earth on light switches?

[AndyD]

Ok, so I finally got the quote (no photos though...) and found some rather interesting stuff

The whole job will cost R7.500! Among others, he's replacing 3x 20A circuit breakers, at R280! That's without the labour, which is quotes elsewhere.

Doesn't sound cheap but I'm always hesitant to comment on prices without seeing the job first.

Replacing of PVC light switches. The sames ones I just brought and replaced.

Why??? If you've bought new switches and they're SABS approved then it shouldn't be necessary to replace again.

Removal of "cap tire and speaker wire for lights". It's for outside "security lights", connected to plugs - not directly. The cable probably was the accepted standard back when my grand father had them fitted. I know he made a big fuss about these. Surely this can't affect the C.O.C? What if I cutt-off the plugs myself?

Yep, just remove the offending cabling entirely yourself and the fittings for that matter.

"Supply and install x1 plug top on garage motor" - the Garage motor is wired directly into the DB, inside the garage - is this wrong?

It might be non compliant, it depends. If there's an existing socket nearby then just putting a plug on the garage door motor is a half hour job even if it needs a trailing cable fitted as well.

He's charging R4000 labor + R350 "callout fee", on top of the R750 quote fee we had to pay last week. Sounds like we're paying for the nice new Prado his wife drove (she dropped off something later that day).

Hmmm, I'm still hesitant to comment on prices but I'd love to know where he gets the 4K labour price from. I get the feeling I might not be doing the electrical business thing right, R750.00 for a quote....damn, hell, bugger I nearly broke my first rule and commented on the price.

Are you sure it was his wife? I'm guessing at those rates it could well be a mistress.....

No, the question is, can I fix these "problems" myself and get a C.O.C? I'm not a fool and electricity is no stranger to me, but I don't have a wireman's license.

Honestly I'd suggest you get another couple of quotes first (and preferrably quotes that don't cost R750.00). Even if you do some of the remedial work you're going to have to get a sparky to do the testing and certification which puts you somewhere between a rock and a hard place. The guy with the mistress is going to financially punish for the retest even you even if you do most of the remedial graft and if you get another sparky in to do the certificate he's going to start the inspection and testing from scratch and may well find other issues that mistress-boy didn't.

[SilverNodashi]

Doesn't sound cheap but I'm always hesitant to comment on prices without seeing the job first.


Why??? If you've bought new switches and they're SABS approved then it shouldn't be necessary to replace again.

Apparently, they won't comply with the "new act", or something like that. They need to be isolated.
I spoke to LEAR about this as well and they recon that since the switches cover the whole box (i.e. you can't accidently touch an open wire inside) it should be fine, but then the boxes need to be earthed. The house is old and it might have metal pipes from the light boxes up into the ceilings, I don't know, haven't had time to go look yet.

Yep, just remove the offending cabling entirely yourself and the fittings for that matter.

I was just ranting a bit about this one, but will replace the cables with 3core cable soon, so all the lights have an earth cable as well. I know they were installed by some "security" company, when my grand had an automated gate and garage fitted as well, many year ago.

It might be non compliant, it depends. If there's an existing socket nearby then just putting a plug on the garage door motor is a half hour job even if it needs a trailing cable fitted as well.

There is no existing nearby socket available, and I almost want to think the garage motor has a CB of it's own in the DB, can't remember.

Hmmm, I'm still hesitant to comment on prices but I'd love to know where he gets the 4K labour price from. I get the feeling I might not be doing the electrical business thing right, R750.00 for a quote....damn, hell, bugger I nearly broke my first rule and commented on the price.

I sometimes think I'm in the wrong industry as well. I guess these guys take advantage of the fact that most home owners are too gullible to question their prices

Are you sure it was his wife? I'm guessing at those rates it could well be a mistress.....

She introduced herself as such. By change, he was in the same school as I was, about 12 years after me. Still a "snotkop" but they both drive nice big cars. He drives a new Ford Ranger 4x4

Honestly I'd suggest you get another couple of quotes first (and preferrably quotes that don't cost R750.00). Even if you do some of the remedial work you're going to have to get a sparky to do the testing and certification which puts you somewhere between a rock and a hard place. The guy with the mistress is going to financially punish for the retest even you even if you do most of the remedial graft and if you get another sparky in to do the certificate he's going to start the inspection and testing from scratch and may well find other issues that mistress-boy didn't.

We'll get someone else next week, when my mom isn't working, to come and check it out and give another quote or two.