Estate Agents On the phone!, EICR, Testing, Exotic life of an Electrician 

If you're doing a cheapo EICR with a view to making your money on the remedials then there's an incentive to do a thorough test. The more you test the more remedial work you are going to find and the more pressure there is on the owner to get it fixed.

You can't code the use of battery powered smoke alarms on an EICR, remeber it's a report on the condition of the electrical installation, nothing else. You can recommend that mains powered smoke alarms be installed but that should be done on a separate document.

I think all switch wires should be left unidentified, after that, it’s down to natural selection.

PFC should be done with all bonding connected as the lower resistance would increase the fault current. R1+R2 for ring final circuits should be checked at every socket and the highest result written down, also if you are going to do it "properly" then you should also do R1+Rn, making sure to flick the switch at each socket which will check your polarity. Guidance note 3 states that dismantling should be kept to a minimum, I mean it does then contradict itself by saying inspection should be ideally 100% however I don't think you can slate anyone for not testing 100%, there is a risk that by taking something apart and refitting you can introduce a fault. My interpretation is you should use your judgement and experience to decide an initial sample rate, if you find issues then the sample rate should be increased. I'm not trying to have a go and I totally agree with you that £100 to test a property is just not enough, however we all know the letting agent rates are lower than we would like and it would be lovely to say "Nah im not going to go that low" but you would also not get any of the work so there needs to be a balance. My point is slagging others off and saying you do it properly but then not doing the testing properly is a bit hypocritical I think you can charge what you like, a £60 EICR is fine as long as all the extent and limitations are listed, if a customer only wants to pay £60 and just have Ze and Zs tests done that's fine as long as its stated in the extent and limitations, where I have an issue is when either tests are not done but it has no exceptions or someone is making up the results. There is also the other Elephant in the room, if you C2 no RCD's as per napit codebreakers no estate agent will give you work, so you C3 them as per electrical safety first. Estate agents and landlords just want passes which opens it up for muppets that pass pretty much everything getting a shed ton of work cause all they want is a satisfactory rather than an honest view of the electrical installation. I think most estate agents are thankfully not going down the £60 EICR route but they are driving down the prices which means shortcuts that arguably should not be being made are being made, the government report suggested a cost of on average £250, we all know for letting agents there is no way you could pitch your price that high.

‘Me and Adam’, or ‘Adam and I’? The way to tell what’s right is to drop the third person and see whether the sentence makes sense with ‘I’ or ‘me’. Adam and I like doing a proper job. ✅ The more Copex we use, the happier it makes me and Adam. ✅

Great vid chaps! Very informative 👍

“Gri, I mean Tinder”. Love it!!

Nick at this point you may as well accept that you can’t stop saying ummm we don’t really care.

What are your intentions with Adam once he is qualified? Keep him on with you or get him a van and have him go to his own jobs.

Why was the earth end to ends so high . 0.08 end to end on the live I’d expect 0.13 on the earth where Adam stated 0.35. You still ended with 0.05 r1+r2 which I’d expect.

The fuse board looked ok however I didn’t see any rear entry 😂😅🤣

Our property management companies are charging landlords £65.00 just to organise the EICR sparks are charging £120.00 for the EICR.

My number rules with estate agents, 1. do not do the work unless you have clear written confirmation they've asked you to do it. 2. If new work appears on site, confirm in writing that they understand this is extra work and will be charged additional costs. Estate agents/property management companies are generally duplicitous and are not your friends.

Being a rental property ,would of given the customer a estimate for smoke alarms,using the radio link interconnection type,

lol @ "ill get you some v-bucks later" lad is spoilt. Also, WD40 is great for getting stickers and sticker glue off surfaces.

to see if a metal fitting is earthed , continuity test between the fittings metal surface or nut to a nearby socket screw or light screw if it bells out its earth 95% of the time it will work unless light switch earth is not connected.

Davo Savo and now the Bundy, what a night.

