External Fuses - Advice Appreciated!

[mclayj]

Hi,

I've just registered & this is my first post so please forgive me if I've posted in the wrong place! My name's John & I'd really appreciate some advice as I've come to a bit of a dead end so far. I have a basement flat in Edinburgh & have some concerns over some external fuses that are mounted on a board backing underneath the entrance walkway to the flat above. I believe the board supplies the communal power to the two basement flats but I'm not certain of this. Water has been dripping on to the board from the unsealed steps belonging to my neighbour upstairs - unfortunately he's refused to do anything about it after being asked politely & latterly through a solicitor. I've contacted Scottish Power & local energy supplier but they both deny any responsibility for replacing the mounting board (which is now rotted) & for installing the supplies inside a suitably rated JB. I believed that one of them should be responsible for any supplies up to the individual consumer units but they're telling me that's not the case! I'd appreciate any advice on how to progress this - is there somebody else I should be speaking to (ombudsman maybe?), or - if it is my responsibility - would any local members like to quote for the necessary work?

 

[Guest123]

Ring the supplier up, tell them you've seen sparks coming from the cut out due to the water dripping onto it, then see how fast they come out!!!

Also your neighbour may find he has to do something about it if it's his property that's causing the water to leak on their equipmentas they will not be too happy about it and may even bill him for the call out.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep totally agree I live in Edinburgh and there is a lot of this in the New Town (city centre) so as Lenny said contact the DNO first and they will get things moving

Just to add how can Scottish Power say its nothing to do with them as it is their cut out fuses ?? also because of the deregulation you may want to contact your electricity supplier as well.

Also had a look at the photo and you have a single phase supply 3 cut out fuses so they are feeding 3 properties plus they have spurred a supply off the middle fuse that goes to the grey box (I think this feeds the communial lighting in the area)

 

[mclayj]

Thanks very much for this gents, I'll give it a bash!

 

[Engineer54]

To my mind this set-up should never have been installed externally without a suitable enclosure full stop!!!
I'm also wondering what size fuses have been installed in these linked out cut-out carriers?? I'd hate to think that there all 60A and loaded up close to that limit on each of them!! .... lol!!!

Never ever seen this set-up before on the DNO side of things...lol!!!

 

[oldtimer]

To my mind this set-up should never have been installed externally without a suitable enclosure full stop!!!
I'm also wondering what size fuses have been installed in these linked out cut-out carriers?? I'd hate to think that there all 60A and loaded up close to that limit on each of them!! .... lol!!!

Never ever seen this set-up before on the DNO side of things...lol!!!

I hate to say but this is pretty standard here in Edinburgh when they built what they call the new town ie north of the castle they built the houses with servant quarters in the basement fast forward today and the houses are being converted to flats as the basement flats were sold off years ago so there are stone steps (basically a stone bridge thats gives you entry to the houses with old coal cellers under the pavement if you are lucky the supplies are in these if not they are fitted under the stone steps/bridge for ease of access

This should give you an idea http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Sorry just add EH3 6JQ and you will get a standards new town street

 

[Paul.M]

Each fuse is for one of the flats. Get an electrician around to find out which one is your neighbours upstairs that refuses to do anything and ask the sparky to replace his bullet/fuse for a blown one!

Then say to your neighbour "What do you mean you've got no power? Told you it needed fixing." See how fast he gets his wallet out when he can't watch Eastenders.

^^^^ The above is said in jest, don't do it, I would if it was my flat because that's the type of joker I am.

 

[Engineer54]

Oldtimer.

Ah .... i see what you mean now about the cross over steps!! But still think that these DNO service cut-outs should be mounted in some sort of protective enclosure.

Has to make sense for the DNO too surely??

 

[gaz76]

Looks to me like a single phase supply serving all three, check the link at the bottom of the fuse carrier, and what size is that cable going out? Dodgy

 

[oldtimer]

Oldtimer.

Ah .... i see what you mean now about the cross over steps!! But still think that these DNO service cut-outs should be mounted in some sort of protective enclosure.

Has to make sense for the DNO too surely??

