Pulling live meter tails from isolater switch in consumer unit

[dazthemmok]

Had to sign up just to comment here! Death for the sake of a £400 job, good one!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Life would be simpler if all meters were fitted with isolation switches on the customer side like gas meters.

............ except that on gas meters the isolator is on the supply side of the meter.

(just being pedantic )

 

[ferg]

I understand that the agreement is for NICEIC Approved contractors or the SELECT equivalent, not the millions of fly by night cowboys that exist in Scotland.

I'm none of the above.

The only time I would call out SSE is if I was unable to pull the fuse due to it or the head being in a dangerous condition.

 

[HandySparks]

............ except that on gas meters the isolator is on the supply side of the meter.

Ah yes, I wondered whether someone would point that one out.

Just the chap to do it. :santa_smiley:

 

[Octopus]

Ah yes, I wondered whether someone would point that one out.

Just the chap to do it. :santa_smiley:

ha ha.

I meant one that us sparks could use without all the aggro with seals, dno's isolators and hours on the phone to idiots in call centres! So on the output side!

 

[PEG]

If he has a copper bar,and a pair of goggles,he MAY get 6 minutes to do his swap :icon12:

 

[HandySparks]

It's worth checking that the meter doesn't already incorporate an isolator (some recent digital ones). I pulled a fuse and then realised I could have achieved the same effect with a push-and-turn of the isolator provided.

 

[Engineer54]

Hi, I'm not bypassing the meter... I'm repositioning the consumer unit 3 foot up the wall. I'm a fully qualified electrician with 2330 levels 2&3, the 17th edition regs and the 2391. I just asked a question and was hoping somebody would offer a constructive answer... not accuse me if being a criminal!

Forget about the service cut-out seal, how are you going to find an extra 3' of tails without breaking the meter seals as well then??

It's a shame you haven't got any common sense to go with those qualifications!!

 

[Knobhead]

It's a shame you haven't got any common sense to go with those qualifications!!

And people say I’m cruel. :smilielol5:

 

[kjgreen3]

Forget about the service cut-out seal, how are you going to find an extra 3' of tails without breaking the meter seals as well then??

It's a shame you haven't got any common sense to go with those qualifications!!

I think he mentioned a henley block in the first post, whether he meant as a tool used in the live extraction of the tails from the main switch who knows.

 

[richy3333]

I'm none of the above.

The only time I would call out SSE is if I was unable to pull the fuse due to it or the head being in a dangerous condition.

ferg, aren't you JIB? DO the DNO accept this instead

 

[baldsparkies]

This is a long thread and sorry for not reading all but from the jist of this my thoughts are.
The health and safety at works regulations (HSE) and you are at work even if in a domestic property.
Is a mandatory document.
Safe isolation is paramount, and should be afforded by the DNO.
If not !!
A persons life vs a pulled (no load) cutout fuse is a no brainer.
After all the person of unknown origin who removed the seals prior to your visit did so exactly for that reason, and because no other immediate means of isolation was available to them.
If your a qualified registered sparky covering a consumer unit change and your providing the appropriate paperwork, then I honestly feel you have no reason for concern.
Working on a live set of tails is a grave, pardon the pun, mistake.
Not on my watch, no way !!

 

[baldsparkies]

For what its worth we called the DNO once because an old chap had drilled through his overhead supply.
It was the supply side of the henley block and was popping and fizzing like you wouldn't believe.
I said I was surprised the main cutout was still in and that other houses hadn't been taken out.
He laughed and said you will blow the fault on the cable before that bugger goes, otherwise we would be getting called out every five minutes !!!
And that's a true story.
Now with respect, that kind of PFC would leave you a (harmless/armless, electrician)

 

[UNG]

Life would be simpler if the DNO put in isolation switches they change the meters often enough so put in a switch at the same time then problem solved

Why would they want to install isolators FOC when they can wait for the customer to request one and charge for it

 

[Knobhead]

I understand that the agreement is for NICEIC Approved contractors or the SELECT equivalent, not the millions of fly by night cowboys that exist in Scotland. Years ago I had to show my local manager that I had the safety gear required.

I’m surprised you’ve still got you’ve still got your dangly bits left with a comment like that.

NIC-EIC and the rest of the leaches can’t be used as a benchmark, they’re the ones that have lowered the standards.

 

[baldsparkies]

We are all wrong.
I have rang electrical safety expert Mike Powers.
He said its perfectly acceptable to work on live supplies, does it all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1uvzvSez3Q

 

[Guest55]

lol at that youtube video ^^^ :-D

mike powers ?? i'd rather call austin powers for electrical advice......

 

[Knobhead]

Put that in the DIY section. It may get rid of some of them.

 

[richy3333]

I’m surprised you’ve still got you’ve still got your dangly bits left with a comment like that.

NIC-EIC and the rest of the leaches can’t be used as a benchmark, they’re the ones that have lowered the standards.

Hmm. At least they have standards (regardless of whether you consider them good or bad). Around here I deal with numerous guys with a screwdriver. Dangerous Daves and Rodger the bodgers etc. then there are those that are plumbers too, forget testing! They don't own meters let alone fill in certificates. There's the ex ship engineers that leave the main earth disconnected in a public building and flapping around like a limp dick, the shower that catches fire. Ex physics teachers that think they are sparks. The list goes on. Then there's the LABC that don't police their own schemes. Don't get me started Tony, I'll start to sound like you!

 

[buzzbang]

still do not know why after so many years of this argument of seals and dno fuse going on that for safety of all isolators are not fitted as standard ,if someone is going to steel power they are going to steel power sealing the fuse don`t stop them