Things are so much easier when the property is empty 😊

I remember reading some of the codes in NAPIT are a bit dubious, personally I think an undersized MPB on a TN-CS ought to be be C2 as in an open CNE it may carry a lot of current, especially where the service pipe mains are metal. I think it says C2 for TN-S which IMO isn’t as bad, though there’s the argument of wether or not you can get true TN-S on a public supply nowadays.

Good lil discussion about the fire alarms. I personally would say that wired would be more reassuring (re: Tennant's talking batteries out). But these days you can pick up the 10 Year sealed battery Smoke and Heat Alarms from Fire Angel for £15 on Amazon so I'd just suggest using those to save ££ if the client already doesn't have wired. Loving your videos guys!

I’d take what that codebreakers says with a pitch of salt, it’s not the Regs it’s just Napits ‘opinion’ and riddled with mistakes in my experience. Those downlighters shouldn’t have been coded, there’s nothing wrong with them in terms of both the Wiring Regs & Part B Building Regs, a standard house has no fire compartments therefore open downlighters are acceptable. Only if it is a HMO or the downlighters are installed in a garage ceiling with a habitable room above do they need to be fire rated...

It's F'in red hot here, I've got heat stroke.

Adam at this point is learning proper real-life testing and not just college none real world. I am not saying that college is a waste of time he obviously needs, in this world, certificates but training in the real world on the job will give him a massive advantage going forward. I think it's wonderful how you coach him letting him make the mistakes and learn from them without being criticised. Thank you for the video.

I’d possibly question that skirting socket but only with regards to the damage to the appliance lead when something is plugged in there, i’m sure if it’s too low to a surface it’s a code 2 possibly can’t remember , easiest fix is just turning the socket upside tho. Haha.

Hi quite a few good coments down below. I would of liked to have seen a bit more of the testing and the results from you both but then again thats just me. I do have a few coments when you did the end to end then crossed connected I always go round the sockets then record the highest reading, as for the down lights I have been lead to understand that if something was installed before it was put in or updated in the reg. it was a C3. Was sure surprised that you did not code the CU as not being up to current standards. But over all I think all of you who post videos of what you are doing have got guts and for that you have my respect, keep up the good work.

Love content keep it coming

4:01m nice shimmy there Adam, 2 metres please :) quality vid Lads !!!

I have got a plastic CU but it is RCD protected and has the old white cabling, I am looking at doing an extension do I need to get my CU upgraded to a metal one or can I still keep the plastic one? And do I have to change the wiring if the CU gets changed?

Consumer unit outside? Weird. Maybe just different from where I am haha.

Switch wires unidentified would still be a c3, due to the mongs swapping switches for fancy ones or dimmers etc thinking its not a live conductor, Also, being pedantic, r2 on the ring Adam tested is too high, for an r1 of 0.08 r2 should be 0.13, regs only allows a 0.05 ohm difference, then You`re meant to test for R1+R2 at each socket and record the highest result, not just at where you cross connect it, conductor could just be twisted together in the back of the socket and not properly terminated, leaving anything plugged into it un-earthed

first flexi of the day

What would you code single insulation outside the down lights if the property had this?

Saw one of your old videos less than a minute ago come to check my subscription box and..... THERES A NEW VIDEOOOOOOOO!!! 🎉

id be tempted to fail it on the fact its outside without an IP enclosure. picky but one bad down pore and sad times.

"Disgustingly yellow on a white pattress". Totally agree! yuk

Just wanted to point out that youngster isn't a millennial, you are.

Dont understand the c2 for the downlights. You have a massive hole in the ceiling where the stairs are. So if there is a fire downstairs, it will spread up the stairs before starting its way through the downlight.

Great set up with the test bags, both of them!

