cheif kaiser wrote: » I just had a new kitchen and bathroom installed just before Christmas and specified that I wanted metal sockets and switches installed. I have just discovered (by accident) that they basically used the old wiring in the house and none of the light switches are earthed :mad: I brought this to the installers attention and insisted that the issue be fixed. He sent the electrician from the job down to have a look and his answer was... Well there is no way we can get an earth to it now so we will just pull all the switches and change them back to white plastic. I refused this as an option and he is now not answering any of my emails or texts. Is there anything I can do about this and is there any alternative to ugly white switches when all my sockets are chrome? Thanks.
Pkiernan wrote: » Would chrome look plastic ones work for you?https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0158QELWS?psc=1
cheif kaiser wrote: » Well there is no way we can get an earth to it now so we will just pull all the switches and change them back to white plastic.
Is there anything I can do about this and is there any alternative to ugly white switches when all my sockets are chrome?
2011 wrote: » In which case they should not have fitted the switches.
2011 wrote: » You could get an earth pulled to each switch. This may not be easy, but it is possible.
Sleeper12 wrote: » What other electrical works did they do? Did they issue a cert? I ask this because if they did more than replace light switches, maybe an electric or power shower,or did any work on the fusebox then they should have issued you with a reci cert. RECI then make them come back to do it properly & safely for free
cheif kaiser wrote: » Ye they fitted a power shower, fitted new spots, none of these are earthed either but they seem to be just clip on metal parts, although 1 in the hall was fully metal and I replaced this myself with a double insulated. Most of the work they did in the kitchen was also new. The kitchen was ripped back to a shell and all new sockets added which they seem to have just attached onto the old circuit. No cert was issued for any of the work.
cheif kaiser wrote: » I've just noticed that the back boxes are also metal so even if I replace the switches with plastic switches there is still a danger?
Sleeper12 wrote: » If they don't fix it I would report them here http://www.safeelectric.ie/ To be honest you should just report them anyway. They could kill someone in the next house they work on. As a society we don't like to report anyone but lives are at risk here. I don't believe they used electricians at all on your job.
2011 wrote: » Theoretically, yes. In the even of the back box becoming live the exposed screws on the front of the light switch would also be live. Obviously it would be easy to make contact with these screws resulting in a shock. If the switch box was earthed the circuit should automatically disconnect if the box were to become live thus averting the shock risk.
Free-2-Flow wrote: » If your house is in the 60's period chances are it has no earthing in the lights at all, Houses that old generally may have to be rewired to adhere to the modern day
cheif kaiser wrote: I never thought for 1 minute that anyone would risk doing something so dangerous and reckless as not earthing metal fittings. Had I not discovered it by accident and had a little knowledge on electrics, I would be none the wiser, until one day one of my family members was blown across the room!
Free-2-Flow wrote: » When was it rewired? Are they black and red?
Free-2-Flow wrote: » Oddly enough back in the day it wasn't mandatory to earth light switches so even though brass fittings were a popular thing. As far as I know the colours changed in 2004 along with the regs. But how long before that were they wired? Cables have a life span of 30 years before they start degrading. Red and black with a bare copper earth in sockets can be very dangerous, later to be covered in green, before the 2004 regs.
cheif kaiser wrote: That's another reason I am so Pi** ed off about this. Any wiring I did, which was minimal, I made sure to make sure it was safe. Then along comes a professional and does this!??! It's so infuriating
Free-2-Flow wrote: » A metal fitting with no earth or a plastic fitting with metal screws and no earth? Both equally dangerous I would think?
Free-2-Flow wrote: » But how long before that were they wired? Cables have a life span of 30 years before they start degrading.
cheif kaiser wrote: » Anyone tell me what type of plastic back box would be suitable for in a concrete wall please? Can only find surface mount or stud wall boxes. Thanks!
ellobee wrote: » as these switches are in areas where you could possibly have wet hands and bare feet I would definitely change the switches back to plastic, you could also fit plastic/nylon screws to get over the metal box problem, your families safety is more important than the look of your kitchen
ellobee wrote: » Changing the boxes will be a bit messy, probably some plastering and painting required afterwards, but if you do want them changed probably something like this is what you want, but any good electrical shop can advise you, or as I said previously a nylon screw would be an easier option.
ellobee wrote: » I think the standard size is M3.5 and then the length depends on how far back your box is, but you could just get long ones and cut them to suit. I'm not sure how easy it is to get them, you might have to order them online and in a bigger quantity than you need, or you could try an electrical wholesaler and see if they can order them in for you
2011 wrote: » Don't go fiddling with this yourself. You paid a professional to do this properly, make him do it as per the regulations. End of.
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