Meter Sealing Crimp Tool

[Deleted member 105166]

I thought this is why the removal of seals and DNO fuses is only ever carried out by seal fairies and fuse fairies, because of their ability to do the deed then quickly fly away at speeds in excess of 300km/h, to protect their delicate wings from arc discharge.

 

[Percyprod]

If the cut out is damaged or in poor condition there would be no charge for changing it. Doesn't matter how early you are, the fact remains you are doing something illegal that you are not authorised to do. If I ask on here how to install a bathroom fan I will be told it has to be notified to BC and it needs a qualified electrician, yet it is a simple job to do, whatever you say, and most people could do it to the required standard. There. I've said it. If you have basic electrical knowledge and can read it's no problem. As regards pulling the fuse only with no load and no fault, how do you know there's no fault?

 

[Wilko]

In my humble opinion, the Electrician's training and experience can assist them to understand when a high current fault exists. (Perhaps another internet diy guide is not required?)

 

[Midwest]

If the cut out is damaged or in poor condition there would be no charge for changing it. Doesn't matter how early you are, the fact remains you are doing something illegal that you are not authorised to do. If I ask on here how to install a bathroom fan I will be told it has to be notified to BC and it needs a qualified electrician, yet it is a simple job to do, whatever you say, and most people could do it to the required standard. There. I've said it. If you have basic electrical knowledge and can read it's no problem. As regards pulling the fuse only with no load and no fault, how do you know there's no fault?

Cause it would of already gone bang.

My DNO's policy (SSE) allows qualified electricians who are members of Trade Associations (certain schemes) to cut seals & remove cutout fuses; 'Trade Associations shall ensure that there members are competent to remove and replace live cutout fuses ensuring safety is maintained at all times'.

 

[Percyprod]

I worked for ENWL and private electricians were not allowed to break seals. Having said that I never reported broken seals, no point no one cares! Only timr I did was if some one was being arsy I would tell them I was reporting it just ti upset them! My point about faults is, as you should know, they are not always apparent. I have seen a cut out that looked perfectly ok being blown to bits because when the fuse carrier was removed a strand of meter tail dropped across the incoming side of it, luckily the fault technician was wearing full PPE, which most electricians would not be. As I have said, you are potentially working on a circuit protected by a large fuse, which takes some abuse before it blows.

 

[Percyprod]

By the way, it should be 'their', not 'there'!

 

[Midwest]

By the way, it should be 'their', not 'there'!

Blame then them, not me as it's a copy & paste from there their policy

 

[Octopus]

Funny that if any one comes on here and asks for some advice on wiring, unless they are a certified 17th edition electrician, they are told in no uncertain terms that they shouldn't work on electrics, yet it is ok for an unauthorised person to illegally break the seal on the dnos cut out and remove and replace the fuse. Then it becomes a joke. The incomer is possibly controlled by a 400 amp fuse, how many unauthorised electricians use the full ppe to do this? (Nomex boiler suit, rubber gaunlets with leather over gloves, full face visor). The seals are there to prevent illegal interference, not as a safety item as such. Pot and black comes to mind.

What law precisely?

I attended a call out a couple of years ago - loose terminal on the CU - the dno engineer was there too - he asked me what I would have done if he hadn't been there?

My answer was if necessary, switch off CU, cut the seal and pull main fuse ......

He had a rant .....................

 

[Midwest]

What law precisely?

That SSE policy on;

'PROCEDURE FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF COMPANY CUT-OUT SEALS BY ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS'

Refers to the misuse of the emergency procedure, then they might take action using Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 section 25.