Electrical Horror Show. Why oh why...

Mr. Whippy · **on:** March 24, 2010, 05:03:21 PM

As I've mentioned before, we're doing some renovations. Part of my duties is to rework the electrical. A couple weeks ago, I traced back a line to this:

It was just resting in the rafters. Not attached to anything.

Today, the first sunny day in a while, I decided to shut off the power in the house and have at this Medusa.

I had no idea how many different circuits entered or what all were supplied by this mess. Honestly? What the H3[L was the guy thinking?

It's not even a real blanking cover! Worse, it's a MODIFIED POS too:

What? Screws only along the bottom? Whyzat?

I see, you cracked off the upper part of the box.

Still electrical tape is strong stuff.

...and you did need to contain this tangle...

The aftermath...

Luckily only one circuit in and half of the lines out (there were SIX lines out from this box!) have been rendered unnecessary.

Still, guy: Freakin' learn how to do wiring, will ya'?

ducktapehero · **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:07:07 PM

The thing I have to ask is did it work? At least temporarily?

Quote

Still, guy: Freakin' learn how to do wiring, will ya'?

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:41:41 PM

Yea, but damn! A little bit of a squirty waterline (not far away, btw) and this could have been a pretty exciting junction box.

andre0407 · **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:45:24 PM

Whoever did the electrical routing for you, Mr. W, he certainly wasn't very responsible.

Benner · **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2010, 06:32:01 PM

I think my Ella could do a better job than that.

In my last job I saw plenty of dodgy wiring.

Styerman · **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2010, 07:08:10 PM

Glad you found it , looks like a fire waiting for a place to happen . Had anything happened , your insurance carrier would have tried very hard to avoid paying out on the claim . Not to mention , it could have killed someone .

Chris

ryan1835 · **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:08:27 PM

christ!

that looks er nice and safe

we come across stuff like this at work it happens when royal mail get subbies in, a month or two later when what ever they did goes wrong we have to pick up the pieces

NutSAK · **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:12:52 PM

Cripes, what a mess!

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:33:37 PM

What a mess!

Not too long ago, when my wife and I were house shopping, a friend of mine sent me a collection of photos similar to those, like a guy using a Skoal tin as a junction box, bare wires stuck in an outlet and a desk fan inverted and mounted on the ceiling as a fan for the washroom. Amused, I sent the pictures on to my parents, after taking out all the forward crap, and said this was the house we were looking at. My parents were amused, but were pretty certain even I wouldn't be daring enough to take on a challenge like that, and they decided to have their own fun by forwarding it on to my brother, with a little rant attached saying something like "Look what Grant is buying! Can you believe he'd be dumb enough to pay actual money for that? What is he thinking?"

Needless to say, it was probably the only time in ten years my brother has ever phoned me about anything- he was determined to straighten me out, if not for my own sake, then for my poor parents who are too nice to say anything!

Best of luck to you Mr W, and if you get a call from my brother, you'll know why!

Def

Whoey · **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:36:26 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on March 24, 2010, 08:33:37 PM

What a mess!

Not too long ago, when my wife and I were house shopping, a friend of mine sent me a collection of photos similar to those, like a guy using a Skoal tin as a junction box, bare wires stuck in an outlet and a desk fan inverted and mounted on the ceiling as a fan for the washroom. Amused, I sent the pictures on to my parents, after taking out all the forward crap, and said this was the house we were looking at. My parents were amused, but were pretty certain even I wouldn't be daring enough to take on a challenge like that, and they decided to have their own fun by forwarding it on to my brother, with a little rant attached saying something like "Look what Grant is buying! Can you believe he'd be dumb enough to pay actual money for that? What is he thinking?"

Needless to say, it was probably the only time in ten years my brother has ever phoned me about anything- he was determined to straighten me out, if not for my own sake, then for my poor parents who are too nice to say anything!

Best of luck to you Mr W, and if you get a call from my brother, you'll know why!

Def

those photos were ace! got a good laugh out of them.

you should see the critter I pulled out of our bathroom vent