Glasgow Harbour Electricians Westend

The Best Way To Connect Recessed Downlights- Push Fit JCC 7Watt LEDs Westend Glasgow Electricians

 

I'm always keen to find easier ways to do various aspects of electrical work. As an electrician I've spent many hours terminating cables which often involves tightening screws and have generally thought that this was the best method for the job.

Screw type terminals are 'tried and tested' and feature in most electrical accessories from dist boards to light switches, but now I'm coming across more and more light fittings which use push type connectors.

I may be 'old school' but when I'm faced a push-fit electrical terminal I'm very wary of wether it is up to the job. I must say that Wago connectors are an exception. A quality product which I like to use, but generally most light fittings the push types are not good. I've too often had a cable pull out of the connection after only the slightest movement and sometimes I've discarded them altogether.

Installing recessed downlights can be rather a chore especially when you're undertaking the monotonous task of connecting dozens of them at a time. On a recent job I used JCC Fireguard 7 watt LED (JC94172) downlights with integral driver. I was very sceptical when I found that they used push fit terminals and was considering changing them for something else. But I'm glad I didn't because despite my preconceptions I was very pleasantly surprised at how they 'actually worked' and made the job much quicker for an electrician.

Once you've cut all your holes and figured out a good installation procedure, which includes exactly how long to cut each cable core, the push fit connectors can make the down lights very easy to install:

1- Pre-cut each cable core to the correct length
2- Ease off the screwless lid and cable clamp
3- Sleeve the Earths and push the LN&Es into the connector
4- Push on the ratchet type cable clamp and click shut the lid

That's it. Job done and the best part is 'no screwing'!

I did experiment a bit and found that the connecting the earths could be made a little easier (as they are a smaller diameter and sometimes folded back) by leaving them about 25mm long and pushing them home last of all with a pair of long nose pliers.

I'd never thought I'd say this but if you're using a light fitting with quality push type connectors, like the JCC 7watt LEDs, then that's the best way to connect recessed downlights. I do wonder, why don't more manufacturers use this connection method?

if in doubt contact a qualified electrician

24/7 Emergency call out electricians

Electrical ~ Tips for Staying Safe

Wes Electrical services 24/7 emergency call out electricians westend glasgow. Benjamin Franklin studied electricity, and is quite famous even today for his kite and key experiment with lightning. We must always remember that Ben could have been seriously injured during that experiment. It is never a good idea to be careless with something as powerful as electrical energy! Electricity has the power to light lamps that help us see at night and fuel heaters that keep us warm in winter, but it is important not to get in electricity's way because it can harm you. Here are a few electrical safety tips to remember:

• Never play with electrical cords, wires, switches, or plugs.
• Stay away from fallen power lines. Tell an adult if you see a fallen line.
• Never use a hairdryer or play an electrical radio or television near a bathtub or sink.
• Before you climb a tree, look up. If a power line is nearby or touching, stay away from the tree.
• Never touch anything that runs on electricity when your hands are wet.
• Fly kites and model airplanes in a wide open field or park—never near overhead electrical wires.
• Never climb utility poles or electrical towers.
• always isolate power before work
• Stay away from substations and transformers
• if in doubt contact a qualified electrician

Electrical Safety Advice GLASGOW

ELECTRICIANS WESTEND GLASGOW

Electrical Tips from a local Electrician in the westend of glasgow

Don’t remove a plug from a power point by pulling on the cord; pull the plug instead.

Never plug adaptors into adaptors and avoid using adaptors filled with plugs where possible.

Switch off electrical items that are not in regular use at the plug and ensure that when we are away from the house for any length of time that you unplug and switch off electrical items as items left plugged in can be a fire risk and waste energy if left on standby.

Do not use any electrical items in the bathroom unless specifically designed for use there, eg. Shavers and electric toothbrushes. Even with these items however, take care not to get wet and avoid plugging and unplugging with wet hands.

Do not use items with damaged cords so that the wires are exposed. Either repair or replace. Check items regularly.

Do not use damaged sockets, replace with care when necessary.

Always turn the electrics off at the mains if carrying out any electrical repairs and only attempt repairs if you know what you are doing.

Ensure any electrical items are approved standard when purchasing and keep them correctly maintained where necessary. Look for the BEAB seal of approval.

Do not use electrical equipment outside if it’s raining.

Use the correct wattage light bulb for all light fittings.

Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit.

CALL US TODAY 01418405236

PERIODIC INPECTION REPORTS WESTEND GLASGOW LANDLORD CERT

Periodic Inspection Explained

All electrical installations deteriorate with age and use. They should therefore be inspected and tested at appropriate intervals to check whether they are in a satisfactory condition for continued service. Such safety checks are commonly referred to as 'periodic inspection and testing'.

