Coming up on this week's news, electricians are warned against asking ChatGPT and other AIs about the Wiring Regulations. The death of a London couple in a Spanish hot tub is blamed on electrocution. And did you know that vaping in your van could be illegal? Welcome to Electrical News Weekly in association with Shelly, helping electricians offer smarter buildings and better energy management. Shelly's range of smart relays, sensors, and control devices makes it easy to add automation without the cost and disruption of rewiring. 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 that I've been challenged to slip into this week's show, comment with them below for the chance to win this exclusive cap branded with friends of the show, Quickwire and CHUMP Tools. And while you're there, click the links in the show notes to check out what our sponsors offer. And stay tuned to the end of the show to catch up on our regular features, including the weather forecast from Fox ESS and the lighter side of the news with Quickwire. The trade is being warned against using ChatGPT or other AI tools to resolve queries about the Wiring Regulations. It's believed that electricians are increasingly turning to these platforms for advice on installations, but an artificial intelligence expert is specifically alerting installers that asking it about the regs is dangerous. Dru McPherson, founder of Whoza AI, writing in Cable Talk magazine, says it could have fatal consequences. He says, "If you ask an AI assistant a question about BS 7671, you'll get an answer that reads exactly like a correct one. It'll be confident, fluent, and properly punctuated, but it may also be completely incorrect." McPherson's advice is never let AI near anything where being wrong is unsafe. It's even possible, say some experts, that because the IET controls the publication of the Wiring Regulations so carefully, the large language models powering AI assistants may not have even read the latest copyrighted edition completely. Instead, they rely on information about it published online. This means there could be crucial gaps in their knowledge. However, McPherson says AI can be a powerful tool for paperwork. He advises contractors to use it for the administration around the job. It can turn a voice note into a written quote and draft that customer email that you've been putting off for 3 days. I've put a link to his full advice in the show notes to save you being bamboozled by AI. If you're drained by all this cyber talk, then why not charge up with some therapeutic hands-on actual work with the range from DEWALT. With tools created specifically for the electrical industry, they're tested on site and in the hardest possible ways. Dropped, covered in dust, abused, and driven to the absolute limits, so they'll keep working exactly when you need them to. In other news, a coroner says the most likely cause of the death of a London couple in a Spanish hot tub is electrocution. However, mystery still surrounds the incident in Valencia on the east coast of Spain after Patrick and Thomasina Tobin were found dead in their holiday villa. The authorities are working on the theory that Patrick came to the assistance of his wife who was suffering an electric shock in the tub. Reports suggest the couple may have formed a path for the electric current to flow through. Other theories include overheating, chemical poisoning, and drowning. Foul play and third-party involvement have been ruled out. Patrick from New Zealand and Thomasina from Ireland had been married for 20 years. The investigation continues. In Scotland this week, two of the leading trade organisations have united to warn about the rise of rogue training providers. Electrical contractors' representative body SELECT and the Scottish Joint Industry Board both insist that there are no shortcuts to becoming an electrician. They say apprenticeships remain the only safe and proven route to becoming properly qualified. Concern is mounting north of the border that people are being encouraged to believe they can become qualified electricians after just a few weeks in the classroom. They are urging anyone considering becoming an installer to make sure they follow an industry-approved route. These combine structured learning with supervised experience in the workplace. SELECT chief Sharon Miller says a short course simply doesn't cut it and actively endangers consumer safety. She says becoming an electrician isn't about collecting certificates. It's about developing genuine occupational competence and being able to demonstrate that you can carry out complex electrical work correctly and safely. Let us know your thoughts on short-course entry to the industry. Legit route for responsible trainees or total codswallop. Now, did you know that vaping in your van could become illegal? The new Tobacco and Vapes Act gives ministers powers to designate certain vehicles as vape-free. That means vaping could be banned in some work vehicles in future depending on the regulations introduced under the Act. The important distinction is that the existing smoking ban already covers work vehicles used by more than one person, but that ban doesn't currently apply to