Customer: there is noise coming from under the stairs... Customers partner: Yes, thats the electrician he been self isolating and ranting there for 3 weeks now...hope he doesn't charge by the hour :)
I agree I have a friend here in the states that does the same work as you are is very good at job and does it right . there so many people not only in your trade but in automobile repair and construction field to as a teacher I tell my students to do their best to take some pride in their work I restore and repair audio gear
Tom, don't feel bad, over here across the pond we deal with idiots that don't practice because they don't want to be inconvenienced or think its a government plot ... also on the shoddy work done.. we have that too.. some call them 'fly by nighters"
On the question you raise about Electrical work being done to the correct standard, its something that I have encountered in every property that I have rented in the last 10 years. Specific examples are a 13A socket that failed the plugin tester (L and N reversed), a shower where the cable used was the wrong gauge causing the switch to become hot and a cooker where the hook up was not done correctly (and therefore unsafe). There are too many contractors operating who don't have the required skills but also property owners are not taking ownership for properly selecting only good contractors.
I did my apprenticeship during the last boom & never seen a contractor carrying out proper testing & so I didn’t for a long time but if I only put in an extra double socket now I test it
I feel that’s commonplace in all trade work unfortunately. I’ll go to a customers home to takeover work from another alarm company and I’m just floored by the lack of forethought of whomever installed it in the first place!
Zdb is the very first thing I check for when installing a new circuit. Almost certainly no testing been done on the new circuit, if a cert has been issued, they've just made up the results.
Wow, that fuse board at the end. Was that a private property with a family, or a rental with landlord ownership ?. Just wondering.. What if say someone there had a pacemaker, then got a electric shock causing the pacemaker to fail and then they die. Would the law point fingers to the property owner ?.
Actually Tom, I’d be more than happy to have you perform a 30 minute rant on pay per view, quite frankly, A) glad you are well B) happy to watch you every day C) great to see you turn down cheap work, over quality - which must be difficult in current circumstances.
i argree, he is really well versed and speaks in such a educated way where his rants actually give insight, its not a boy talking shit, its a man talkign about industry things which should change(couldnt think of a better way to word that part)
Lovely rant. I am going to join in. The Derbyshire Police are pulling people for driving up to the remotest parts of Britain to walk their dogs, meanwhile, London is carrying on as normal. Is it me?
I agree, the twinflex pro are quite good, I've intalled in the last 7-8 years probably around 50 of them, i only had issues with the first couple of them(becausei didn't pay attention to all the details). So I am still happy with them for small systems (HMO, small block of flats, etc)
Totally correct, some of the installer's don't care, I probably care too much, whatever works I'm on, doesn't always pay though. Sometimes I do some extras just because I it's easier that way, rather than do it later, which I lose out on, unlikely I'm a good businessman, but I do try, and do care
Here in San Francisco, we've been on lockdown of some sort since March 7th and yet there are still contractors mowing lawns.... No it is not on the list of essential professions. And they are going from house to house.... I actually got mad at a neighbor who instead that having a landscaper mow his lawn 'just gotta be done". I guess he's happy being a murder.
We get this with installing boilers. Proper hack jobs! Either people charging peanuts and throwing them in. Or charging a fortune after a 3 week plumbing course and no clue
How do you know 3.2AH batteries are the correct , size did you do a load check and do your battery calculation ? Is the system monitored for fire and fault if not I'd be surprised if 3.2 AH batteries would give you the correct standby time . But I maybe wrong with out seeing the battery calcs
And this on the other end is the reason why people tend to not call an electrician anymore and do the stuff themselves. I've leaned it as part of my qualification and in every house I lived so far, I found major issues with the electrics. So I ripped everything apart to the bare wire and rewired everything. There's stuff like "yeah let's use green-yellow for the phase on a two switch circuit, this way we can save some pennies because a lamp doesn't need earth anyway" up to "10 cm molten isolation on the 3 phase *flexible* cable with just 1.5 mm2 to an oven and electric stove"...