No rear entry this time, but at least it was a tiny ring 👍

Flash band the *""* out the cupboard and move on :)

What I have noticed round here is electricians coding EVERYTHING on EICRs, but not wanting the remedials... nor recommending a 'mate'. So I would say they're just after the 'ooo this guy is thorough' title. Had a guy I know personally code a missing RCD test notice as a C2 lol

Invest in a 30m R2 wander lead , saves hours of time taking down lights , which sometimes never go back the same . Also why destroy someone’s tiles , just put it down as a limitation 🙄

Board in external meter cupboard must be a thing in the area. We are in nearby village, 1970 build 3bed detached. When we moved there in early 80s old Wilex rewirable, TT, 1 ring for entire house including attached garage and boiler house with immersion on a 13A FCU, 2 lighting up &down and 6mm cooker. Just the 4ways! Meter is still in the external cupboard but was updated to 17th Ed.

What happened to we are not allowed to fit any gear in the meter cabinet???? I know that wasn't your work but, WTF? Have I missed something? Edit : Code breakers gives a big sort it out to NICEIC. How Many NIC members own a copy? Own up. I know I am am.

I love Tysoft EasyCert. My Brother’s best mate is the guy who developed it, he originally created it based on feedback from his dad, who is a fellow spark. Software created for the guy doing the work imo. 👍🏻

very good nick and adam new electric swoke alarms new outside waterproof cover didnt see you find cooker hood socket or spur, but you must have, great to work in though ,you dont find many as simple with no beds furniture etc in the way.

Still got some flexicon kicking about? (you know you have!) Here's a project for Adam then: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ic-qz8eRjwM.html 😁

potentially one of the most important questions even if people hate it... your testing bag what one is it ?? just changed from Fluke to Megger and hate the case! that looks ideal for what I need.

a lot of people my way only check 10% of sockets, switches, lights and beat me on price. i remove everything.

Just get Adam a van key at this point! Great video, love your attitude and your approach. Such a great example for other electricians and apprentices. 👍

The socket on the skirting should have been pulled, the regs specifically say that sockets should be at such height to avoid damage (getting whack by a hoover) and that no stress is put on the flex when a plug is inserted or removed

Good lad Adam - re-nulling is a good habit regardless of the boss saying "already nulled"

I would probably accept the downlights non fire rating if directly above was landing on open staircase.

Smoke alarm in a rented property have to be either mains interlinked or long life sealed battery interlinked to comply in the lettings world.

Que comments saying reconnect incoming earth for pfc

aico smokes are good connections are abit fiddly but they have built in battery and can easily have radio link put in on existing propertys and just put a feed to it save wired link

The gimbal has made the content so much more palatable since getting it. Not that the content isn't good, it is, but there's a real difference between holding the go pro/phone yourself and walking around filming than with a motorised stabilizer doing the job. handheld Thumbs up.

Check out a company called Ritherdon for a good retro fit solution for external meter enclosures. Remove the old door and they fit over the top of the old enclosure. They're a powder coated steel and pretty robust. Not cheap but worth investing in since the CU is mounted in there. Not a fan of that by the way.

Hi mate. Noticed you said that a previous EICR was unsatisfactory due to single insulated tails coming out the main fuse. Was that the only reason for the unsatisfactory outcome? Just wondering as I would have thought that was a code 3. Love your vids by the way. 👍

12:09 I love your videos but it’s an easy thing to fix , just put some sleeving on the switch lives

How’s it going nick? Just a couple Of questions on EasyCert, what are the costing per year? How do you activate, are you given a serial number to activate on purchase? Cheers

I hate EICRs, but i hate the codebreakers book more :P

never seen a consumer unit in the meter box, 35yrs in business too.. OMG

I always fancied getting a tester But the price always puts me off

Great video ADAM n NICK 😂 love watching the banter between you both also think it was Jordans video on fire alarms he did one recently.

Hi Nick, appreciate the video but when you put the KA down when doing your Ze you took the Prospective current to earth and not the Prospective short circuit current between Line and neutral. That is not necessarily a problem but you are looking for the highest reading and PSSC is normally higher. Sorry to be picky ! Tony

I’m with you, I like to check and test 95-100% on an EICR, and my price reflects that. Any less and I’m not interested. I don’t particularly like them as it is. Certainly won’t be doing them for £60 a property.

