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So is there anything wrong with fitting larger earth cables than a calculation says rule of thumb better to be safe than sorry
 
So is there anything wrong with fitting larger earth cables than a calculation says rule of thumb better to be safe than sorry

Absolutely nothing wrong with fitting larger than necessary.

I don't like blanket statements though, and following these "rules of thumbs" dumbs down the trade. There are rare instances where following that table will provide the wrong size. An so it is always better understanding the theory behind it to confirm.
 
So is there anything wrong with fitting larger earth cables than a calculation says rule of thumb better to be safe than sorry

There is nothing wrong with fitting a larger earth than required. What is wrong is stating that an installation is incorrect because it has a correctly sized earthing conductor rather than the oversized one you normally fit.
 
What is wrong with the earthing to prevail an emergency?
It is not the earthing I was on about it was the bitumen leaking as the OP stated
distribution head unit have overheated and melted quite a bit of black tar out the bottom edges
If that is the case I would definitely phone the DNO. In any event the cut out would not pass muster for me. I do not like the earth and if I did an adiabatic on that I have doubts it would pass. That is the earth on the TNS outer armouring. The earth floating looking like it should have a home is also somewhat suspect as I am not there I cannot say for sure but it looks like it has come off of the MET above it. In the state the picture shows the installation/cut out to be in I would be doubtful about replacing anything until I had satisfied myself that the earthing/bonding was as it should be. NOT as a matter of emergency just diligent application of regs and best practice
 
Hi Voltigern


I wasn’t happy with the size and condition of the earth on the armour, the bonding was disconnected from the MET when I went to view the job but was connected to the gas pipe and connected securely in the consumer unit so not a worry for the minute, the brass retaining bolt was missing or I would have reconnected.

My main worry was the amount of fresh tar that had oozed out of the joint hence the post, as per my message earlier the DNO must have had concerns over its safety as they initially said it would be replaced in the week, then it was being replaced by the end of this week and eventually they came back and replaced it today.


All now ready for me to go in and replace the consumer unit with an rcbo board after initial testing the installation


Regards


Lee
 
This is my take on why I was saying the earth cable wasn’t up to spec I was meaning the earth to the incoming sheathing shows in all parts of the on-site guide to be 16mm plus in table 4.4 (i) and 4.4(ii) all say minimum cross section of earthing conduct should be 16mm

Distribution board question EE6AB15D-DCBD-4BDF-86FE-0C3A35992F79 - EletriciansForums.net

Distribution board question FB28C82B-99A8-4C48-AEA1-1DD7ADDE3660 - EletriciansForums.net
 
This is my take on why I was saying the earth cable wasn’t up to spec I was meaning the earth to the incoming sheathing shows in all parts of the on-site guide to be 16mm plus in table 4.4 (i) and 4.4(ii) all say minimum cross section of earthing conduct should be 16mm

View attachment 48543

View attachment 48544

As stated previously, that table shows one way of calculating the size of a protective conductor, the method that errs on the side of caution and simplicity of instruction. That's why this method is shown in the on site guide.

The table references 543.1 next to it which you should read to understand why the information in the guide is just that, a guide.
 

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