cant get through to some people

[BrokenBiker]

had a call this morning from a woman that was having problems with an RCD in her CU (yet another bloody RCD)

I went out and had a look in the CU, nothing wrong in there. quick test revealed a neutral to earth short. then I found a neutral to live short, and a live to earth short...

the RCD covered the shed supply so I decided to check there first. glad I did.

she has a pond in her garden with a submergible pump. the cable used to run from a socket in the shed, out through a hole in the wall and then into the pond with the pump, but at some point the cable got damaged. someone, she wouldn't say who had repaired it with a choccy block and left it out in the open. this block had then fallen into the pond...

knock the power off, pulled it out and offered to put a new length of cable on for her so it would be safe. she didn't want that. I offered to put the choccy block in a suitable IP junction box, nope didn't want that either. told her I was not prepared to put power back on with the pump connected so she went into the shed, un-plugged it and told me to put power back on.

as I was leaving I could see her walk back down to the shed and plug the bloody pump back in...

I don't even know if the pump still works. I doubt it after being shorted out like that. surprised her fish are still alive too.

 

[normspanners]

I think I would have written a disclaimer for her to sign if that was the case, just in case the fish contact, claims are us!!.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i left a comment in the CU on the circuit info sticker stating the fault and that it had been disconnected before power was returned, signed and dated, photo taken with enough of a background that she cant say it isn't her CU (have a framed certificate in the pic with her daughters name on it)

i should probably get a generic disclaimer written up though, to say that all faults were either remedied or disconnected form the power source before mains power was re-connected by myself and was safe when i left so that if it is just a case that they unplegged the fault i am covered.

might knock one up later when its quiet

 

[wristpin]

Cut the plug off! That's what we used to do for anything that failed a PAT test.

 

[brightspark]

as said just cut the plug off and when u send the bill state check wiring make safe and cut plug off to faulty water feature . if theres an rcd fitted theres not much chance of injury or blame on your part

 

[Wedg1e]

I think I would have written a disclaimer for her to sign if that was the case, just in case the fish contact, claims are us!!.

Clams'r'us, surely...?

 

[bill_gj]

I'm surprised she didn't get the Chok-Blok technician in to rectify his work with some tape.

 

[MrFluffy]

Bit of self amalg, it'll be right

 

[BrokenBiker]

I'm surprised she didn't get the Chok-Blok technician in to rectify his work with some tape.

I think she may have been the choc block tech on this one.

she seemed to know an awful lot about how the shed was wired out and what had been repaired and how. not the sort of knowledge most customers have if a leccie has done the work

ah well onwards and upwards