electrical wiring

[VJ]

And he keeps stalling... He went to the shop and they explained him some things. The guys from the shop will also verify the cabling and do the programming, so that is great service.

The electrician was said to come yesterday, but he did not come. His previous excuses were that he lacked the network cable or the KNX cable, but there is plenty more to do: he still needs to make the cuts in the walls for a number of rooms, so for sure he has his work cut out even without the cables. I'll have to get somebody to call him now, to ask why he did not come and what the planning is.

Part of me still thinks he is afraid of the job as it is quite a big job... but he does not want to admit to that... but all this stalling is not getting any of us anywhere.

[VJ]

So he restarted on Tuesday! And it looks like it is going in the right direction: network cable, KNX control cable, ... Still some things missing, but it is a work in progress.

At the moment, my only concern is with the electrical cabinet (it is just lying here, unopened): it is too small. He did not take into account all the units needed for the intelligent system. At the moment, I need the size of 20 modules, but with expansion plans I need room for about 36 modules. Add to that a large number of fuses (many independent circuits are needed for the intelligent control), and it will be a very big electrical cabinet. He brought a 48 unit one, but that for sure is not enough: there are about 16 fuses for the lights, and about 20 for the sockets...

I also picked up the intelligent components. I hope this helps the electrician somewhat in seeing how they should be connected.

[VJ]

I'm considering changing electricians again...

On Friday evening, I noticed he did not do things according to the plan. I pointed this out on Saturday morning and he admitted he did not look at the plan. On Saturday evening I discovered he did exactly the same in another room, and again not according to the plan.
Today he let me know that he will not be coming today OR tomorrow, so his prediction of being finished by Wednesday again goes through the window. His initial estimate of 4-5 days is now almost 3-4 weeks (only counting from when he started).
I can't shake the feeling that he is somewhat unsure on how to continue and what to do next: he is working so slowly, and only seems to be doing very basic things. As soon as more complicated issues arise, he postpones. So while I think the job is too complicated for him (the intelligent system, ...), I also think he is too proud to admit to that.

I'll contact my friend and see what she says. I can get an electrician through the shop that sells the intelligent system, so I have an alternative ready.

[Fat Tone]

I know I haven't really contributed but I have been following this with interest.

Is there any chance you are now at a point where you could finish the work yourself, and just get it inspected at the end? An electricians tools cost very little.

[VJ]

I'm now at the point where I realize I should have bought the tools to cut in the walls and cut the locations for the cables and sockets myself (no "expert" electricity work involved in that). I could even have put the cable (power, utp, knx) there myself and just as a last step have an electrician verify it and hook up the electrical cabinet.

At this point in time though, most - but not all - places where cable will have to go has been cut in the walls and the majority of cables is there. So as far as "non-expert-work" is concerned, I don't think there is that much left to be done (which also strengthens my belief that the electrician is stalling - and I think it is because he does not know how or is scared to proceed).
So a few power cables still need to be pulled, some network cable (this might be a bit more tricky: the electrician tied them AGAIN together with the powercable, so that has to change) and some KNX control cable.The next step would be hooking up the electrical cabinet (which will involve removing the old one), so that is not a point I would venture to do.

I have a long weekend coming up, so I could use that to pull the still missing cables...

[VJ]

The electrician has been cancelled. His main concern was that I'm left with quite a mess (nice of him), but in a way he can understand it. He said he could finish it all in the next 3 days, but I'm not too convinced about it: many things still to be corrected and done, and his past speed also makes me guess otherwise.
So this seems like the best option. The shop where I bought the intelligent system will bring me into contact with a new electrician that works with them, and that will have all the necessary qualifications and experience.

So bring on electrician number...3...

[Chucky Cheese]

Wow !!!

Third time is the charm ???

[VJ]

My friend who called the electrician yesterday (he does not share a common language with me, so I had to ask somebody to do it) said he sounded a bit surprised, but also relieved. To her surprise, he even admitted that he is doing 2 other jobs in the mean time. After hearing him explain things (I don't know what he said), she told me that she now thinks I made the right decision to cancel him.

The main issue is that I don't trust him anymore. Not about letting him work at my place, but about his timings (he is stalling so much; from his track-record, the 3 day estimate for the remaining work seems impossible), about the things that need to be corrected (so far, almost none of the errors I pointed out have been corrected) and still need to be put according to the plan (the last things he did were wrong, and he admitted he did not look at the plan) and about his ability to finish the intelligent system (despite claiming otherwise, he has no experience with it).

The guys at the shop where I bought the intelligent system will now arrange for another electrician for me. They have a list of electricians that regularly work with them, so they said they will be able to find me one.

Now, I'll be happy when the electricity is finished before I take my holiday in a few weeks time...

[Chucky Cheese]

The new Electrician

Is the new electrician going to do the low voltage wiring and the service panel with its' branch circuts also?

[VJ]

Are you suggesting I need a fourth guy for that?

But yes: the electrical cabinet and intelligent system are the main thing that needs to be done now. Some cable still have to changed/added, but not too much. I particularly asked the shop to look for somebody with experience in networks as well.

[Chucky Cheese]

Just Curious

Just more of a curiosity question than anything...hopefully he does a good job in both areas! I don't know as much about power circut implementation as I do about communication layouts.

[VJ]

The thing that makes me hopeful is that the shop of the intelligent system will look for one. For the intelligent system, you need additional wiring and for some components you even need UTP cabling. So if it is a guy who comes recommended by the shop, he should have experience at least with basic communication cabling (it is just a simple apartment, so there is no danger of running into length limitations or needing multiple segments or so).

[Fat Tone]

It's been nearly a week...still sleeping in the hall?

[VJ]

Yes... still waiting for the 3rd electrician, so far no reply from the shop... But I'll be going home for a long vacation soon, so if he does not start in the next few days, I'd have to have it postponed till after I return... in August...
I suspect there is about 4 days of work left, but would like to keep a close eye on the progress. It would really complicate things though, as I could have had the painters come over during my holiday and the guy to renovate the floor. Now the painters will have to do it while I'm there, or when I go away next time around the end of August.

They will also have to remove tiles in the bathroom to redo the cabling, and this makes me wonder of also changing the bathroom a bit (new shower cabine). I would do that in September. The kitchen has always been scheduled for next year...

And to think it was initially planned to finish in May or so...

[Umfriend]

By the time you're done you'll move...