I noted the fire alarm box doesn't have any glands around the cables entering the steel box isn't it meant to and that final fuse box really does look a mess [mind that hasn't got any either ],so good spot on the Earthing Thomas.
Some people don't care about the job they do because the customer doesn't know any better and will pay anyway. If the customer knew as much as you do, they'd have sorted the problem out themselves. Every professional owes it to the client to do the best job possible.
I keep a can of compressed air with my canned smoke for blowing them out. The hoover idea is good, I have a battery powered one so why spend money on compressed air!
But to test it most "Fake" testing smoke comes in small canisters. And obviously in most commercial premises its Law to test them every 6 months. They only advise that I think so you dont damage the detectors. 👊
If people stayed in we could actually fight this a lot quicker but there are stupid people!! Oh I need a bit of advice on which USB / UK PLUG Sockets. I'm looking to install X3 Double sockets, What brand would you say is the best to use?
What are people doing about board changes on a smart meter? I was changing a board a few weeks ago and the DNO turned up asking what I was doing. I think I've blagged my way out of a fine as I've not heard anything since.
Never had DNO turn up after disconnecting smart meter. But then again our DNO won't come out of their depos for any money. I suppose you could carry REC2S to temporarily secure CU end of meter tails and connect the meter back after 5 minutes.
Matt Thompson if there was no isolator, how are u supposed to isolate the installation. I have never ever heard of anyone getting a fine. Use the correct PPE & there should be no problem with your insurance.
Did you open up the meter and change the tails, if yes then that's probably why they turned up, the meter has a trip switch and notify the DNO when the cover is removed and tampered with.
No, I didn't touch the meter, just pulled the main fuse. The meter sent a signal to the electric company who then rang the DNO to come check it out. The guys who turned up were pretty understanding but said that I could be sent a bill for their call out.
People hate Twinflex because the old ones were absolute garbage. Even the well installed ones were awful. The detectors wouldn't reset after testing them, the call points jammed with gunk and would work with the key but not when pushed. The new ones are better, but engineers have long memories.
Same thing happening with paintingn& decorating Johnny bodgit going in doing work at rediculous prices which any self respecting P&D cannot compete with certain individuals are killing the trades and getting away with shit workmanship
thomas nagy merthyr I was born and bred but now living in mountain ash. Great ride on the bike from merthyr to Brecon Beacons and around into Abergavenny. If you haven’t done it Get it on the list
Unfortunately Thomas, the hack jobs wont go away. Being a electrician myself, I have no patience when I get called to clean up someone else's mess. I see it all the time unfortunately.
The Fike Twinflex systems are rubbish from my experience because its aimed at Electricians fitting them. Seems like it's just been quickly chucked together by Fike and no real thought behind it compared to rivals such as Ctek and Gent. The Fire log book issue... sell them a small document cabinet to put underneath for log book and zone layout maybe?
Is an alarm system not basically different types of switching that has an alarm when a switch is energised ? Is it not the case that most alarm systems are first fixed by sparks and then maybe commisioned by alarm engineers that are by trade usually sparks?
@@giggles8966 sort of...the best way to describe it is as smoke enters the chamber and crosses the path of the light beam, light is scattered by the smoke particles, aiming it toward the sensor, which in turn triggers the Fire alarm system. In terms of First fixing. The problem with Fike Twinflex is its aimed at electricians fitting them because you can or could get them from most suppliers so most Sparkys do it the way they want which isent necessarily right. Depends on the sparky as Tom said as some do right but not many. In terms of fixing it I always suggest Fire Enginers 1st & 2nd fix it as theres many rules and regs to comply with that alot of Sparkys dont know about unless they have done the FIA course or other courses. 🙏Someone like Tom I'm sure hes clued up but alot of Sparkys just want the cash to chuck it up and leave.
I fully agree with you about people not giving a f**k as I am looking at getting the 18th edition electrical plus amendment 1. If you were in the northwest of uk I would like to be working with you
Currently doing My A-levels (no exams I know with the current circumstances) and I am debating going too uni, but I am also toying around with the idea of getting into a trade instead probably a spark, anyone got any advice or wisdom for me haha?
