Dodgy Electrical job

Churchstreet

Registered User
Messages
16
Hi
I advertised a job on what I thought was reputable website here in Dublin.
It involved putting in two sockets. The "Electrician" called around and installed one socket (Socket A), by taking power from the Day Booster switch off the Nite saver storage heater. The second (Socket B) was taken from the switch used for the Pump that is used to pump water to the taps and cisterns.

I only thought of looking for a cert of completion conformance etc after a friend told me I should have received one . Turns out the electrician was not registered (I know, I know, I should have looked for a registered electrician but I made an error on that, I wasn’t up to date on the fact that an Electrician needs to be RECI registered, to carry out work)
I was speaking to a mate of mine who is an electrician. He said his concern with the socket (Socket A) attached to the day booster switch was that it was likely not connected to the RCD switch and hence be a danger to someone using a defective device plugged in. I tested to see was the socket connected to the RCD switch, by plugging a lamp into socket A, turning it on and seeing if it remained energized, when the RCD switch was tripped. The light went out when the RCD switch was tripped meaning that socket A has RCD protection. My electrician friend told me he would happy with it as being safe.

I did a similar investigation to the socket tapped off the switch for the pump (socket B). When the RCD switch was tripped the lamp remained energized i.e. not RCD protection. I said to my electrician friend and said I had two issues with that (1) I have no RCD protection and may be danger if some plugs in a defective appliance (2) If I connected something that demands a heavy load like an Iron or electric heater a fire may occur. (Don’t fully understand myself, but apparently this circuit has a 1.5mm cable and 10amp breaker, for a socket it should be on a 2.5mm cable and a breaker under 20amps)

I see that you can report such work on Safelectric.ie, but ultimately I want to have the above situation rectified so (1) its safe and (2) Its compliant with regulations and my insurance is not compromised.
I was going to ring around various RECI electricians but they may be slow to get involved with someone elses dodge work. What should my next steps be?
Any sensible advice is greatly appreciated.
 
Maybe ask your friend the “real” electrician to put you in contact with someone
 
Get a registered electrician in asap. He will have to redo all work carried out by 'dodgy'electrician. You will not be covered by your home insurance until this work is rectified.
 
If I connected something that demands a heavy load like an Iron or electric heater a fire may occur. (Don’t fully understand myself, but apparently this circuit has a 1.5mm cable and 10amp breaker

When a current greater than the rating of a cable, switch or connector is drawn, they can over-heat. Then depending on location and proximity to flammable materials, that heat can be enough to start a fire. Assuming your 10A breaker is functional, it should trip well before that becomes an issue. 1.5mm cable is capable of safely carrying 14A in enclosed settings.

As above though, best get someone competent out to rectify this.
 
My insurance contains no such exclusion.
I believe most home insurance policies will contain clauses wherein you are expected to maintain to a proper standard.

In the event of, say, fire caused by dodgy electrics, your insurance company may attempt to cite negligence as a reason to reduce payout.

Not quite the absolute exclusion per previous poster.
 
I believe most home insurance policies will contain clauses wherein you are expected to maintain to a proper standard.

Yep, true. There is nothing in what the OP has outlined that would trigger such a clause, but certainly always best to ensure you engage a qualified electrician and get a cert after the work to ensure there are no issues should you be unfortunate enough to experience a fire.
 
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