Isolate supply by supplier?

[John_]

Is it really necessary to get the supplier to isolate the supply when changing the old fuse box to consumer unit when there is no main switch? Please advise. Many thx.

 

[NozSpark]

It is illegal to tamper with the suppliers equipment without their permission and it against EAWR & H&S to work live where you could easily isolate the supply,, so the answer to your question is yes

 

[kme]

Wellllll.....

Lets look at the alternatives:

1. Change the main tails whilst they`re live.

You`d have to be damn stupid to do that; not to mention that you contravene ESQCR, 7671 and your insurance. Plus the added possibility of death tends to make that a no-no.

2. Isolate it yourself.

Also in breach of ESQCR and your insurance; plus the risk of death if the fuse carrier is damaged, and breaks in your hand (which I have seen). On top of which you are interfering with someone else`s equipment.

3. Have it isolated by supplier.

Why does everyone think this is such a big issue? Again, ESQCR comes into play, but this time its on your side - the suppliers have a duty to do this, to allow you to work safely. Best solution to the problem, and doesn`t break any rules.

KME

 

[ProDave]

Where are you?

Some DNO's (e.g SSE) allow qualified sparks to pull the fuses. Other DNO's treat it as a crime.

Some DNO's will come and pull the fuse for you without question, others will charge you a fortune and make you jump through hoops, and take a long time to fit an isolator for you.

I think this will be a long thread too, a topic that's discussed frequently and just highlights the different approaches and attitudes depending where you are, who your DNO is and who your energy supplier is.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Who here wants to link to the 100 odd threads on this site alone, about this subject ?

 

[NozSpark]

Who here wants to link to the 100 odd threads on this site alone, about this subject ?

You know we leave that kind of thing to Apache

 

[OnOff]

Have a look at post No 27 here:

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/student-learning-zone-c-g-2330-levels-2-3-c-g-2381-c-g-2391-other-co/19668-removal-100-amp-supply-fuse-2.html#post263855

 

[Evans Electric]

The unanswerable question rises again .

Some people get sent around in circles trying to get the power supplier to get someone out to isolate and it seems to get worse. But as Mr KME and Mr Nozzle have said , rules is rules, and safety comes first .

 

[samson337]

Well it ain't that hard, doing a board change next week so phoned British gas said I needed an isolator fitting, no probs he said told customer it's going to be 39 quid on top of the board change they seemed very happy (not all are but hay if they wont the work doing then they have to pay end of) they were out with in 3 days, so job is a good un, and it is assessment time again next week so pick up the phone and ask.

 

[sellers]

rules are rules and choose to break them at your peril.

I've openly confessed to the DNO on removing the fuse on 2 occasions, both emergencies. Without very good reason you shouldn't be doing it, and even with a good reason if something goes wrong its your ass for the chopping.

 

[OnOff]

Well it ain't that hard, doing a board change next week so phoned British gas said I needed an isolator fitting, no probs he said told customer it's going to be 39 quid on top of the board change they seemed very happy (not all are but hay if they wont the work doing then they have to pay end of) they were out with in 3 days, so job is a good un, and it is assessment time again next week so pick up the phone and ask.

As has been said before BG seem to bend over backwards to accommodate this AND are quick. But in my experience THEY must be your supplier. EDF.........different kettle of fish - lack of knowledge on the phone, broken promises to call you back etc etc. Though the lads who eventually come out are sound.

 

[Evans Electric]

I've had problems TBH. Been told you must phone the company that the customer pays their bill to .

So you phone Tesco , The Co-oP etc and get nowhere . They all have to notify Eon/Central Networks in this area anyway . Or even Metering Services.

 

[brummydave]

The trick is to find a decent office bod at the right DNO to authorise isolation - and then get their direct line/mobile for the future. Saves ringing round and round and gets the job done, so long as the DNO are cooperative anyway.

I contacted Western Power to provide a PME at my house which the numpty office bod then said of course and happily charged me for. The suit who came to survey it said it should be possible too, although a new cutout may be needed. The engineers on the day came with plans, and said they couldn't guarantee an earth so nothing doing - stick in a rod or two. Why is this relevant? Because the men on the ground who touch the cables have a different viewpoint and opinion from those on the end of a phone.

Their view was - "Nobody's bothered if the seal's cut. Obviously a spark's been there at some point, but who knows when. We just put a new one on, and that's it."

They might turn a blind eye but so long as you ask the right questions, it seems simple enough to get the job done properly. So may as well.

Rules is rules indeed, but near unenforceable ones are hard to logically apply and I think make the OPs question come up time and time again. For safety's sake though, I can't wait for the Smart meters with inbuilt isolators to be commissioned. Then there'll be no need to cut any seal at all.

On the isolating switch subject, the WP boys said: "We don't do them anymore, that's the meter people".

I just can't quite get my head around so many companies being responsible for each part of a domestic supply! Just adds time to a job if all the tails need swapping, and an isolator added too.

Went to a job recently where 100A choc block and pvc tape had been used instead of a Henley block after a meter. Guess they didn't want to do an Isolator or ring up a supplier! This was on a 5 year old board, neat job but no schedule or paperwork left. And a 'niceic' sticker saying to be inspected after five years...

Maybe if they'd had the supplier out for the seal then a proper isolator would've been fitted. BTW 100DP Schneider ones at Toolstation or MK ones through Screwfix are the cheapest at the moment i've found.

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As has been said before BG seem to bend over backwards to accommodate this AND are quick. But in my experience THEY must be your supplier. EDF.........different kettle of fish - lack of knowledge on the phone, broken promises to call you back etc etc. Though the lads who eventually come out are sound.

I managed to find on an EDF bill a number for technical support, and found it were the same as Western Power. God bless google! Western Power were much more helpful

 

[OnOff]

My SUPPLIER EDF (eventually) did my disconnect/reconnect NOT my DNO which is UK Power Networks. BUT they wouldn't supply or fit the REC isolator - I had to do that.

BUT Not before I'd asked EDF who said to phone UKPN.........who said to phone back EDF........who then did it (again, eventually after around 2 weeks). Not that it was in any way a torturous process during which I very nearly changed to British Gas!