e-cigarettes. The new Act creates the power to extend restrictions to vaping, and businesses will also need to keep an eye on their smoking and vaping policies as the new legislation comes into force. And if you're an employer, you may need to display legible no-smoking signs in the vehicle or risk a £1,000 fine. The Vape Superstore advises employers to keep their smoking and vaping policies under review as further regulations under the Tobacco and Vapes Act come into force. I've put a link to the legislation in the show notes. CHUMPFix has had a busy few months with new stockists, new packaging, and plenty of clever uses being highlighted for this simple fixing. It's now available nationwide through independent wholesalers and CEF as well as direct from CHUMP Tools. The fixing pushes through a 25 mm hole and spreads the load across the ceiling, making it ideal for pull cords and light fittings without relying on plugs. For second-fix lighting, it also lets you loosen the screws, slide the fitting into perfect alignment, and retighten, which can be a lifesaver when lining up pendants over something like a breakfast bar. CHUMP Tools also says it works brilliantly with lath-and-plaster ceilings, helping avoid split timber and those frustrating hairline cracks around fittings. There's refreshed trade packaging, too, including mixed and bulk packs, plus a free key fob offer on qualifying website orders. Solar & Storage Live UK roars into life this week, and we're looking forward to meeting many of you in real life at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. The show takes place from Tuesday the 22nd of September to Thursday the 24th of September. Expect to see over 500 companies showing their latest tech across solar, energy storage, and EV charging. Big brands include Anker SOLIX, GoodWe, and Cleveland Cable Company. There'll be kit like modules, inverters, batteries, smart grids, and mounting systems, as well as monitoring, testing, and PV components. It spans residential, commercial, and industrial installations. You can also hear from over 250 expert speakers across 100 sessions. There'll be live installs, hands-on demos, and practical installer training. On Thursday, there's a special focus on powering data centres with sustainable energy. If you need to take the weight off your feet at the show, there'll be the CableWorld Arms Pub, where you can grab a drink, catch up with colleagues, and make new connections. Entry to the exhibition is free for electricians and you can also attend the EVCharge Live UK show next door. I'll put the registration link in the show notes. On Stand A10, Sungrow will be showcasing new technology across utility-scale solar, commercial and industrial storage, EV charging, and residential energy. Highlights include the SG510HX high-power string inverter for utility-scale PV alongside the new PowerStack range with 249 kWh DC-coupled and 257 or 514 kWh AC-coupled options aimed at both new-build and retrofit C&I projects. There's also the IDC80E DC charger for destination charging. Plus PowerHarbor, Sungrow's all-in-one residential storage solution combining energy storage, intelligent energy management and backup. That system also introduces a new 10 kWh stackable battery module, the iHomeManager Mini and EnergyBridge backup solution. Residential installers can also explore the smart home bundle combining the iHomeManager, SBH battery and SH6.0RS hybrid inverter. Sungrow will also use the show to launch a new installer-focused Facebook group for product updates, shared experience, and technical discussion. EcoFlow will be at Stand G28 in Hall 20 showcasing the latest additions to its Home Energy Ecosystem, including the launch of a new 8 kWh battery. The OCEAN 2 home storage range sits alongside STREAM, PowerHeat, PowerPulse 2, and PowerInsight 2 with everything designed to work together as one connected ecosystem. STREAM could be particularly interesting for installers. Households can start with a relatively accessible 5 kWh battery and add capacity as their needs and budgets grow, potentially opening storage up to homeowners entering the market through plug-in solar. EcoFlow says it's already seen this progression in Germany, where the proportion of its balcony solar systems sold with battery storage doubled from 20% in 2023 to 40% in 2025. STREAM can connect up to 12 solar panels with claimed annual generation of around 5,600 kWh and 3 kW output for high-demand appliances. They say it boasts the highest energy density in the 5 kWh class. For much larger requirements, the system can expand up to 90 kWh with up to 18 kW output and 30 kW of solar input. If you're heading for a coffee at Solar & Storage Live UK, it might be worth making a slight detour to Stand C40, where GSE Intégration will be showing off its latest solar mounting systems. First up is the GSE Ground System Evolution, a ballasted ground-mount solution that needs no drilling or masonry. It's compatible with all PV module sizes, offers seven tilt angles from 5 to 40 degrees, and can be installed up to twice as fast. There's also the option to add extra ballast for wind resistance, while the GSE Connector tool helps with calculations, ballast