A periodic inspection will:

• Reveal if any of your electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded.
• Find any potential electric shock risks and fire hazards.
• Identify any defective electrical work.
• Highlight any lack of earthing or bonding.

Tests are also carried out on wiring and fixed electrical equipment to check that they are safe. A schedule of circuits is also provided, which is invaluable for a property.

How often is a periodic inspection required? Your electrics should be inspected and tested every:

• 10 years for an owner-occupied home.
• 5 years for a rented home.
• 3 years for a caravan
• 1 year for a swimming pool.

Other times when a periodic inspection should be carried out are:

• When a property is being prepared for letting.
• Before selling a property or buying a previously-occupied property.

Who should carry out the periodic inspection and what happens? 
Periodic inspection and testing should be carried out only by electrically competent persons, such as registered electricians. They will check the condition of the electrics against the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations).

The inspection takes into account all the relevant circumstances and checks on:

• The adequacy of earthing and bonding.
• The suitability of the switchgear and controlgear. For example, an old fusebox with a wooden back, cast-iron switches, or a mixture of both will need replacing.
• The serviceability of switches, sockets and lighting fittings. Items that  may need replacing include: older round-pin sockets, round light switches, cables with fabric coating hanging from ceiling roses to light fittings, black switches and sockets mounted in skirting boards.
• The type of wiring system and its condition. For example, cables coated in black rubber were phased out in the 1960s. Likewise cables coated in lead or fabric are even older and may well need replacing (modern cables use longer-lasting pvc insulation).
• Sockets that may be used to supply portable electrical equipment for use outdoors, making sure they are protected by a suitable residual current device (RCD).
• The presence of adequate identification and notices.
• The extent of any wear and tear, damage or other deterioration.
• Any changes in the use of the premises that have led to, or may lead to, unsafe conditions.

The competent person will then issue an Electrical Installation Condition Report detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the present-day safety standard that might give rise to danger.

If any dangerous or potentially dangerous condition or conditions are found, the overall condition of the electrical installation will be declared to be 'unsatisfactory', meaning that remedial action is required without delay to remove the risks to those in the premises.

If you would like to arrange for a Periodic Inspection to be carried out, the following leaflets may be helpful:

electricians glasgow

NEW CONSUMER UNIT FUSEBOX GLASGOW

Fuseboxes explained

 

Your Fusebox – the fusebox also known as consumer unit should be easy to find. You should make sure you know where it is in case you ever need to turn the electricity off in an emergency. It usually contains three things, and they are used to control and distribute electricity around your home. They are: The main switch; Fuses and/or circuit breakers; and Residual Current Devices.

A) Main Switch – this allows you to turn off the electricity supply to your home. You might have more than one mains switch, for example if your home has electric storage heaters. In this case you may have a separate fusebox.

B) Residual Current Devices (RCD) these are switches that trip a circuit under dangerous conditions, and instantly disconnect the electricity.

If your home has one or more RCD, test them regularly. Just follow the instruction label, which you should find near to the RCD. It should read as follows:

“This installation, or part of it, is protected by a device which automatically switches off the supply if an earth fault develops. Test every three months by pressing the button marked ‘T’ or ‘Test’.”

Testing the button every three months is important. The device should switch off the electricity. You should then switch it back on to restore the electricity. Do not hold the test button for a long period if the RCD does not trip. If it doesn’t switch off the electricity when you press the button, contact a registered electrician.

C) Circuit Breakers – these are automatic protection devices in the fusebox that switch off a circuit if they detect a fault. They are similar in size to fuses, but give more precise protection. When they ‘trip’, you can simply reset the switch. But make sure you correct the fault first.

Fuses  (not on the image, may be found in place of circuit breakers) –rewirable fuses have a piece of special fuse wire running between two screws. When a fault or overload current flows through the fuse wire, it will become hot and melt. The melted fuse breaks the circuit, disconnecting the faulty circuit and keeping you safe.

If your fusebox has a wooden back, cast iron switches, or a mixture of fuses it is likely that it dates back to before the 1960s and will need to be replaced.

electricians westend glasgow

WESTEND GLASGOW ELECTRICIANS

RCDs Explained By   a Professional Electrician

An RCD, or residual current device, is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It can also provide some protection against electrical fires. RCDs offer a level of personal protection that ordinary fuses and circuit-breakers cannot provide.

Below are the questions most commonly asked about RCDs (click to expand answers).

What does an RCD do?

An RCD is a sensitive safety device that switches off electricity automatically if there is a fault.

An RCD is designed to protect against the risks of electrocution and fire caused by earth faults.  For example, if you cut through the cable when mowing the lawn and accidentally touched the exposed live wires or a faulty appliance overheats causing electric current to flow to earth.

