CONSUMER UNIT INSTALLATION... ADVICE PEASE...!

[chris301up]

Thank you all for your kind advice.

I have read through all of your comments and suggestions and am happy to take this information on board.

Just one other question: You say "Pull the fuse". In my day we were never allowed to do this and there is a seal around it. I am happy to isolate by doing so - but is it now allowed?

One other comment. I am unable to offer pictures at this stage as I don't have access to a camera or a phone with a camera. If I can get someone to do this for me then I will upload photos.

 

[Technician]

Mrs Streetlighter; Fair point about the B & Q

(Bodge & Quit) outfit but they do sell only 'B'

type circuit breakers.

 

[Ash]

No one is going to officially say cut the seal and pull the fuse because you aren't allowed to do it. That being said, it's an urban myth that it's done all the time with the aid of a magic seal fairy.

 

[Technician]

Reg. 537.1.3 note under.

 

[apprentice87]

Now then, a message to Chris.....

I too have seen some of them seal fairies, i think most of us have, but, having said that, read the following...

1, It is illegal, and, unless you know what you are doing, potentially VERY dangerous, so i do not condone or recommend it at all.

2, As an example of what may happen if things go wrong, read this.....

Have you ever seen [or tried] an arc welder in action?? and i mean a BIG one. You might have 400 A at about 28 volts, this will give huge welding power.

Read this [from the Eon network design manual]....

"LV Circuits are protected by HRC fuses to BS88 part5. Central Networks

 

[Technician]

"LV Circuits are protected by HRC fuses to BS88 part5. Central Networks

 

[husky2013]

And just to top it off,

someone streetlighter knows just recently was replacing a cutout fuse, and because he wasnt wearing the correct PPE, (gauntlets and visor) he very nearly blew his hand off as the cutout flashed as he replaced the fuse back into the cutout.

needless to say he recieved some very serious burns to his hands

 

[streetlighter]

Going to try and see if the operative concerned will let me post the pictures of the burns he received to his hand.

It's an ongoing investigation at the moment and he may be sent down the road for not following ERG39 and wearing correct PPE.

 

[sb_89]

Didnt use common sense and disconnect the load before plugging back in either apparently lol

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

About 15 years ago i did 4 months of night work for Cable London (now Virgin) cable tv. We were upgrading the supply breakers & cables in all the street cabinets as they were getting too hot during summer months. Each main cabinet had an EDF 100A cutout with a unmetered supply. We had to do loads of safety training ranging from gas testing to Weils desease awareness.

I was given an official document with my name on signed from EDF stating i was allowed to cut the seals and remove the main fuse. I was given no training for this nor given or had any PPE for this. That document came in very useful for a good few years & finally fell to bits.

 

[Andy™]

About 15 years ago i did 4 months of night work for Cable London (now Virgin) cable tv. We were upgrading the supply breakers & cables in all the street cabinets as they were getting too hot during summer months. Each main cabinet had an EDF 100A cutout with a unmetered supply. We had to do loads of safety training ranging from gas testing to Weils desease awareness.I was given an official document with my name on signed from EDF stating i was allowed to cut the seals and remove the main fuse. I was given no training for this nor given or had any PPE for this. That document came in very useful for a good few years & finally fell to bits.

that would be a useful thing to have - should have got it laminated

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Unfortunatly it was at least 15 years ago and i did not even have a printer then. When it finally wore out i decided it was pushing it a bit far anyhow as it was dated 5 years earlier

 

[apprentice87]

Hi All,

Makes you laugh mind, that they only aim to clear phase to neutral faults in 100 seconds!!!!

I was talking to a DNO cable jointer once about working live, and they told me [rightly or wrongly] that you were better off working on the HV stuff, as, in the event of a fault, the system cleared it instantly, but with the LV stuff, they said it was doubtful if the system would clear it at all, and it would arc and flash away until such times as they managed to shut it off with their disconnector, whereever that might be!!!

Looks like they might have been right!!!!

john...

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Hi All,Makes you laugh mind, that they only aim to clear phase to neutral faults in 100 seconds!!!!

