CU change and the cold

[MalcyB]

I've never had this siuation before!

I was to change a CU on Monday for an old retired couple. I have had to cancel it, because the power will be off for the best part of the day so the old couple will be sat in the cold.

I did wonder about hiring a calor heater for the day?

Have any of you guys had this problem and if so how did you get round it?

Malc

 

[ProDave]

Turn heating on extra high first thing and heat house to higher than normal temperature (turn all thermostats up) perhaps just leave instructions for them to do this first thing on monday.

Remove your pullover and commence CU change in the sweltering heat.

Once CU is connected to incommer, connect just heating circuit and energise. Run heating for a further half hour or so while you have your lunch break.

Switch off again and complete CU wiring.

If the house is really poorly insulated and loses heat quick, then turn it on every now and then to give a blast of heating while you have a tea break.

I normally try to do something like that, i.e energise kitchen sockets asap after connecting CU to keep fridge and freezer cold. That's also a good oportunity to tactfully tell them the electric is on for a while in case they wanted to boil the kettle.

This weather is NOT extreme, it's only a few degrees below at night. It's not like the regular -10 daytime temperature we had in the middle of last winter. The only unusual thing about this weeks weather is how much snow, how early in the season.

 

[Larnacaman]

I see your problem, ...i often forget just how cold it can get back home. And for our old folk that can be a real problem for them....

I guess that's one way of getting round the problem, a Calor gas fire will at least take the chill off the air in a room. Neighbours is another one, but that option doesn't tend to be available so much in this day and age....

Ah, .....i see you've had other advice, from those better able, through experience of being in similar position. ...lol!!!

 

[PC Electrics]

Like PD says really.

I also have a small space heater (Clark Little Devil, 10kW), that can be used in more extreme cases.

I also have a genny - so you could even use one to run just the heating (and what about lighting for the job?).

 

[Andy™]

i would get a temp supply on to heating soon as possible. problem solved.

 

[Revved Up Sparky]

Further to Andys comment, I sometimes have an old one way CU handy (containing a 16A (30ma) R.C.B.O...)along with an old socket and pattress and rig up a temporary supply (either directly into the meter or into henley blocks) whilst I am doing the mains change.

 

[Andy™]

Admin did make a thread about something similar a while back. although there is a lack of others posting something in there

 

[Tooold]

I had similar last year, was a bit colder. The problem was cu in garage and the constant in and out would have made it too cold I thought. I had other jobs I could do so I rescheduled it for a few weeks later. Worked out fine.

 

[Evans Electric]

I have a temporary board made up on a small wooden board with 10mm meter tails , a twin socket and a lampholder on it . I can then see and use a drill and in your case would have run a lead to a fan heater .

 

[safedepth]

^+1

 

[Doc Hudson]

I understood it was common to organise a temporary supply arrangement where power was still needed during CU replacements. As Andy & Evans Elec' have suggested a small CU with some sockets mounted to a board can easily provide for power tools, lighting, kettles, fridges, freezers and heating if required.

Doc H.

 

[sparkytim]

+1

and MOST important of all the kettle! ut the kettle on

 

[MalcyB]

Thanks for all the replies, some really good idea's. I think I will rig myself a board with a small CU, then wire a lighting & the heating ciruits in.