Ten most common mistakes found on COC inspections

[Thys LOW Elektries]

Good Day

Have been at an inspection today and think this would be a no brainer, but I would love to hear other sparkies comments
1. SWA cable terminated in DB with sharp wires pointing in all directions
2. SWA cable not earthed to the DB,
3. Main breaker is a single pole breaker hopefully it's size is protecting the cable and installation
4 Main breaker is bigger then supply breaker on the outside kiosk, we have 30A and 40A main supplies from the council
5. Bridge pieces on top of breakers are 4mm or 6mm wires
6. Labeling are missing or incorrect
7. Overpopulated DB's with holes drilled from the sides to accommodate new hardware (like aircons.)
8. No Isolator on stove or geyser
9. Wiring modified in ceiling space, just cut the wire in the round black boksie thing and run the wire past the lid to new light or plug
10. No insulation tape on porcelains on joints and earth wires just twisted up together...

So what are the common mistakes you find when doing inspections?

[Derlyn]

Good Day

Have been at an inspection today and think this would be a no brainer, but I would love to hear other sparkies comments
1. SWA cable terminated in DB with sharp wires pointing in all directions
2. SWA cable not earthed to the DB,
3. Main breaker is a single pole breaker hopefully it's size is protecting the cable and installation
4 Main breaker is bigger then supply breaker on the outside kiosk, we have 30A and 40A main supplies from the council
5. Bridge pieces on top of breakers are 4mm or 6mm wires
6. Labeling are missing or incorrect
7. Overpopulated DB's with holes drilled from the sides to accommodate new hardware (like aircons.)
8. No Isolator on stove or geyser
9. Wiring modified in ceiling space, just cut the wire in the round black boksie thing and run the wire past the lid to new light or plug
10. No insulation tape on porcelains on joints and earth wires just twisted up together...

So what are the common mistakes you find when doing inspections?

All the points you mentioned are issues except for No 5.

If your supply from the kiosk is 30A or 40A then the bridge pieces of 4mm or 6mm in my book are ok. 10A/sq mm so a 4mm bridge can handle 40A and a 6mm bridge can handle 60A.

[Firepool]

Good Day

Have been at an inspection today and think this would be a no brainer, but I would love to hear other sparkies comments
1. SWA cable terminated in DB with sharp wires pointing in all directions
2. SWA cable not earthed to the DB,
3. Main breaker is a single pole breaker hopefully it's size is protecting the cable and installation
4 Main breaker is bigger then supply breaker on the outside kiosk, we have 30A and 40A main supplies from the council
5. Bridge pieces on top of breakers are 4mm or 6mm wires
6. Labeling are missing or incorrect
7. Overpopulated DB's with holes drilled from the sides to accommodate new hardware (like aircons.)
8. No Isolator on stove or geyser
9. Wiring modified in ceiling space, just cut the wire in the round black boksie thing and run the wire past the lid to new light or plug
10. No insulation tape on porcelains on joints and earth wires just twisted up together...

So what are the common mistakes you find when doing inspections?

1)Under rated or overrated circuit breakers.Often no earth bar.Agree with main breaker not be double pole.
2)no earth to plugs and certain circuits not being on earth leakage
3)UFH not on earth leakage with the UFH thermostast having no isolater
4)Open joins in the roof
5)No earth continuity to metal parts like steel switches etc
6)Twist conductors individually and terminate correctly in board
7)no double pole isolators to heated towel rails,fans and other appliances
8)secure plugs,cables
9)rewire with approved cable example remove/redo lights wired with. ripcord
10)fit glands or make safe exposed wires

[Andrew_van_Zyl]

In my short 2 inspection entrance into the industry both installations had crazy mistakes.

One had ALL earthing conductors cut - geyser, socket outlets...everything!

The second had a bridge between incoming Live on the main disconnector to the Live bus bar, bypassing the ELU.

Someone obviously "fixed" the ELU from tripping in about 10 minutes...and impressed the client with their "skill" and "fault finding capability".

The worst is this wasn't done by the homeowner but by a "certified" person