Depends on yourself Jacob. Sparkys are one of the best Earners in terms of been self Employed so it's a very good trade to be in. I'm a Fire & Security engineer which again is a very good trade to be in and pays well. With both these jobs tho it obviously takes time to know everything and work your way up just like any job really but these theres a hell of alot to remember. Your talking years before good pay in my experience. Going to Uni you can learn the basics of something and get paid very well if you get that job in the chosen field. I'd always say have a Trade. Its far better!
Matt Thompson We are allowed to work, but then I think we should consider what's morally right, I don't want to be the carrier that spreads to my customers just for a few quid in the bank. the rules do say you can work if "Absolutely necessary", I personally don't think this work is absolutely necessary. If you had seen how ill you can get and how much someone suffers with the virus ( and I have seen 1st hand) you wouldn't be so free about moving around in the community as if its a good thing. You can carry the virus without showing any symptoms, so how do you know you are clear? I bet Borris took precautions, and even he managed to catch it, luckily for him it was a mild version, not everybody is going to be that lucky
Just discovered your Chanel,great commentary and really well presented, just a shame your name is the same as a kid I used to hate at school because he used to bully me 🤣
Customer: there is noise coming from under the stairs...
Customers partner: Yes, thats the electrician he been self isolating and ranting there for 3 weeks now...hope he doesn't charge by the hour :)
What happened to the other lady? Laura was it?
Liking the rawness of your video Tom, just like the good old days.
I agree I have a friend here in the states that does the same work as you are is very good at job and does it right . there so many people not only in your trade but in automobile repair and construction field to as a teacher I tell my students to do their best to take some pride in their work I restore and repair audio gear
Fitted two fike systems & on my third now & i think they are a great system, easy to fit & easy to setup.
Tom, don't feel bad, over here across the pond we deal with idiots that don't practice because they don't want to be inconvenienced or think its a government plot ... also on the shoddy work done.. we have that too.. some call them 'fly by nighters"
On the question you raise about Electrical work being done to the correct standard, its something that I have encountered in every property that I have rented in the last 10 years. Specific examples are a 13A socket that failed the plugin tester (L and N reversed), a shower where the cable used was the wrong gauge causing the switch to become hot and a cooker where the hook up was not done correctly (and therefore unsafe). There are too many contractors operating who don't have the required skills but also property owners are not taking ownership for properly selecting only good contractors.
No main earth on the meter box bloody hell someone clearly could have been hurt or killed what a hack job,
Glad you fixed it tom.
Iceland opposite kilburn market, I used to work there as a maintenance sparky
I want to hear the rants, they absolutely crack me up 😂 you may not think it but you are a funny funny bloke,keep the rants coming
Believe it or not, I try not to rant too much 🙈😂
thomas nagy why? Everyone loves to hear a good rant it lightens everyone’s day up being stuck inside looking at 4 walls
@@thomasnagy I love a good rant, especially over a cold beer.
add a battery cabinet underneath with a document cabinet....up sell spare parts and store them with batteries
I did my apprenticeship during the last boom & never seen a contractor carrying out proper testing & so I didn’t for a long time but if I only put in an extra double socket now I test it
Last line.. classic and so very very true
Also what happened to Laura ?
Gary Hollamby wasn’t she doing the camera for a while?
too much sexual tension
Gary Hollamby I think she works in the office handling billing and calls etc.
I feel that’s commonplace in all trade work unfortunately. I’ll go to a customers home to takeover work from another alarm company and I’m just floored by the lack of forethought of whomever installed it in the first place!
Totally agree with the shit job thing. I went to a callout yesterday and was confronted by utter shitness.
If you ever want to talk for an hour about your life we’ll listen
Yay! Love the fire alarm videos! 😀👍
Zdb is the very first thing I check for when installing a new circuit. Almost certainly no testing been done on the new circuit, if a cert has been issued, they've just made up the results.
What fleece is that on day 2 😂
Wow, that fuse board at the end. Was that a private property with a family, or a rental with landlord ownership ?. Just wondering.. What if say someone there had a pacemaker, then got a electric shock causing the pacemaker to fail and then they die. Would the law point fingers to the property owner ?.
