Seal or no Seal

[Power Ball]

Hi Guys

looking for your advise/ideas for future jobs, Let's say you have to change metre tails from the meter head to CU or fit a Shower Unit so need to split the tails using a Henly Block one set to CU and one set to Shower Unit, do you?

A) Break and replace the seals on the main fuse to pull it and refit a new lead seal to prevent owner doing something stupid. You would also need to break the seal on the meter head as well !!

B) Claim the seals were missing when you arrived, do the job and leave without replacements.

I know you can get the leccy board to disconect and fit a isolator switch but that takes time and money the customer don't want either...

Just wondered what the general oppinion was on this

Thanks

Chas

 

[Robojin]

A) Break and replace the seals on the main fuse to pull it and refit a new lead seal to prevent owner doing something stupid. You would also need to break the seal on the meter head as well !!

Chas

can't imagine you do something illegal now would you

 

[Power Ball]

Well that was my first thought :^O

 

[Evans Electric]

There is a long earlier post on this , as we keep saying , meter tails are a pain and of course we must'nt remove the seals must we. Its hopeless in this area to get any sense from the network people, they pass you to whoever is providing the leckie, which is worse. It can be done by fitting a 100a switch or Henley blocks but you have to work live to cut and strip the phase and don't short it out . Of course none of us would ever do that because of H&S and it would be very silly. Personally I would do it dead.

Deke

 

[Power Ball]

It's looking like that seal kit I bought off e-bay will be worth it's weight in gold then.?

 

[Andy™]

It's looking like that seal kit I bought off e-bay will be worth it's weight in gold then.?

that kinda misses the point... if anyone can go put a 'seal' on the meter, whats to stop someone from stealing leccy and sealing it with an ebay kit.

but then again, not many houses have seals on when i get there...

 

[Badger]

tbh thats exactly what i find no seals in site

 

[Andy™]

imagine if you had a similar problem with gas... you got a leak and need to turn gas off.... but cant beacuse its sealed and you need to give 2 weeks* notice for transco to turn up and turn off whilst leak is fixed. then if your not quick, miss your re-connect time and wait another 2 weeks*

* weeks could well be months or even years

 

[Badger]

isnt that why most new installs now have a main 100a sawitch in the meter cupboard

 

[Andy™]

isnt that why most new installs now have a main 100a sawitch in the meter cupboard

dont get to see many new installs, but the ones i have seen, not all have isolators

 

[Lillpete]

isnt that why most new installs now have a main 100a sawitch in the meter cupboard

Not round here they don't

 

[Power Ball]

that kinda misses the point... if anyone can go put a 'seal' on the meter, whats to stop someone from stealing leccy and sealing it with an ebay kit.but then again, not many houses have seals on when i get there...

I'm not out to steal leccy I am trying to work safe and leave it safe it could end up weeks waiting for the board to turn up and diconect or fit an isolator.

Chas

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Hi Guyslooking for your advise/ideas for future jobs, Let's say you have to change metre tails from the meter head to CU or fit a Shower Unit so need to split the tails using a Henly Block one set to CU and one set to Shower Unit, do you?

A) Break and replace the seals on the main fuse to pull it and refit a new lead seal to prevent owner doing something stupid. You would also need to break the seal on the meter head as well !!

B) Claim the seals were missing when you arrived, do the job and leave without replacements.

I know you can get the leccy board to disconect and fit a isolator switch but that takes time and money the customer don't want either...

Just wondered what the general oppinion was on this

Thanks

Chas

Hello Powerball...

have you read this thread..

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1697

I think it covers most of the points...

But in a nutshell.

Some supply companies let competent sparks remove their seals..

others don't!

BUT either way there are hazards with removing a fuse..

e.g.

once that fuse is out there is an accessible live terminal that your could put your hand onto if you chose to stick it in the hole!!!

this has NO RCD or local fuse protection!!

just 230v direct from local sub station!

 

[sivoodoo]

Health and safety law would override any issues, be safe, work within the health and safety at work act 1972, safe isolation procedures etc. Then call the provider to refit seals.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Health and safety law would override any issues, be safe, work within the health and safety at work act 1972, safe isolation procedures etc. Then call the provider to refit seals.

That is the very reason why you shouldn'r remove the main fuse..

and why many supplier wont let you!

exposing a live unprotected terminal when the fuse holder it pulled!

Call provider to isolate.. do work the re fit fuse!

is the aculally truly sfe afopn.

 

[Theorysparky]

As i have said b4...

leccky guys around here accept that on occasions the fuse is pulled by sparkies to work safe (Spesh's point is valid though)

if the removal is for a lagitimate reason and there are no signs of tampering they are not bothered

but any sign of theft etc then they go for flesh big style

 

[Evans Electric]

imagine if you had a similar problem with gas... you got a leak and need to turn gas off.... but cant beacuse its sealed and you need to give 2 weeks* notice for transco to turn up and turn off whilst leak is fixed. then if your not quick, miss your re-connect time and wait another 2 weeks** weeks could well be months or even years

Good point Andy, note that there are three differences which make the gas situation better than the electric.

1. Gas valve is before the meter and can be operated by anyone.

2. Gas meter can be removed or re-sited by Gorgi man.

3. If a leak is reported they must attend within the hour I belive.

Deke

 

[patspark]

phoned dno asked them to fit a isolator as the head was in the shop

down stairs (seperate property) explained i was doing a cu change told me just to pull the fuse if i could get access.

that worked for me as the shop was open still no isolater

 

[Evans Electric]

phoned dno asked them to fit a isolator as the head was in the shopdown stairs (seperate property) explained i was doing a cu change told me just to pull the fuse if i could get access.

that worked for me as the shop was open still no isolater

Blimey , wish you could do that in the midlands !! That isolator will never appear though !!

Deke