Most estate agents are idiots when it comes to EICR's, it's cost over quality, where I am in North Wales estate agents expect a test for £50 and there's idiots doing them, not worth the paper they are written on, I have seen them, full of errors, every box ticked they are crap. And the fault for this is the governing bodies letting them get away with it, they must see the rubbish these firms are churning out, and they do nothing. Then there's the coding, there are several books or guides and they all contradict each other, the whole industry is a farce.

If compliant not your problem but never had a consumer unit in the outside meter box in any of the rental properties I used to manage. Client handling it in the rain? Too easy for toerag bleeps switching it off, easily believe some of the bleeps I dealt with doing that and meter cupboard keys won't keep them out.

Cracking work guys. Adam is so sweet and really coming on now - i like that hes not afraid to get stuck in and allowed to think a little on his own. Good work Nick, you've got some mentor skills there 👏

Good vid don’t know if you know the old nsb mcb,s some 6 amp and 16 amp are on a recall list

Hi Nick, I know you mentioned in the video but what is the software you use for certs?

That coding for the downlights is harsh imo. A 2 storey house is one fire compartment. They don't need to be fire rated according to fire regs.

You can buy metal doors to mount over the broken plastic meter cabinets.

Tiny ring 😂

Nice video, it should educate the public that an EICR takes longer than 10 minutes. What model megger are using? Sockets fixed low on skirting boards are prone to damage when the hoover smacks into them. Have you got sponsorship from flexi conduit yet?

Great video and some good information to. Great to see Adam moving at the pace he is. And love the banter 👍

Hi Nick, great video and very informative. How can you guarantee the main fuse is 60 amp though. We always limit the supply protective device as it’s sealed and we can’t know for certain what’s inside it. For all you know it could be a wooden block wrapped in tin foil.

That’s a bit of a pain in the arse with that consumer unit located outside Good video once again chaps 👍

Nice! Great video I find these videos entertaining

Can I suggest that you use tar and glue remover on the old labels and it comes off a treat

I do like the Wera test bag, you got a link?

I can't find anything in the Codebreakers book about there being no grommet where a cable enters a metal box yet it's one of my most frequent observations on EICR. There's one about cables coming into a DB/CU with sharp metal edges and no protection but nothing about metal boxes.

Where’s the Vicars son in the comments list?

5 double sockets downstairs on a ring 6 double sockets upstairs on a ring do they need to be on a ring or can they be on a radial with a smaller rated mcb? Currently on 32amp's

your meant to reinstall the main earth to take the pfc

25:45 you should always have set of old bodging driver's

Gosh! Adam's eyebrows?

Why do people change perfectly good consumer units, it's safe just not to current standard which is designed to make electrcians money would never replace that DB in rental property

"Were you on Grinder" very funny😃😁😅why the hell is the fuseboard outside? Never seen that before. £100 eicr's are done in your van

Great video man.👌👍

YUM! TIDY! Change the channel name to 'THE BUNDY ELECTRICAL ADVENTURES' WITH NICK & ADAM!!'

Nick love the vids but just try and keep around the 20-25 min mark

Not sure you tested the PFC correctly then.

i recall watching a john wad video and him saying downlights with no hoods etc are no code as it is classed as one fire compartment assuming there are no fire doors,it is very confusing for me who is right who is wrong ?

We don't use fuse boards anymore so consumer unit or switchboard would be the correct terminology.

I bet Nagy doesn't even refer to the book, he's like a Mike Ross and has remembered it all.

Is it really ideal having the CU in the meter cupboard outside? Something causes a breaker(s) to trip, the tenant then has to go outside in god knows what weather to reset the breaker(s) and the potential of getting water into the unit?

Great Vid.. guys !!

Did your customer request the 100% sample rate out of interest?