Isolation Switches for New Consumer Unit

[Electron]

I ask customers to get their electricity supplier to fit an isolation switch so that I can safely isolate the supply while I fit a new consumer unit.
This must be a common request but my customers usually recieive a response as if no one has ever before asked for one.
This is part of an email just recieved from a customer:

Our current energy supplier Eon has been useless at enabling the installation of an isolator switch. After spending two hours on hold being shuttled between departments I gave up on them and we are in the process of switching to N Power who have a dedicated phone number for the service and will install the switch for free. I understand from N Power that it takes a maximum of 28 days to switch to them and 10 working days to install the switch once we are a customer and can request it.

Do other electricians have similar problems?

Why don't they all have a standard service charge and time to install?
Some install within a couple of days.
Some charge and some don't.
Has anyone any suggestion to improve the situation?
Perhaps a complaint to Ofgem?

 

[buzzlightyear]

you could get the tooth fairy to pull the fuse and stop wasting time..

 

[Andy78]

I don't suffer these issues as I don't go down that route.
Ill fit an isolator if the dno are in to change the head, a quite common occurrence, or even leave it with them to fit.

 

[Electron]

you could get the tooth fairy to pull the fuse and stop wasting time..

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

 

[Wilko]

Might fall into the don't ask don't tell category?

 

[Andy78]

Sit your assessor down on your knee and read him a story

 

[Pete999]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

Tell him the isolator was already installed, and wipe your finger prints from the DNO fuse.

 

[Octopus]

If the schemes are going to get difficult about this, they need to work together and get the DNOs to sort this out .....

Bit they won't ....

 

[SparkyChick]

If I'm doing this, I normally arrange for the DNO to come and pull the fuse and I have a shiney new isolator installed (with tails ready to be connected to the meter) waiting for them. I ask them if they can reseal the meter and check the connections for me and if they can hang around while I do that. It gets connected, they check it, reseal it, put the fuse back in and everyone is happy. This approach can save your customer having to have two visits (billed per visit).

If the seals are already missing, I'll pull the fuse myself (making sure there is no load on the system and the fuse carrier is in good shape) but I wouldn't cut them off myself. Instead, pull it, phone the DNO and tell them the seals are off and have them come and reseal it.

And yes, some suppliers fit them quick, some do it for free, and some haven't got a clue

 

[LankyWill]

Why overthink it when you can just cut the seals and pull the fuse, how can they expect you to make money if you are hanging about waiting at the DNO's expense.

 

[Risteard]

The DNO here (NIE) tried telling a customer that the Electrician fits the isolator and not them. They didn't explain how this could be done with their supply being energised, of course...

 

[Midwest]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

Do you know your DNO's policy on removal of their main fuse?

 

[westward10]

Why do you need to remove the fuse.

 

[Dillb]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

You must goto enough jobs to have one that doesnt require pulling a DNO fuse, and seeing as the scams allow YOU to choose which job to goto take them to one of them.

 

[Pete999]

Why do you need to remove the fuse.

Don't understand your question Westy.

 

[westward10]

Don't understand your question Westy.

Don't understand why people need to pull the fuse to fit an isolator, do it live.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

Never been asked on an assessment, they know what goes on and dont care. if they do ask just tell them the dno or supplier fitted the isolator! end of... as long as the fuse is not an old one and looks in good condition, as long as the main switch is off and there is no load you should be okay. but only you cna decide if you want to pull it or not.

 

[Pete999]

Don't understand why people need to pull the fuse to fit an isolator, do it live.

Given you a dumb West cuz it is dumb, in all honesty.

 

[Midwest]

Given you a dumb West cuz it is dumb, in all honesty.

It is right out there on the raggerdy edge.

 

[SparkyChick]

Given you a dumb West cuz it is dumb, in all honesty.

It is right out there on the raggerdy edge.

I think possibly there is a smattering of sarcasm in @westward10 's post.

 

[Midwest]

I think possibly there is a smattering of sarcasm in @westward10 's post.

We'll await and see

 

[westward10]

I don't see the problem providing you have enough slack from the meter. Fit isolator, snip conductors and connect to isolator job done.

 

[SparkyChick]

We'll await and see

Looks like I was wrong

 

[Pete999]

I think possibly there is a smattering of sarcasm in @westward10 's post.

Maybe, if there was sorry for the Dumb Westy

Looks like I was wrong

Nobody is right all the time SC

 

[KEV 1 N]

This could get cause problems on my annual inspection. Q "How did you isolate the power?" A "The tooth fairy pulled it out."

Just do as Manuel does.......

 

[Deleted account]

I'm with you on this one Simon.

I don't get it. Why is it accepted practice to pull the main fuse yourself, yet clearly we are not allowed.

What a contradiction.

