DNO fuse - who can remove it?

Discuss DNO fuse - who can remove it? in the DIY Electrical Advice area at ElectriciansForums.net

KeenPensioner

KeenPensioner

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Hi, as my profile says I'm not a sparky but I've wired up the odd light switch and socket! I know my limitations and take safety very seriously but I like learning. I have no intention of ever doing this but can someone explain who can remove the 100 amp fuse to a domestic CU. What is a "competent person" in layman's language? I've trawled the internet (dangerous I know) and can find no definitive answer.
 
It all depends on who the supplier is! There are some suppliers who will allow registered sparks to pull fuses...

And no you won't find a definitive answer ......
 
Hi KP and welcome to the Forum !
The fuse is owned and maintained by your DNO company and so they have the say.
Competent Person, as @Murdoch says is not uniquely defined, but there are guides that Competent Person Schemes use to assist in making a judgement (on line if you hunt). My own view is if something went horribly wrong and you were explaining yourself in court one question might be "please explain to us why you felt competent to do this work?" and then what would be an acceptable answer ...
 
KeenPensioner said:
Hi, as my profile says I'm not a sparky but I've wired up the odd light switch and socket! I know my limitations and take safety very seriously but I like learning. I have no intention of ever doing this but can someone explain who can remove the 100 amp fuse to a domestic CU. What is a "competent person" in layman's language? I've trawled the internet (dangerous I know) and can find no definitive answer
Click to expand...
in order to pull the DNO fuse .is to insure that the person dose not work live .the electricity work act . e.g. by ask the DNO to put a isolator in
after the DNO fuse before the work is started down to the cost to the customer. the competent person is person that has been inspected
by their body .or fully quilifed to do so.
 
This is documented in 7671 pretty clearly.
See the note after 537.1.3 - only when authorised by the DNO
 
Years ago anyone doing a consumer unit change would just pull the fuse.Does anyone know of any electrician being prosecuted for doing so ?.
 
i know of a spark got threatened to be taken to court by DNO
told him to mentation electricity work act .
 
Midwest said:
My DNO authorises me to pull their main fuse, 'cos I pay 500 squids a year to Elecsa.
Click to expand...

Bear with me @Midwest but I'm not sure being a member of Elecsa* (*or any other body) does automatically authorise you - It should do I agree. I'm not sure it actually does. Unless you know that Elecsa* have an agreement with the DNO that their members have automatic authorisation.

If push came to shove - who's lawyers would back down first.

Then after it's pulled - it's resealed right but without a seal ID who did it.
 
l4urence said:
Bear with me @Midwest but I'm not sure being a member of Elecsa* (*or any other body) does automatically authorise you - It should do I agree. I'm not sure it actually does. Unless you know that Elecsa* have an agreement with the DNO that their members have automatic authorisation.

If push came to shove - who's lawyers would back down first.
Click to expand...
again electricity work act !
 
I dire any body to challenge me on pulling a DNO cut out .
send in the men to pull the fuse . or see you in a few hours or put me in a 100amp isolator.by the way I have not seen one isolator fitted out by the suppliers for smart meters yet .
 
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l4urence said:
Bear with me @Midwest but I'm not sure being a member of Elecsa* (*or any other body) does automatically authorise you - It should do I agree. I'm not sure it actually does. Unless you know that Elecsa* have an agreement with the DNO that their members have automatic authorisation.

If push came to shove - who's lawyers would back down first.

Then after it's pulled - it's resealed right but without a seal ID who did it.
Click to expand...

My DNO SSE (some others do as well), have a written policy that gives permission for electricians registered with an approved scheme (they don't include Stroma :)), to pull their main fuse to carry out certain tasks (like replacing main tails or CU). They will supply temporary sticky seals (no Phocidae jokes please), for you to re-seal and inform them with yours & seals details etc.

You should check out your local DNO policy on the subject.
 
Can't wait for all the 'just because your in a scheme, doesn't make you competent' splashback :rolleyes:
 
Midwest said:
My DNO SSE (some others do as well), have a written policy that gives permission for electricians registered with an approved scheme (they don't include Stroma :)), to pull their main fuse to carry out certain tasks (like replacing main tails or CU). They will supply temporary sticky seals (no Phocidae jokes please), for you to re-seal and inform them with yours & seals details etc.

You should check out your local DNO policy on the subject.
Click to expand...

And that is exactly the way it should be. We should start calling the anti tamper on the main fuse, the Phocidae and see if it catches on!
 