Actually Tom, I’d be more than happy to have you perform a 30 minute rant on pay per view, quite frankly, A) glad you are well B) happy to watch you every day C) great to see you turn down cheap work, over quality - which must be difficult in current circumstances.
i argree, he is really well versed and speaks in such a educated way where his rants actually give insight,
its not a boy talking shit, its a man talkign about industry things which should change(couldnt think of a better way to word that part)
@@any1alive aw shucks :)
Not interested 😂 thats the key to being a good business owner imo, knowing what to avoid!
That's a FAF - Friday afternoon fit.
I myself would like to hear your rant. I have a feeling its close to how I feel here in the states..... Always enjoy your vids, stay safe!
Lovely rant.
I am going to join in.
The Derbyshire Police are pulling people for driving up to the remotest parts of Britain to walk their dogs, meanwhile, London is carrying on as normal.
Is it me?
I agree, the twinflex pro are quite good, I've intalled in the last 7-8 years probably around 50 of them, i only had issues with the first couple of them(becausei didn't pay attention to all the details). So I am still happy with them for small systems (HMO, small block of flats, etc)
Definitely a spark that fitted the Twinflex ;)
Love how at the end it's just like oh god here we go. But all he says is truth.
Why was a small battery causing a fault on the alarm system? How does it even now what size battery is fitted?
Just go to the place where you were recording for the 1 quid hand sanitizer pump. I do need some
I left a few videos to catch up with, and for a good reason I guess. Keep it up mate.
Totally correct, some of the installer's don't care, I probably care too much, whatever works I'm on, doesn't always pay though.
Sometimes I do some extras just because I it's easier that way, rather than do it later, which I lose out on, unlikely I'm a good businessman, but I do try, and do care
Exactly, someone comes in does a hash job and only the proper trades people care so we end up tidying it up after them.
Rocking the sideburns 😉
Here in San Francisco, we've been on lockdown of some sort since March 7th and yet there are still contractors mowing lawns.... No it is not on the list of essential professions. And they are going from house to house....
I actually got mad at a neighbor who instead that having a landscaper mow his lawn 'just gotta be done". I guess he's happy being a murder.
Great customer service by Thomas 😂 Fair enough I guess , it’s your business.
In NYC you can't enter the top of fire alarm panels no matter what the manufacturer says and the batteries are across the bottom.
Would have loved to have heard the rant, I do love a good rant.
With most banks now you can photo cheques from your bank app.
Same thing with floating neutrals on my side of the pond. Half of the "electricians" haven't a clue let alone care.
We get this with installing boilers. Proper hack jobs! Either people charging peanuts and throwing them in. Or charging a fortune after a 3 week plumbing course and no clue
How do you know 3.2AH batteries are the correct , size did you do a load check and do your battery calculation ? Is the system monitored for fire and fault if not I'd be surprised if 3.2 AH batteries would give you the correct standby time . But I maybe wrong with out seeing the battery calcs
it's printed on the inside lid ;-)
It's the same in many trades , we get it in the car game , we should be licenced to do our job and cowboy Joe should leave well alone
And this on the other end is the reason why people tend to not call an electrician anymore and do the stuff themselves. I've leaned it as part of my qualification and in every house I lived so far, I found major issues with the electrics. So I ripped everything apart to the bare wire and rewired everything.
There's stuff like "yeah let's use green-yellow for the phase on a two switch circuit, this way we can save some pennies because a lamp doesn't need earth anyway" up to "10 cm molten isolation on the 3 phase *flexible* cable with just 1.5 mm2 to an oven and electric stove"...
That's just mad, no ground like that...
I noted the fire alarm box doesn't have any glands around the cables entering the steel box isn't it meant to and that final fuse box really does look a mess [mind that hasn't got any either ],so good spot on the Earthing Thomas.
When was this filmed? You are still working close together?
Perhaps they're living together.
Was it really about the money or the previous installer not having the knowledge to look for an earth?
Some people don't care about the job they do because the customer doesn't know any better and will pay anyway.