I was talking to a DNO cable jointer once about working live, and they told me [rightly or wrongly] that you were better off working on the HV stuff, as, in the event of a fault, the system cleared it instantly, but with the LV stuff, they said it was doubtful if the system would clear it at all, and it would arc and flash away until such times as they managed to shut it off with their disconnector, whereever that might be!!!

Looks like they might have been right!!!!

john...

A good friend of mine was a cable jointer and he told me exactly the same. He later blew himself up (was in hospital for over 6 months) & went back to the job after but packed it in within 2 days as he had lost his nerve, i dont blame him.

 

[apprentice87]

Hi Slipshod,

Yes, apparently most people that get killed, do not get killed by the shock [they must be made of rubber!] they get killed by the burns...

I watched some cable jointers stripping a live cable once, [they were connecting a new service] No PPE like a face mask or anything, do not even think they had gloves on, just hacking away at the sheath with what appeared to be a small meat cleaver and a mallet. I said to them; "Sure that is a good idea?? It is only wrapped in paper" They just laughed and carried on whilst taking to their mate about fishing!!

I meanwhile stood about ten feet away, close enough to look and learn, but far enough away to avoid the impending flash!!!

Not a job i would like to do....

Same bods forgot to do the screws up in the cutout......

I did ask them what it was like doing it in the rain. They replied that it was ok, but a bit off putting when you could feel the tingling in your gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

john...

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I remember watching the jointers a few years back when they had to sweat the joints. The mate would have a big pot of solder bubbling away under a gas burner and pass soup ladles full of the solder to the jointer who would pour the moulton stuff between two ladles over the joins. Whilst that solder was pouring it was in contact with the live cables and would splash around. A lot safer today with the crimps and resin joints.

My mate managed to connect himself between a phase & earth. He did a bit of body building at the time and was strong enough to push himself off (with his legs) The flashover then blew him out the hole and luckily for him he landed on a passerby (not the passerby). The docters were amazed he remembered everything that happened and he was able to do anything about it. His hands were burnt to the bone.

 

[chris301up]

Right. Here is an update.

I have taken on board all of your kind advice and decided to get the electrical su[pplier to my property to come and sort the meter tails.

I contacted British Gas, who were my original supplier, and a young lad turned up yesterday (Friday 10 August) and then told me he couldn't touch them as they were not their responsibility. I understand that BG had sent all the way from South Wales to the Midlands just to look at this?

Anyway, I then trawled through the internet and spent several hours on the phone trying to find some assistance. But no joy!

I contacted E-ON, who is my current electricity supplier, NPower, British Gas (again)and Western Power, plus numerous other numbers that were given to me, but no one wants to help. Each say that it's someone else's responsibility and am just going round in circles.

What's happened to the straight forward way of operating? Years ago when I wanted extra tails installed for my electric shower, I called in to my local Midlands Electricity Board shop, told them what I required, and it was done, without any hassle whatsoever!

Although, in all fairness, Western Power did say they would install an isolation switch, but only after the tails are sorted.

No wonder people resort to doing the job themselves when a simple job becomes impossible!!!!!!

I

 

[Steve3948]

It's a mess, Western Power, MEB, SSE, EON, different suppliers for the electricity, gas, meter moves, new supplies and a consumer has no idea.

The tails have nothing to do with any of them, so they will all pass the buck.

Someone like SSE would send their contracting decision round just like any other contractor but charge 3X the amount.

If you are not happy doing it yourself just get an ECA or NIC Approved contractor in, as the providers have no problem with them doing it. I have my own seals as do others on here, provided by them.

I have never heard of anyone not even one person being taken to court or being arrested for cutting a seal to be safe.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Welcome to our world. I think every one here has had this senario numerous times. When customers ask me to sort out any problems like this itell them its

 

[revjames]

I received significant arc flash burns to my wrist when I was fitting a cable tie to a 35mm 4 core SWA on a tray as I didnt know it had previously been lying on the ground and quarry trucks had driven over it so it was kinked badly inside. As soon as I tried to move it to make way for the tie BANG - blinded for a few hours and badly burnt wrist so common sense would say there is a significant risk of arc flash inserting or removing large fuses.