Fused neutral cut-out

[monoloco]

Apologies if this isn't the appropriate bit of the forum to post this to, or for any uneducated comments in what follows - straying beyond my elec expertise!

We had our meter changed over to a digital one the other day & the guy who did it spotted we had an old fused neutral cut-out. So Western Power Distribution have been out today wanting to replace it.

I understand enough to appreciate it needs replacing (not that I'd personally be fiddling with wires to come a cropper if the neutral fuse did get blown), but they're saying they need to dig up w nice hole/trench in our (recently tarmaced) driveway to fix it.

Is there a good reason why the service head couldn't safely be replaced without doing that, or is it genuinely unavoidable?

I just want to make sure they're not doing the thing that's easiest/cheapest for them, but not best for us!

Thanks!

 

[Plonker 3]

The swapping of your cut out should not involve digging anything up. You should phone them and find out exactly why they need to dig it up and post back what they tell you.

 

[ipf]

Can't get why they want to dig your drive up to change a cut out.

 

[monoloco]

I'm not sure either - they didn't explain to my wife.

How would they usually isolate it to swap the head (or is that not necessary)?

 

[Andy78]

Only reasons I can think of is to extend the service cable to facilitate the head change, or t repair a section of damaged cable identified on the survey.
Whatever the reason, we can only guess, and as Dillb says only the DNO can answer this.

 

[UKMeterman]

Some of the old cutouts are in a very poor state, and have lots of earth metal that can't be made earth free. The only way to work on it safely is to cut off the supply, hence hole in drive or road.

 

[monoloco]

Thanks all.

I'll give them a call and report back.

If it helps to see the cut-out then here's a picture of the offending item!

 

[Knobhead]

There are ways of doing it BUT to do it safely there isn’t. The DNO’s are obliged to change these heads, at one time they’d modify them.

Post a picture on something like photo bucket and link it to here. If there’s sufficient length on the incomer it can be done, near the floor, forget it.

Do you really appreciate why the neutral shouldn’t be fused?

Pity you only put UK as your location. Some systems were originally DC and converted to AC at a later date. I’m particularly interested in these systems as I’ve lived in two houses that were originally DC. One +ve the other –ve, they were next door to each other.

 

[davesparks]

I've got the manual for how to install that isco cutout if that's any help?

 

[monoloco]

Thanks Tony. Is that photo I've posted visible?

There's only a couple of inches more of the incomer exposed below what you can see there.

As for whether I really appreciate why the neutral shouldn't be fused - as I suggested, this definitely ain't my specialist subject, but I get that the fuse could blow and leave you not realising the circuit's still hot.

Can you explain how it's help to know my location? We're in Gloucestershire - a 1930's house.

 

[monoloco]

Dave - maybe?? Will almost certainly be double-Dutch to me though! :sick:

 

[PEG]

That cut-out looks very similar to those fitted on 1930's properties,where,on occasion,the DNO or their agents do fit a joint in preference to working on an old unit.

On my own 1937 property,they renewed the head,no problems,in about an hour,but my pal,on the same road,had a joint put in,about a meter from the cut-out.

I inspected his cut-out, previous to this work,and it looked no worse than mine. I think a lot depends on the crew that turn up,and what mood they are in,as when i mentioned this to the lads that did mine,they told me the other crew must "sit down to have a wee"...(actual quote) :jester:

 

[davesparks]

It goes without saying that you must not in any way attempt to even open that cutout, let alone do anything else to it.
But for anyone who is interested here's a few pages from the book.


And if you are wondering what tools the modern cable jointer might require to practise his trade, here's the list.

 

[ipf]

A Ze reading would be interesting.

 

[Knobhead]

It would be interesting but a bit out of the scope of the OP

 

[driverman]

Re cut out change........as said earlier..DNO safe practice.....work on head dead. In order to do that joint hole required. However, as you mentioned new tarmac, ask the DNO to do the joint hole elsewhere. that may well mean doing on the public footpath ( assuming there is one) where your service cable is.

 

[Plonker 3]

Re cut out change........as said earlier..DNO safe practice.....work on head dead. In order to do that joint hole required. However, as you mentioned new tarmac, ask the DNO to do the joint hole elsewhere. that may well mean doing on the public footpath ( assuming there is one) where your service cable is.

sorry I dont follow, how are they going to isolate the head without working live?

 

[gnselectricals]

There's less risk by chopping the cable in the street than working on a metal cutout live I believe

 

[driverman]

sorry I dont follow, how are they going to isolate the head without working live?

Hi Dillb, On the face of it, it may sound strange. However it is deemed to be much safer to dig joint hole, cut cable safely, so as to make safe the cutout to work on. Yes, years ago jointers would off worked on the head live. i suppose it safer to work on the separate cores dead as opposed live. Has been that practice for many years. I had to inform customers exactly that whilst I worked for a DNO service alterations. Like the OP's case above....... i would try to avoid sensitive areas like the tarmac.but your governed by the existing service route.

 

[7029 dave]

Hi Dillb, On the face of it, it may sound strange. However it is deemed to be much safer to dig joint hole, cut cable safely, so as to make safe the cutout to work on. Yes, years ago jointers would off worked on the head live. i suppose it safer to work on the separate cores dead as opposed live. Has been that practice for many years. I had to inform customers exactly that whilst I worked for a DNO service alterations. Like the OP's case above....... i would try to avoid sensitive areas like the tarmac.but your governed by the existing service route.

Yep, they always ditch the cable on my patch too, on cut out changes.