If the customer knew as much as you do, they'd have sorted the problem out themselves. Every professional owes it to the client to do the best job possible.
Spot on. But the percentage of people that, think let alone act this way is diminishing.
Can you show some work/ videos on contractors please 👌😊😊😊😊
Contactors
Have you ever tried setting your camera frame rate to 25 frames per second instead of 30, to avoid that flickering on indoor lighting?
i'll try it next time
I’m an electrician in Los Angeles. I test and repair fire alarm systems for the LA County fire department
and now you see why London is getting most problems now , unfortunately due to austerity we dont have enough police etc , stay safe
I keep a can of compressed air with my canned smoke for blowing them out. The hoover idea is good, I have a battery powered one so why spend money on compressed air!
I have worked on twin flex fire alarm panel's and found them to be alright. It's like you say some people Don't know what they are doing.
Can we get a look at what’s in your toolbag
So .. where was the voltage coming from ?
+thomas nagy
Also -- new MCBs fitted, no 30mA RCD protection at all ?!!? Or is that a big 30mA covering all circuits in separate wylex box?
Oh to have a sink in the van!! Id love that
Where’s your personalised workwear gone Tom?
Hola Nagy, que emisora llevas en la furgoneta(van). Vhf-uhf. CB. Saludos.
I thought most makes of smoke alarm specifically say in the instructions not to use canned smoke to test the alarms I know Aico say not to
But to test it most "Fake" testing smoke comes in small canisters. And obviously in most commercial premises its Law to test them every 6 months. They only advise that I think so you dont damage the detectors. 👊
D lewis, that’s domestic fire alarms👍🏼
what are the radios you have in your vans
Tom can you point me in the direction of some CPD|Training providing from them alarms.
Thanks 👍
Thanks Tom
What’s the radio in the van , that you can see in centre shot ?
It's a radio.
You can bank on 'Adopey' software causing something to crash or hang. I hate it like poison.
What happened to Dave? And has Sarah replaced Laura??
While ever the Wiring regs are not Law, the industry will always be the same.
If people stayed in we could actually fight this a lot quicker but there are stupid people!! Oh I need a bit of advice on which USB / UK PLUG Sockets. I'm looking to install X3 Double sockets,
What brand would you say is the best to use?
What are people doing about board changes on a smart meter? I was changing a board a few weeks ago and the DNO turned up asking what I was doing. I think I've blagged my way out of a fine as I've not heard anything since.
Never had DNO turn up after disconnecting smart meter. But then again our DNO won't come out of their depos for any money. I suppose you could carry REC2S to temporarily secure CU end of meter tails and connect the meter back after 5 minutes.
Matt Thompson if there was no isolator, how are u supposed to isolate the installation. I have never ever heard of anyone getting a fine. Use the correct PPE & there should be no problem with your insurance.
Did you open up the meter and change the tails, if yes then that's probably why they turned up, the meter has a trip switch and notify the DNO when the cover is removed and tampered with.
No, I didn't touch the meter, just pulled the main fuse. The meter sent a signal to the electric company who then rang the DNO to come check it out.
The guys who turned up were pretty understanding but said that I could be sent a bill for their call out.
I spy my jiffy bag. Thank you sir. Until the next time. Stay safe out there...
Do you install fire alarms or just service them?
Who’s harry? And where a nom nom? Or Naomi ?
Get yourself a pole smoke detector tester better than lugging the steps around with you. They even have ones with blowers in them to clear the smoke.
People hate Twinflex because the old ones were absolute garbage. Even the well installed ones were awful. The detectors wouldn't reset after testing them, the call points jammed with gunk and would work with the key but not when pushed.
The new ones are better, but engineers have long memories.
Same thing happening with paintingn& decorating Johnny bodgit going in doing work at rediculous prices which any self respecting P&D cannot compete with certain individuals are killing the trades and getting away with shit workmanship
What toolbag do you have?
Yep, that’s how some people work, lash, cash and dash!
It's worrying the amount of crap work I come across, glad it's not just me.
Chris Howard Me too, I’m pleased I’m not the only one doing crap work
London's just like that.
