Electrical Work for D.I.Yers.

I once met an Electric Board Electrician who insisted that the Lollipop circuit was against the regs and safety. His beef that you only had 2 x 2.5 conductors connected to a 6.0 conductor so it was not allowed because it only equalled 5.0 mm. I askem him about 2 x 1.5 earths on a ring connected to 1 x 1.5 on a spur and he answered that if doing a spur he always added a single 1.5 earthwire along with the T&E. He didn`t seem to mind 1 x 2.5 conductors on the spur being joined to 2 x 2.5 on the ring though. 

Strange how some folk get their ideas methinks

I once met an Electric Board Electrician who insisted that the Lollipop circuit was against the regs and safety. His beef that you only had 2 x 2.5 conductors connected to a 6.0 conductor so it was not allowed because it only equalled 5.0 mm. I askem him about 2 x 1.5 earths on a ring connected to 1 x 1.5 on a spur and he answered that if doing a spur he always added a single 1.5 earthwire along with the T&E. He didn`t seem to mind 1 x 2.5 conductors on the spur being joined to 2 x 2.5 on the ring though. 

Strange how some folk get their ideas methinks

Some electic board electricians were made up mates due to labour shortages. I did the whole 5 year stint

I also knew a another contractor of many years standing after being ex- XXXXX (old Electric Board) of 25yrs in his adverts who was ever soooo sloooow and more than a bit undereducated (for need of a polite term) and near retirement I was informed he sued the former Electric Board cos they`d never taught him how to do SWA . he might have been one of those. His talk and his tidyness was quite impressive but his false knowledge was legend around here

The education you got depended of the area and sort of work the Board got. I used to do 'outside' work with one of the other guys and it was him I leart how to terminate SWA properly and another thing the Board rarely got was a pyro jobs. i remember the forman calling out to everyone who could do pyro, when I was still an apprentice. Silly me, i put my hand up and as a result they stopped me doing outside work! I only learnt jointing (sweating lead joints etc) in the last 2 months at the Harold Hill prison camp ( thos who attended know exactly what I mean) when they sent me down to Shoeburyness jointing schoolwhen everyone else went home! Nice things moles, I have regular visits from them!

Yep. I always fill large terminals by doubling or trebling over copper conductors. I had an ex-lecccy board sparky friend years ago that was a meter fitter. He travelled to his jobs on a company pushbike. Thinking about it we may be going back to that travel method soon.

Z.