Industry watchdog MCS reveals the top mistakes electricians make when installing renewables.  A popular Sangamo timer range is recalled over the risk of shock,  burns, and suffocation. And a petition demanding an inquest  into the death of electrician Matthew Campbell has hit 2,000 signatures. Welcome to Electrical News Weekly — whether you're listening in the van, on site, or down  at the wholesale counter, I'm Joe Robinson, and I've been through the best of the electrical  industry news to save you the trouble. And if you think you've spotted the two words I've been  challenged to slip into this week's show, comment with them below for the chance to win a prize. The industry watchdog has revealed the top mistakes electricians make when installing  renewables. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme says there are eight standout reasons that  projects fail its evaluations. It says it's not out to bash contractors with the list, so don’t  get yourselves into a funk over this. Instead, MCS says it's disclosing the non-conformities  for the first time to raise awareness in the trade and eliminate the issues for good. The list is based on 86 assessments carried out in  February — 49 of these were solar installs, and 37 were heat pumps. The top fail with PV projects was that no schematic diagram of the installation was fixed  at the point of interconnection. Additionally, warning notices for alternative supplies were  not in place at the origin, the meter position, the consumer unit, or other points of isolation.  Furthermore, DC cables were not supported or routed safely or brought through the underlay/felt  as required by the IET. Finally, expansion gaps were not always maintained around all modules. For heat pumps, the biggest issue was that external insulation was not sealed to keep  out water — particularly important if the heat pump is installed in a shrubbery. Inspectors  also reported that warning labels were often not completed or left in a visible position.  Another reason jobs failed was that the pipework outside the building was not suitably sleeved  or sealed. Lastly, inspectors often found that the D2 plumbing termination was not compliant. I’ve put a link to the full list in the show notes so you can use it as a checklist. In other news, a hugely popular Sangamo wall switch is being recalled over the risk of shock,  burns, and suffocation. The Power Saver is a fused timer for heating systems. It’s  either surface- or flush-mounted, and available in white, silver,  and black. Nine variants of the Chinese-made unit are being recalled from householders. Trading Standards officers say the product presents a risk of electric shock and burns.  That’s because a potential manufacturing defect may cause it to overheat — especially  when used with high loads and in high ambient temperatures. The housing can become distorted,  exposing the user to live parts. The consumer may touch the live part,  resulting in potential electrocution. The unit can also melt, causing burns  and releasing smoke — which could lead to asphyxiation. The product does not meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016.  I’ve listed the affected model numbers and 13-digit barcodes in the show notes.  If you've installed one, replace it with a new unit from your wholesaler. The family of electrician Matthew Campbell says its petition calling for an inquest into his  death has now been signed by over 2,000 trade colleagues and friends. Matthew, 24, died when  he was struck by a falling tree as strong winds from Storm Ali lashed Northern Ireland in 2018.  He was working to restore power at a water pumping station in a forest park, as winds hit 91 mph. His family says the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) did not initially  attend the scene or launch an investigation. It eventually opened an investigation in  February 2020 — more than a year later. In 2024, Newry, Mourne and Down Council, along with Lagan  Construction, were fined a total of £50,000 after admitting health and safety offences  related to the incident. However, the charges did not address the specific day Matthew was killed. His parents say an inquest would expose how  badly his death was handled and help prevent future tragedies. The trade is also being warned this week about the dangers of vibrating tools. It follows an  HSE prosecution of a social housing provider after two workers were diagnosed with hand-arm  vibration syndrome. One worker estimated he used vibrating equipment for 90% of his working day. Stonewater Ltd, who deployed the workers near Coventry, was fined £140,000. Regular exposure to  vibration can cause painful, disabling conditions affecting the nerves, blood supply, joints, and  muscles of the hands and arms. The risk increases with exposure and varies between individuals. I’ve put a link to the HSE guidance in the show notes. Now, welcome to our Electrical News Weekly feature, where we focus on a specific product  area. This week, it’s tools and test equipment — and there’s been loads of innovation recently. First up is Martindale, who’ve unveiled an advanced socket tester. The EZ664 verifies  socket safety and wiring integrity in domestic and commercial jobs. It connects via a standard  13A plug or flying leads and uses tri-colour LEDs to show wiring conditions, voltage levels,  and earth loop impedance — without tripping a 30mA RCD. Chauvin Arnoux has launched a current meter with a flexible measuring loop. The Digiflex MA400D  measures AC flow from 20mA to 400A — or up to 4,000A with another model. It’s ideal for tight  spaces where you can’t use a clamp. I’ve linked to the product and demo video in the show notes. The Kewtech KT64DL is the UK’s smallest multifunction tester with EV testing.  It handles continuity, insulation resistance, loop impedance, PSC/PFC, and both AC and A-type  RCD testing. It also includes a 6mA DC test at 0° and 180° to verify EV charge  points — plus AC/DC breakdown voltage displays for surge protection testing. Socket & See has launched its safe isolation kit — the ISO Kit 420. It includes the SP400  proving unit, the upgraded VIP 2000 two-pole voltage indicator, and a rugged safe case.  The SP400 has a true AC waveform output up to 690V, while the VIP 2000 features continuity,  phase rotation, and auto-test functions. One of our favourite bits of kit is “The Xtrahand” — a vacuum attachment that sticks to almost any  surface and clears dust while drilling, grinding, or cutting. It even works with hole saws,  auger bits, angle grinders, and multi-tools. Use the code EIX10 to get 10% off online orders. Two toolboxes to highlight now. First, the Wiha XL2 — a roller case packed with 60 tools,  92 loops, and shock absorbers to stop it slamming shut. It includes everything from screwdrivers to  crimping pliers. If you register your Wiha toolkit through the MyWiha app,  you're entered into a monthly draw to win a Coolbag or fan pack. Velocity has also launched the Rogue 600 Wheeler — the world’s first trackable tool bag. It includes  a built-in Velocity Connect tracker, massive storage, rugged wheels, and 55 internal pockets. Spit has unveiled the Tapcon HFL Extreme — a hex-head screw for cracked and uncracked  concrete, including seismic zones C1 and C2. It features a patented longer thread,  is adjustable for realignment, and comes in various lengths and diameters. This week’s question was about ferrules — and came from our free training package with Klauke.  

which class of conductor benefits most from ferrule use? The correct answer was  Class 5 fine-stranded — which 69% of you nailed on YouTube,  and 89% on LinkedIn. A win for the LinkedIn crowd! Next week, we’ll be focusing on wholesalers and distributors. And  don’t forget — there’s still time to enter NVC Lighting’s sales promo. The top prize  is Oasis tickets! Spend £250 for a £5 Greggs voucher, £400 for a £10 voucher,  plus monthly Amazon prizes — and you’re entered into the draw automatically. We’re always looking for your stories, installs, and recommendations. Over the next few weeks,  we’ll be covering distributors, LED lighting and controls, and smart software. Send us  photos or let us know about the tools and products making your job easier. Now, onto your favourite bit of the show — the secret words. Last week’s challenge  words were “puppeteer” and “unicyclist.” And the winner? Longtime commenter and friend of the show:  DogWhisperer7494 — aka Sha Dempsey. Well done, Shan. Persistence pays off! Make sure you click the "get involved" link in the show notes to claim your prize. Thanks for listening to this episode of Electrical News Weekly. Make sure you  subscribe for the next update — and until next time, have a great week. Stay safe out there,  

there’s no such thing as a torque-calibrated arm. Apparently, there is a clicky elbow though. Not sure if the  mic picked that up. We’ll find out in the edit.