar.


    There's also an unforeseen side-effect of handing someone a manual which possibly gives them a sense that they can tinker where they shouldn't. Instructions for individual components are (mostly) easily found and anyone wishing to know this can source them. As for how the whole installation works, wouldn't that be different for each install?


    All I can imagine being practical, for homeowners, is a guide on the basics such as: this is the main switch; this is an MCB, here's what it does; this is an RCD, here's what it does; and when X happens, do/don't do Y and call Z for help.


    On the other hand, if you really do want to produce a guide like this, here's my card ;o)




    Hello Neil,

                        yes I was thinking about a simple instruction manual describing what the main switch does, and what the other items in a consumer unit do. Nothing too complicated and nothing to do with altering the fixed wiring. Tenants in rented property may not be technically minded people. Some young people just do not have a clue about consumer units, but they are by no means the exception. Ignorance is universal and  non-age related. Why should landlords assume that tenants automatically know about the function of a consumer unit? Also there is the matter of testing the R.C.D. and/or R.C.B.O.s on a regular basis. Perhaps a mention about smoke and heat alarms and testing could be included as well.


    Z.

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