Lets be honest a lot of the new DNO cut out fuses are quite stable and with no load are reasonably safe to pull. a lot of the older ones i wouldnt dare touch with a barge pole, even the DNO wont pull them they will cut the cable outside and rather replace the cutout entirely due to health and safety. Yes, we shouldn't do it without permission but i suspect i am not the only one to have done it in the past ;-) . its a risk assessment you have to make on each job and only you can decide is it worth it from a safety viewpoint and in case the proverbial hits the fan? i think you would only get the DNO on your case if it goes wrong, otherwise they have no proof who cut the seal and pulled it. Around here western power distribution will come pull the fuse for £60+vat.... add another £100 to fit a double pole isolator... hence why so many fuses get pulled.
I had a job a few months back with really old tails and fuse board that needed upgrading, they came out pulled fuse, i had new tails ready to go with an isolator to fit myself. they pulled fuse and were there less than an hour sat in van drinking tea!
 
I do recall reading there was some steps towards a nationwide approach on this subject, seems daft that its different in different areas. Perhaps after Brexit :rolleyes:
 
Midwest said:
My DNO SSE (some others do as well), have a written policy that gives permission for electricians registered with an approved scheme (they don't include Stroma :)), to pull their main fuse to carry out certain tasks (like replacing main tails or CU). They will supply temporary sticky seals (no Phocidae jokes please), for you to re-seal and inform them with yours & seals details etc.
Click to expand...

Several years ago, while registered with Elecsa, I applied to SSE for some temporary seals. I'm now registered with Stroma. Am I now prohibited from using the remaining seals? :D
 
buzzlightyear said:
I dire any body to challenge me on pulling a DNO cut out .
send in the men to pull the fuse . or see you in a few hours or put me in a 100amp isolator.by the way I have not seen one isolator fitted out by the suppliers for smart meters yet .
Click to expand...

Mmmm,had Eon out,for a new meter (telemetry function disabled),to replace original two meters and clock,on RHT tariff.

Requested isolator to provide single point of isolation,they agreed need,as did NWE who had updated the head,and they had a mini meltdown.

They said it could not be fitted before the meter,which would be a simple two pole. No admission,but i would say it provides a possible future means of turning off their meter's telemetry.

Fitting after the meter,with it's 2nd RHT feed,would require a 4 pole isolator,which the lad had with him,but was unsure how to configure (4 weeks into the job;))

Now waiting for a "Tech Spec"?,from Eon,to come back and sort.

Not holding one's breath...it will be their fifth visit :(
 
HandySparks said:
Several years ago, while registered with Elecsa, I applied to SSE for some temporary seals. I'm now registered with Stroma. Am I now prohibited from using the remaining seals? :D
Click to expand...

You can post them to me, your seals, not your Phocidae animals. :)
 
MrLights said:
Hi guys.
You need to be WI-1 and OP3 authorised. Amen!
Click to expand...

Your lot came down here a few years ago on a raid and stayed - SSE. They allow us mere mortals to pull their main fuse if I'm a sparks registered with a CPS, no idea how that fits in with WI-1 or OP3, whatever that might be? :)
 
Murdoch said:
I wonder why the OP wants to know this?
Click to expand...
I fully understand why professionals are a bit skeptical about "mere mortals" asking questions about how it all works but I can assure you that I have no intention of going near the main fuse no matter what you may think. I am an amateur and always will be but that doesn't preclude me from learning how things work. I also follow a lot of what NASA does but that doesn't mean I want to be an astronaut! In any case thanks for all your replies.
 
As far as I am aware you need to be lv authorised to work on cut-out, including removing or replacing main fuse. Even then I was only allowed to work on out going side, different authorisation for incoming. Remember next fuse could well be 400 or 500 amp, main problem is fault arc, not electric shock, hence all clothing worn when working on live equipment is arc proof, and face mask and gauntlets worn. Previous poster right to say many types of cut-out not to be worked on live, espevially metal-clad ones. Having said all that, if the fuse was removed by known competent sparks, who also would not touch one of it looked dodgy, we would usually turn a blind eye. Sometimes when some one phoned fault desk and said 80 amp fuse had blown and needed replacing, question would be asked "how do you know what size fuse it is"?
 
When I was employed as a Distribution Engineer by a DNO I pulled many a cut out fuse but I would only touch it if the cutout was a modern Bakelite or similar insulated style. Metalclad or Glass Fronted I would not touch with a barge pole if they were live. The only exception was in a major emergency where I would go to the substation and shut down the whole street before touching a ropey old cutout.

The one cutout I would not break the seals on was the one feeding my own house. Reason not H&S but I did not wish to leave myself open to accusations of fiddling with my own meter. Could have cost me my job / pension. Anyway I could always send someone round to do it FOC.

I have now been drawing my pension from the DNO for over twenty years.
 
The correct response to the wiring regs, which are not statutory. Is how much do the greedy HV (laziest bastards ever) charge to install a serviceable isolator? If costs more than a days wage then ---- em.
 
ok. You're in London. I can't speak for LEB, they're a law unto their own. A totally seperate entity with unique distribution and supply concerns.
 
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