Secretary sounds welsh what part she from??? I’ve lived in merthyr and Cardiff and she’s definitely from that neck of woods.
absolutely right. you are very close. Not too far from Merthyr.
I spent many years driving up around your neck of the woods. beautiful place.
thomas nagy merthyr I was born and bred but now living in mountain ash.
Great ride on the bike from merthyr to Brecon Beacons and around into Abergavenny. If you haven’t done it
Get it on the list
Unfortunately Thomas, the hack jobs wont go away. Being a electrician myself, I have no patience when I get called to clean up someone else's mess. I see it all the time unfortunately.
Can you not inquire with your customer about the previous Yahoo and lodge a complaint yourself?
Rants on a bit but very good spark ⚡️
Have you stopped now?
Where’s Tom has he left again?
The Fike Twinflex systems are rubbish from my experience because its aimed at Electricians fitting them. Seems like it's just been quickly chucked together by Fike and no real thought behind it compared to rivals such as Ctek and Gent. The Fire log book issue... sell them a small document cabinet to put underneath for log book and zone layout maybe?
Is an alarm system not basically different types of switching that has an alarm when a switch is energised ? Is it not the case that most alarm systems are first fixed by sparks and then maybe commisioned by alarm engineers that are by trade usually sparks?
@@giggles8966 sort of...the best way to describe it is as smoke enters the chamber and crosses the path of the light beam, light is scattered by the smoke particles, aiming it toward the sensor, which in turn triggers the Fire alarm system. In terms of First fixing. The problem with Fike Twinflex is its aimed at electricians fitting them because you can or could get them from most suppliers so most Sparkys do it the way they want which isent necessarily right. Depends on the sparky as Tom said as some do right but not many. In terms of fixing it I always suggest Fire Enginers 1st & 2nd fix it as theres many rules and regs to comply with that alot of Sparkys dont know about unless they have done the FIA course or other courses. 🙏Someone like Tom I'm sure hes clued up but alot of Sparkys just want the cash to chuck it up and leave.
4:32 what happened to asian chick?
I fully agree with you about people not giving a f**k as I am looking at getting the 18th edition electrical plus amendment 1. If you were in the northwest of uk I would like to be working with you
is this a new guy ?
Currently doing My A-levels (no exams I know with the current circumstances) and I am debating going too uni, but I am also toying around with the idea of getting into a trade instead probably a spark, anyone got any advice or wisdom for me haha?
Depends on yourself Jacob. Sparkys are one of the best Earners in terms of been self Employed so it's a very good trade to be in. I'm a Fire & Security engineer which again is a very good trade to be in and pays well. With both these jobs tho it obviously takes time to know everything and work your way up just like any job really but these theres a hell of alot to remember. Your talking years before good pay in my experience. Going to Uni you can learn the basics of something and get paid very well if you get that job in the chosen field. I'd always say have a Trade. Its far better!
trade - you can probably get a house 10 years before anyone not in a trade
See relly good for at mate keep up there good work on TH-cam well done mate hove a good day mate form Greg Bouchard
I take it this was filmed before the tighter lockdown rules were brought in?
the first half was ;-)
Sam Conboy, why? You can still work, we're not on house arrest just yet
Matt Thompson We are allowed to work, but then I think we should consider what's morally right, I don't want to be the carrier that spreads to my customers just for a few quid in the bank. the rules do say you can work if "Absolutely necessary", I personally don't think this work is absolutely necessary. If you had seen how ill you can get and how much someone suffers with the virus ( and I have seen 1st hand) you wouldn't be so free about moving around in the community as if its a good thing. You can carry the virus without showing any symptoms, so how do you know you are clear?
I bet Borris took precautions, and even he managed to catch it, luckily for him it was a mild version, not everybody is going to be that lucky
new aprentice?
Big Clive sent mr here.
Just discovered your Chanel,great commentary and really well presented, just a shame your name is the same as a kid I used to hate at school because he used to bully me 🤣
Hoped in a vat and drive off 😂
And fact that British trades men don’t want to teach anyone nowadays