Argos selling outdoor electricals

[Steve]

I was browsing the pages of the latest Argos catalogue earlier, and to my horror I found a page of outdoor electrical accessories by MK. This wouldn't have been so bad, but there is not a mention of new building regs, or part p.

nothing on their website about part p either.

I would think Argos should know better than this. They normally have a little box warning of regulations concerning the products they sell, but it appears they cocked up on this year's catalogue.

how the hell do they expect people are going to rig this up? Using 2.5mm² SWA? i doubt it. 1.0mm² flex would be more the order of the day.

They shouldn't be selling these things to DIYers without telling them at least what they need to do to comply with the law with regards to part p - which many people still dont know about. They could also tell them about how to wire it up safely - should they so wish to still do it themselves.

Oh, and just how temporary is this meant to be? If Argos think People are just going to put this out when they need to mow he lawn, i think they have got it very wrong - I can see people leaving this out all the time. A temporary extension is a simple reel, or trailing socket, and it isn't waterproof. This product is neither here nor there.

 

[JohnD]

Argos is just a high street store, but last time you were in B&Q or your electrical supplier, I bet you weren't required to show your official authorisation for buying elctrical parts, and fill out a requisition to determine if it was to be used in a kitchen or bathroom.

 

[securespark]

How obvious is it to a customer of B & Q that recently introduced regulations may prohibit them from installing the electrical equipment they have just purchased, outdoors?

 

[Steve]

Argos is just a high street store, but last time you were in B&Q or your electrical supplier, I bet you weren't required to show your official authorisation for buying elctrical parts, and fill out a requisition to determine if it was to be used in a kitchen or bathroom.

no, but B&Q have leaflets telling people about part p, and "how to" leaflets. They also have big signs up informing people about part p and that they should contact their LABC before starting the work.

 

[JohnD]

I'm prepared to wager a modest amount that customers at B&Q or Argos are as ignorant as everyone else.

I wonder if anyone believes that a time will come when regulations are generally followed?

 

[Steve]

To add onto my last post, B&Q also have trained electricians who know (to some degree) what they are talking about. You go into Argos and ask the staff about newly introduced electrical/building regs. Argos have no provision for customer support at store level for these products - thus rendering customers "on their own" when installing them - very dangerous when its electricity involved. IMO, they should not be selling them.

 

[BJS_Spark]

B&Q also have trained electricians who know (to some degree) what they are talking about

Doesn't BAN have a picture of him

 

[johnny_t]

Leeds (Killingbeck) B&Q still has there 'How To' board up on running in a new shower, and no mention at all that doing it yourself may be a no-no......

 

[securespark]

I haven't seen anything in the Stockport Warehouse.

 

[Steve]

Let me put it another way, have a different swing at it.

Argos sell sockets, switches, accessories for outdoor use. HOWEVER they do NOT sell the cable with which to hook them up. The only cable they sell is BELLWIRE and SPEAKER cable.

Now in the absence of a local DIY store, am I the only one who can see thick DIYers wiring these sockets up with scratty bits of T+E of unknown sizes, buried at 1 inch deep, without informing LABC, without using appropriate glands on the T+E, and rendering their house unsellable when they cant produce certificates, if the house hasn't burnt down by then, or its occupants killed. Worse, they could use the bellwire that Argos sell, the consequences of which i wont explore here.

B&Q are much better equipped to sell these items: they provide advice, and all of the equipment to install their accessories. And most of the stores will probably have some info somewhere stating "recent changes in the law mean . . . blah blah" I was VERY surprised to find Argos dont have such a notice next to these products. They should at least sell the armoured cabling for these items too. Your average B&Q customer is also likely to be better informed about the ins and outs of his project.

Oh, I nearly forgot, they sell a KIT for providing outdoor power - consists of:
RCD spur unit,
25mm surface box,
"outdoor power and protection in one box" (an outdoor single socket),
2.5mm TWIN AND EARTH CABLE (of unspecified length) + fixing pack.

twin and earth? The heading says: "MK - providing safe power to your garden, greenhouse and outbuilding". Think you get my point here. see page 301.

 

[Hacman]

My b+q certainly don't have trained electricians working for them.

Was in their the other day on electrical isle. Someone asking what cable they needed to member of staff working on that section, he advised them they needed 4mm and this was for a 10.5Kw shower. You do the maths.

I however pointed them in the way of the 10mm and got my self a job out of it in the end to fit that particular shower when they realised (after a short chat) that I was an electrician

 

[macmini]

Having worked for B&Q in the past,

All stores should have a fully qualified electrician, however, these only usually work certain days, the store i worked at, a large warehouse, had two instore electricians.

 

[securespark]

The only cable they sell is BELLWIRE and SPEAKER cable.

Plenty enough for a 30m 3kW run, then....

Or If you double it up, 6kW for 60m!

Warning: That was a JOKE!!