CU with no main switch - is it acceptable?

[bleach]

Hi

My sisters cu appears to have had the main switch removed to make room for more mcbs. Whoever did this just took it out and placed it on top of the casing. The cu has 2 rcds to the 17th. But is this acceptable to remove main switch??

Thanks in advance!

 

[linfield-sparky]

How is the CU isolated?

 

[Silly Sausage]

No, there should be a single point of isolation for the installation.

 

[bleach]

Its not! Only way is by the rcds or pulling the fuse.?

 

[linfield-sparky]

The whole CU should be isolated from the main switch, what you have is not acceptable.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Can you post up some pictures of the CU etc and its innards?

 

[dan86]

this seems a tad worrying.
pics would be good

 

[bleach]

Would best practice be to re-fit the 100amp mainswitch as well as henley block split to additional cu to accommodate the other mcbs?

 

[bleach]

I will try and get some pics mid week.

 

[bleach]

To rectify this....would you guys happily pull the fuse to do the work as its a dangerous...then inform DNO?

 

[Octopus]

To rectify this....would you guys happily pull the fuse to do the work as its a dangerous...then inform DNO?

Leave it as is, you can still turn off the MCB's or pull the fuse and fit a bigger CU

 

[Des 56]

Just cut the tails and put a separate isolator in its own enclosure,10 mins job done

 

[Jay Sparks]

Just cut the tails and put a separate isolator in its own enclosure,10 mins job done

10 mins plus the 5/6 weeks for the DNO to come and pull the fuse out and laugh there arse off at you.lol
Unless of course the fuse just falls out when your there!!!lol

Jay

 

[Octopus]

Can't wait to see a photo of this!

I'm guessing that you have no idea who actually did it!

 

[Des 56]

10 mins plus the 5/6 weeks for the DNO to come and pull the fuse out and laugh there arse off at you.lol
Unless of course the fuse just falls out when your there!!!lol

Jay

I don't get involved with breaking seals to get at fuses I have no interest in the subject
I have a nice pair of cutters, they happen to isolate the supply good enough for me lol

 

[bleach]

I think it was the last spark who fitted the shower but im sure I can find out! :yes::yes::yes:

 

[Guest55]

i doubt that person is what i'd call a spark
;-)

 

[sparkless]

strong wind by us,
blows the seals off all the main fuses

 

[not clever]

Maybe a 100mA S type up front :yes: mine is but then I did swap it way back in the 16th ed.

 

[Midwest]

Be ineresting to see how the tails are terminated inside the cu?

 

[Rampantchilli]

10 mins plus the 5/6 weeks for the DNO to come and pull the fuse out and laugh there arse off at you.lol
Unless of course the fuse just falls out when your there!!!lol

Jay

10days for an isolator around my way
better to wait than be fined 16k for breach of H&S regulations

 

[Fin170]

better to wait than be fined 16k for breach of H&S regulations

First I've herd it being a breach of 'H&S regulations', I was always under the impression it was tampering with DNO property....which nobody has ever been charged with to my knowledge. EAWR are more in favour of you encouraging the main fuse to fall out anyway

 

[Spikenaylor]

reference to first post, doesn't having an RCD fitted in the CU count as the main switch for the Installation,the CU doesn't have to have a 100Amp switch and RCD, RCD is acceptable on its own.
I agree that an Isolator of sorts should be fitted so the main DNO fuse doesn't 'fall out'.

another question leading from this, say the DNO fuse has fallen out, Can an Isolator switch be fitted and where can they be supplied from, or DO the DNO HAve to fit them.

Edit - Just reread first post and noticed 2 RCD's fitted, so unless 2nd RCD fed from 1st RCD (not good practice), then wouldn't be safe.