requirements, and installation planning. For rooftops, GSE will also be showcasing its IN-ROOF SYSTEM in both landscape and portrait versions. It's designed to work with most standard residential PV modules with improved ventilation, strong wind resistance, and a neat finish that integrates directly into the roof. Now, how about this for a bright idea? It's the Paul Russells' Lamp of the Week. This week, we've got a humdinger from the Prestige range. It's a golf ball lamp in smoked glass with a double helix LED filament. What a combo. The base is small Edison screw or E14 to use the technical term. Colour temperature is a toasty 1,800 Kelvin, and the power input is just 2.5 W. Output is 60 lumens and the lamp life is 15,000 hours. You can see the full range of lamps at paulrussells.com. And now to the lighter side of the electrical news. Yes, it's time for a tea break with Quickwire and its range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. Three huge reactors at Western Europe's biggest nuclear power plant have been shut down by a swarm of jellyfish. Engineers at EDF's Gravelines plant in northern France turned off the units to prevent the marine animals being sucked into the intake of the cooling system. If they got inside, they could clog the protective screens and cause an automatic trip. It took 4 days to restart the reactors, compared to 20 if the jellyfish had got in. At one stage, a fifth of France's nuclear capacity was offline. That's one jelly big sting in the tail. That's the lighter side of the news in our tea break with Quickwire and their range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. Click the link in the show notes to check them out for yourself. Now, just before we get to your favourite bit of the show where I reveal last week's challenge words and winners, we want to thank our premium partners. We couldn't make the news without you. First up, LEDVANCE, your vision, their lights. Celebrating 10 years and 100 years of experience. One of our favourite new innovations here at eFIXX, especially now it's in sexy new packaging for rock-solid fixings in flimsier materials. Don't just fix it when you can CHUMPFix it. And the best thing to come out of Yorkshire since stainless steel, the home of EV-Ultra and other groundbreaking and quality products, it's Doncaster Cables. Click the links in the show notes to find out more about these great brands. If you think you know the words that I've smuggled into this week's show, pop your guess into the comments. We'll take all the correct guesses and select one at random to be the winner of an eFIXX goodie bag prize. Answers submitted after midnight on the Wednesday after release will not be entered into the draw. Now, let's reveal the winners of last week's challenge word competition. Last week's words were Bananarama and squirreling. And the first person to come out of our electronic hat was OGEmab. So, well done to you, OG, I guess. Make sure you click the get involved link in the show notes to claim your prize. And now it's time for this week's weather from Joe3PO and Fox ESS. Okay, so summer hasn't quite handed back the keys just yet because we've got more sunshine on the cards. And stick around because Fox ESS have somewhere for you to check out their latest kit this week with a party thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, my forecast isn't going to ruin it. But first, this week's Fox ESS premier partner is Bright Solar based in Leicester. They install solar and battery systems for homes across the Midlands alongside commercial projects further afield. And for our solar barometer, we're heading to Forest Road in Loughborough, or 'Luffbra' for the locals. There's not that many rooftops putting solar to work. So, might be worth checking out for those local installers. Okay, so let's take a look at the weather for the week. Tuesday brings sunny spells and warmer conditions for many, offering useful solar generation despite those shortening days. Wednesday sees a brief spell of rain moving into the north while many other areas they stay dry. Southern rooftops look better placed to keep generating. Thursday and Friday look more changeable with rain and stronger winds most likely in the north and in the west. The south and east have better chances of longer drier spells. That broad split could continue into the weekend. Although the timing of any rain remains uncertain. Okay, now for that weatherproof outing, Fox ESS are at Solar & Storage Live UK 2026 at Birmingham's NEC from the 22nd to the 24th of September. You'll find their batteries, inverters, and chargers on stand C14. And there's an after-party on the 23rd, and it's all indoors, so even I can't ruin the weather with a sloppy forecast. So get yourself down to stand C14 and get yourself over to their party. Thanks for that update, Joe. Thanks for listening to this episode of Electrical News Weekly in association with Shelly, helping electricians offer smarter buildings and better energy management. Shelly's range of smart relays, sensors, and control devices makes it easy to add automation without the cost and disruption of rewiring. Until next time, have a great week. Stay safe out there.