Yes I agree and sometimes I have seen the back board mounted on 2 bits of vertical 2x2 so any water or damp runs down the wall but if you have a look at the picture the cut outs look fairly new so my detective work would say the guy who did it turned up on a nice sunny day and replaced the existing and just stuck the board straight on to the wall.

Also these were fitted in the day when they never bothered with enclosues but I agree with you because in the old flats they are removing the old cast service boxes and fitting new sheet metal units with seals on them which is a pity as you could open these up and pull the fuse without touching the seals on the meter or cut out in the house so maybe they will get around to it unlike Transo with the dodgy gas governer that they will not change until it starts to leak

 

[polo1]

As oldtimer says, a very common set up in Edinburgh. As for "does it make sense?" - of course it doesn't, but where does common sense come in to it with the RECs - it's all about shareholder value!

And Mclayj, it's definitely Scottish Power's problem, but chances are they will do nothing, even if the service heads are being held up by the supply cable/tails. They will probably wait until the supply fails and you and your neighbours are inconvenienced. The benefits of privatisation I'm afraid.
Regards

 

[oldtimer]

As oldtimer says, a very common set up in Edinburgh. As for "does it make sense?" - of course it doesn't, but where does common sense come in to it with the RECs - it's all about shareholder value!

And Mclayj, it's definitely Scottish Power's problem, but chances are they will do nothing, even if the service heads are being held up by the supply cable/tails. They will probably wait until the supply fails and you and your neighbours are inconvenienced. The benefits of privatisation I'm afraid.
Regards

He could write to Scottish Power adding a photo to enquire if this conforms to the current safety standards and the reason why they will not fit a enclosure as they do on other supplies sited outside and could they please put in writing what their view is. This should give them a nudge because they will not want a letter on file that pointed out the danger.

And yes I have seen a setup like this hanging on to a bit of 6mm red or black as the board has rotted away

 

[mclayj]

Thanks again folks, I'm still waiting on a response from Scot Power's visit but I suspect I might need to go down the safety route recommended by Oldtimer. Good advice!

 

[oldtimer]

mclayj remember to get back to us and tell us how it was resolved as we get a lot of these posts thanking us for our help but no one ever gets back to say how it was sorted.

Like I said go down the safety road because it is the only thing that gets them going plus DONT and I mean DONT phone them as they will say 6 months later what phone call so get a email contact and send the phot as well expressing your concerns regarding the safety of it location and physical protection

 

[mclayj]

Will do oldtimer, thanks again.

 

[leonard]

Have you noticed that the main earthing conductor is connected to the lead outer sheath with e earth clamp ? Is that that right?

 

[londonlec]

Fairly common set up in NW London too.

If your DNO deem it as unsafe they will disconnect you from the street.

 

[mogga]

I love driving through the "new town" looking at the arcityecture basement rough cut ground better smooter cut upper features cut in the stone Bummer to work on high celings walls thik enough you could hide bodies in them lol

 

[mclayj]

Good Morning,

Received a call from SP engineer today & was told that under 'supplies agreement', responsibility to keep services watertight lies with the three householders. As londonlec stated, the DNO apparently does have an option to disconnect if they deem it to be unsafe so sending an email questioning its integrity might backfire. I've asked engineer if a letter can be sent to upstairs neighbour highlighting his responsibilities but starting to think best option could be to have enclosure fitted around it myself. If anyone has any ideas on cost to have this done or any other suggestions I'd be happy to hear them!

 

[polo1]

TBH a joiner could knock up a "shelf" and with mastic, prevent water running down onto the backboard, but if the backboard is in poor nick, then SP will have to become involved to allow this to be replaced - looks like you may have to splash the cash for both.
Regards

 

[mogga]

By the looks of it the DNO look to have just thrown it there IMO it should be down to them as they fitted it there in a cleary unsafe posistion or at least in an posistion exposed to the elements
As suggested a joiner should be able to knock up a small cupboard and seal it against the elements BUT remember if you fit a padlock to it inform the DNO you are fitting a hasp they will probably want to fit a DNO padlock rather than have you fit one If they need to get in and its not their padlock they will just jemmy it open and its back to you tpo repair it
Seems like your neighbour plays with himself tomuch to care about those around him probably drives a nice shiney BMW