I also always get the supplier to fit a double pole isolator when changing a board. It adds £160 to the customers bill. Thus meaning I am not as competitive as the next sparky who pulls the fuse himself.

Either we should be allowed to pull fuses ourselves with the appropriate training or where not.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Don't understand your question Westy.

Don't understand why people need to pull the fuse to fit an isolator, do it live.

yeah with a pink marigolds 1000volt rated.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I'm with you on this one Simon.

I don't get it. Why is it accepted practice to pull the main fuse yourself, yet clearly we are not allowed.

What a contradiction.

I also always get the supplier to fit a double pole isolator when changing a board. It adds £160 to the customers bill. Thus meaning I am not as competitive as the next sparky who pulls the fuse himself.

Either we should be allowed to pull fuses ourselves with the







appropriate training or where not.

quick boys they are
gang up on us ,so no more tooth fairy's for me then .dam.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I can under stand if it was a three phase supply ,but single yes .
the last time a got a customer to ring DNO they came to fit a isolator they came on a camel from bagbad.

 

[Spoon]

they came on a camel from bagbad.

Is that near Wigan??

 

[westward10]

Given you a dumb West cuz it is dumb, in all honesty.

Horses for courses Pete I work on live systems nearly every day.

 

[Midwest]

Either we should be allowed to pull fuses ourselves with the appropriate training or where not.

Depends on the DNO.

 

[Pete999]

You have to ask yourself, why don't the DNOs fit a Switch fuse at the intake? save all this faffing around wouldn't it? or is that too simple an idea?

 

[Octopus]

You have to ask yourself why these new snazzy "smart meters" don't have an isolator built in...

 

[MJPD29]

The DNO here (NIE) tried telling a customer that the Electrician fits the isolator and not them. They didn't explain how this could be done with their supply being energised, of course...

NIE utterly clueless in my experiences, guys who fit meters havnt got 2 brain cells to rub together had many encounters with them

 

[Midwest]

You have to ask yourself, why don't the DNOs fit a Switch fuse at the intake? save all this faffing around wouldn't it? or is that too simple an idea?

I think its common practise on new builds now, but that doesn't help on existing installs. Was a bit of an oversight from eons ( ) ago.

 

[Midwest]

You have to ask yourself why these new snazzy "smart meters" don't have an isolator built in...

I thought some had?

 

[Octopus]

I thought some had?

I have that thought too, but have never seem one!

 

[Ian1981]

I think its common practise on new builds now, but that doesn't help on existing installs. Was a bit of an oversight from eons ( ) ago.

They fit a DP isolator only not a switch fuse.
That’s our job and the position the architects like positioning the consumer unit nowadays it’s a struggle to get the builder to fit a 2nd meter box to house the switch fuse.

 

[Which One’s Live?]

New connections we always fit an isolator and an earthing block (one of those welded ones).

Personally, I always ask the customer if they’re likely to do some electrical work at some future point and offer to fit one.

If the fuse board and/or tails look old and knackered I fit one anyway.

Quite often the cutouts aren’t sealed and I’m assuming a fair few get pulled so work can be carried out. A few days ago on one job the new meter tails were already in the existing meter after a rewire/new fuse board install, so I’m assuming the electrician did this as well as pull the fuse. It’s fairly common.

Btw, I used to pop into this forum a while back, I’m here (yet) again and have kept the same username. I’ve ended up in probably the most contentious and least respected work by you guys, but heh-hoh, we all gotta earn a crust.

You can throw things at the screen now...

 

[camerabloke]

Welcome back

 

[Which One’s Live?]

Many Thanks.

 

[Wilko]

With that intro you would always be welcome out here !

 

[telectrix]

if anyone is wary of pullinf a (dodgy) DNO fuse, cut the meter seal and (with no load on) whip the outgoing tails from the meter. reverse procedure for re-energising. then reseal meter.

 

[camerabloke]

Nah the seal fairy must live in my area I think

 

[Octopus]

At the end of the day we mustn't work live........

 

[westward10]

At the end of the day we mustn't work live........

Ever?

 

[Midwest]

Ever?

The reason for doing so, must justify the risk, not just the inconvenience for doing so.

 

[Midwest]

They fit a DP isolator only not a switch fuse.
That’s our job and the position the architects like positioning the consumer unit nowadays it’s a struggle to get the builder to fit a 2nd meter box to house the switch fuse.

Expand if you will please?

 

[AJshep]

To be honest, i dont really think about it, I just cut the seal and pull the fuse.
You can sometimes seal/bodge it back up with a red through crimp if you have enough slack, just cut the insulation of once crimped, whos really going to notice though.
Honestly though the meter guys ive met, couldnt give a monkey's. If I were put in the possition where I feared prosecution then id just go on ebay and buy a load of flag crimps with a tool, cheaper to do it that way then waste my time and rack up my phone bill.