Arcing neutral in cutout

[m4tty]

Hi,

Just been to a friends place on way home from work to have a look at his electrics. He runs a Cattery built in his garden. The place is a really old building with an extension so some old wiring some new. On of the outhouses has been fed off the shower circuit which is a 10.5kw fed off 6mm with a b32. He says it never trips when he's in the shower or his wife but when the daughter has a shower (long one) it trips.

The main fuseboard is a bs3036 rewirable jobbie with one bonding cable 6mm which I didn't trace. Another 6mm is going to an earth rod outside just stuck in the ground. Done a zs at socket 0.40 ohms so good earth. I think its tns but will check better when I go back.

I said the best course of action is a full pir to test everything then he knows what to do from there. He definitely wants a fuseboard upgrade and additional circuits running in as t&e is clipped to fence.

He said to me that the power went out yesterday for about an hour then when it came back on one of the outhouses were not powered anymore. Also he had seen arcs from the cutout. I touched the neutral tail gently and it started arcing.

I've told him to ring the supplier but think it would be the dno rather than the supplier. Think it's edf in the south east?

Has anyone got the number please and ill give him a bell.

Thanks and sorry for long winded post.

Cheers

Matty

 

[Andy™]

call local DNO. should be classed as an emergency.

clicky

 

[Sidewinder]

^+1 arcing N in cut out = emergency call out from DNO, tell them you think it will catch fire and if they don't come they will be responsible if they get shirty.

 

[wozz]

Its uk power networks now i use 08452340040, although the number you need is a 0800 number if you go through the 0845 u will get there eventually. Should be a three hour response time.

 

[ProDave]

Yes make sure you tell them it's an emergency, it's dangerous, and likely to catch fire any moment (which by the sounds of it is not an exageration). That should get them out.

Don't ***** foot around and ask can you come to have a look etc as the DNO will just fob you off and tell you to contact your energy supplier, who probably won't have a clue what you are on about.

 

[jameseye12]

Don't forget to get them to put in a isolator when they come out so you can do that CU Change!

 

[fletchflash]

ive had this exact same problem before, fizzing from the cutout when any power used.

My DNO has always been quite good, if you ring the emergency line and explain problem (maybe with some exageration) they normal book a visit within four hours, without arguing or trying to fob you off. On every occasion i've rang the guy turns up within an hour or two.

Best to keep the emergency number in your phone mate, always needed for stuff like this and lack of earth etc. sometimes see TN-S earth connections come loose too. That way you can ring straight away job sorted, peace of mind.

 

[wozz]

Don't forget to get them to put in a isolator when they come out so you can do that CU Change!

No hope mate not their policy. Some of you are lucky to have more understanding DNOs

 

[m4tty]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Update. They came out within 2 hours last night and were there over 2.5 hours as the cutout had become part of the wall haha plastered in. Just to get to the cutout they had to move 2 meters out the way as this was a very old cottagy type building (oak beams massive fireplace which you can walk into etc)

Anyway problem sorted. Thanks again for your help

 

[Sidewinder]

Thanks for the update m4tty, glad to see you got it sorted, I had a feeling they would take it seriously!!!