How does it work?

An RCD constantly monitors the electric current flowing through one or more circuits it is used to protect. If it detects electricity flowing down an unintended path, such as through a person who has touched a live part, the RCD will switch the circuit off very quickly, significantly reducing the risk of death or serious injury.

What are the main types of RCD?

Fixed RCDs

These are installed in the consumer unit (fusebox) and can provide protection to individual or groups of circuits. A fixed RCD provides the highest level of protection as it protects all the wiring and the sockets on a circuit, and any connected appliances.

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Socket-Outlet RCDs

These are special socket-outlets with an RCD built into them which can be used in place of a standard socket-outlet. This type of RCD provides protection only to the person in contact with equipment, including its lead, plugged into the special socket-outlet.

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Portable RCDs

These plug into any standard socket-outlet. An appliance can then be plugged into the RCD. They are useful when neither fixed nor socket-outlet RCDs are available but, as with socket-outlet RCDs, they provide protection only to the person in contact with the equipment, including its lead, plugged into the portable RCD.

• What are the main types of RCD?
• Why is RCD protection important?
  RCD protection can save lives by protecting you and your family from fatal electric shock, and can provide some protection against fire.

  Every year in the UK around 70 people die and 350,000 are injured as a result of electrical accidents at home.  A Government report also indicated that, each year, about 4,000 fires caused by electricity in homes might have been prevented if RCD protection had been fitted in the consumer unit.  Despite this, more than half of UK homes – that’s 13 million - don’t yet have any, or an adequate level of, such additional protection.

  RCD protection is particularly important whilst using mains-powered electrical equipment outdoors, where there is an increased risk of electric shock.

  (To provide additional protection against electric shock, an RCD must have a rated tripping current of no more than 30 mA. The rating will be marked on the RCD.)

How much will RCD protection cost?

A plug-in RCD can cost as little as £10. A fixed RCD will cost more, but will provide a greater degree of protection to help keep your family safe. Installation costs will vary, so we recommend getting several quotes before proceeding.

How do I check whether I already have fixed RCD protection?

To check if you have fixed RCD protection, go to your consumer unit and have a look to see if there is a device with a pushbutton marked ‘T’ or ‘Test’. This ‘test’ button is part of an RCD. If an RCD is fitted, there should also be a label on or near the consumer unit stating ‘test quarterly’.

If you have an RCD, you should check that it is functioning properly by pushing the test button every three months. When tested, the RCD should switch off the power to the areas of the home it protects. 

The RCD (or RCDs) in your consumer unit may not cover everything in your home, such as the lighting circuits, so it’s a good idea to check - while the RCD is off - which sockets and lights are no longer working, showing that they are protected by that RCD.

Switch the RCD back on to restore the supply.

If your RCD does not switch off the electricity supply to the protected circuits when the test button is pressed, or if it does not reset, get advice from a registered electrician.

If you don’t have RCD protection fitted in your consumer unit, the best way to protect yourself in the short term is by using a portable RCD, which you can find in most DIY or gardening stores.  All you have to do is plug it into a socket and plug the appliance into the RCD.  The appliance will then be safer to use.

However if, for example, you damage a hidden cable when fixing something to a wall, you won’t be protected against electric shock unless you have an RCD in your consumer unit protecting that circuit.

Is it a requirement to install RCDs?

In 2008 a new edition of the UK standard for the safety of electrical installations, BS 7671, came into effect. This standard calls for virtually all electrical circuits installed in homes since then to be provided with additional protection by means of an RCD.

The Electrical Safety Council has electrical safety advice on a range of issues regarding home electrics and other areas.

if in doubt contact an electrician westend glasgow

British General Consumer Unit

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Consumer Unit 17th Edition

19-module high integrity, fully insulated consumer unit. Flexible busbar.

• 100A Main Switch
• 2 x 63A RCDs
• 10 x MCBs (3 x 6A
• 2 x 16A
• 4 x 32A
• 1 x 40A)
• 3 Spare Ways
• Modern Stylish Design with Curved Smooth Profile
• Designed for Fast Installation
• Integral Spirit Level
• Easy Fit & Easy Clean Cover
• Backed Out & Retained Terminal Screws
• View more information

Product contents:
Consumer unit, 100A main switch, 2 x 63A 30mA RCDs, 3 x 6A MCBs, 2 x 16A MCBs, 4 x 32A MCBs, 1 x 40A MCB, busbar, cables and labels.

Specifications:
W x D x H: 451 x 117 x 234mm. BS EN 60439-3.

For a BG consumer unit that's right for you, check out the Britsh General range. Consumer units are an integral part of everyday living and that's why we do our best to supply you with the best.