removal of main cutout fuse!

[HappyHippyDad]

Hello all,

I think this may be a controversial question, but here goes..

I have passed my domestic installers course and will be getting registered soon (so showing a CU change would be good). I would like to update my consumer unit and have read many of the posts on this site regarding that. I will first try and get the DNO to fit an isolation switch if not then I do not want to work with live tails so pulling the main cutout seems like the option. Lets say for arguments sake that I will get permission by the DNO, thats not really what I want to get into on this thread.

From other threads I think it a very good idea to first assess what type of head it is (cast iron seems one to avoid) and what condition it is in.

Wear electricians gloves.

Test the tails after removal of main fuse to be 100% sure they are not live.

Have main switch off when removing and replacing.

One question is how to make the meter box safe for others whilst I am working inside. Do I just remove the fuse from the main cutout and replace?

This is clearly something that should have been taught during my course, but it wasn't, they just said pull it, which isn't good enough for me.

Any futher advice on removing the main cutout fuse would be most welcome.

Cheers.

 

[telectrix]

none of this would be necessary if DNo could be bothered to get up off their corporate arses, attend a site at 8.30am on a pre-booked date ( with a few days notice)to disconnect and return to reconnect at 5.00pm on the same day. and i've just had to duck.....; a bloody great pink pig just flew past my window.

 

[sparks1973]

none of this would be necessary if DNo could be bothered to get up off their corporate arses, attend a site at 8.30am on a pre-booked date ( with a few days notice)to disconnect and return to reconnect at 5.00pm on the same day. and i've just had to duck.....; a bloody great pink pig just flew past my window.

yep exactly Tel....i think though if some DNOs have found a way.....its a case for others to follow suit....now, this can also be used as a `meter` of sorts...to see who the unreasonable DNOs are....as these will be the ones that drag their feet over it all.....until they have found a way to cash in on it that is....so electricians end up paying the DNO....to do the work of the DNO...lolffs...

 

[1shortcircuit]

If the DNO wanted to ensure that their equipment was not tampered with then I am sure there are many ways that they could make it near impossible or if they couldn't do that then they could install some sort of tamper alarm that could only be reset by them.

 

[sparks1973]

If the DNO wanted to ensure that their equipment was not tampered with then I am sure there are many ways that they could make it near impossible or if they couldn't do that then they could install some sort of tamper alarm that could only be reset by them.

might be an intrusion too far though into someone elses property though....i know for a start that i certainly would not appreciate some sort of `tamper alarm` being installed in my house..DNO property or not its still in MY house....anyway, such a thing goes against our society in general...like assuming guilt (which such a device is)..last time i looked it was upto the accuser to prove guilt...beyond any reasonable doubt....so a
`tamper alarm` is just another little step down the winding road to the police state....where surveillance and spying is the norm.....besides....i think `smart meters (smart for who?)..smart meters` have already gone a long way to acheaving this.....god, what next?...

 

[soulman]

If the DNO dont supply a means of isolation then pulling the fuse is the only way, with the introduction of smart meters it was there chance to put things right and install an isolator. They haven't so the electrician has no choice!!! It maybe there equipment but the tails belong to the consumer & electricians should not be working live, therefore the fuse is pulled for safe isolation. I would like to see them try & fine a spark, it would just not stand up in court. There is no clear procedure for a spark to follow, until this is implemented the fuse will continue to be pulled.

 

[Guitarist]

I have to say that I don't pull fuses, I always either get an isolator fitted or get the supplier out to disconnect.
All that said, I am coming to the end of my tether now. It takes weeks to get the supplier to come out, so scheduling work is a nightmare. Add to that the fact that while Eon do it all for free as part of the service, BG are charging a fee for removing a fuse, then a fee to come and put it back in and reseal it!! They also charge for an isolator.
I know that I keep banging on about this, but the suppliers need to get their act together.... If they want to be fully responsible for disconnection/reconnection, then they need a hotline for electricians so that this can be done at short notice, with either no, or a minimal charge. If they don't want to offer this kind of professional service, then they need to allow registered sparks to carry out fuse removal and resealing in the way SSE do.

 

[sparks1973]

I have to say that I don't pull fuses, I always either get an isolator fitted or get the supplier out to disconnect.
All that said, I am coming to the end of my tether now. It takes weeks to get the supplier to come out, so scheduling work is a nightmare. Add to that the fact that while Eon do it all for free as part of the service, BG are charging a fee for removing a fuse, then a fee to come and put it back in and reseal it!! They also charge for an isolator.
I know that I keep banging on about this, but the suppliers need to get their act together.... If they want to be fully responsible for disconnection/reconnection, then they need a hotline for electricians so that this can be done at short notice, with either no, or a minimal charge. If they don't want to offer this kind of professional service, then they need to allow registered sparks to carry out fuse removal and resealing in the way SSE do.

BUT THEY WONT guitarist......see as far as they are concerned...the system aint broke is it....there they are...getting money for work that any competent electrician can do....they can charge what they want (no rules there)...turn up when they like (hmm, no rules there either).....and the cash keeps flowing.....seems to me that all`s rosy in the DNO garden of eden....

 

[Guitarist]

BUT THEY WONT guitarist......see as far as they are concerned...the system aint broke is it....there they are...getting money for work that any competent electrician can do....they can charge what they want (no rules there)...turn up when they like (hmm, no rules there either).....and the cash keeps flowing.....seems to me that all`s rosy in the DNO garden of eden....

Sadly..... I have to agree with you mate. Why would they ruin a good thing.....

 

[telectrix]

and somebody remind me what the standing charge is for.

 

[snowhead]

and somebody remind me what the standing charge is for.

Standing around, waiting for some mug to ring up and pay for the fuse to be pulled

 

[Guest111]

regarding tamperproofing the metering,about 15 years ago in liverpool a lot of the board,head,meter,etc was encased in a plastic cover with a tamperproof mechanism inside and if you tried to remove it it shattered into a load of bits.The DNOknew where they put them so no argument regarding fiddling meters.

 

[Guitarist]

regarding tamperproofing the metering,about 15 years ago in liverpool a lot of the board,head,meter,etc was encased in a plastic cover with a tamperproof mechanism inside and if you tried to remove it it shattered into a load of bits.The DNOknew where they put them so no argument regarding fiddling meters.

Did a lot of tampering go on in Liverpool then?

 

[DNS1]

If the DNO wanted to ensure that their equipment was not tampered with then I am sure there are many ways that they could make it near impossible or if they couldn't do that then they could install some sort of tamper alarm that could only be reset by them.

If they were going to go as far as installing additional kit, they might as well just install an isolator!

The only thing I don't like about isolators is that if they're fitted outside in a meter enclosure, there's nothing to stop pranksters and kids from turning people's electrics off for a "laugh"

At least with the current system, it's only really sparks who have the DNO fuse "fall out" for them... Most DIYers are at least put off by the seals and warning notices...

 

[trev]

another little step down the winding road to the police state....where surveillance and spying is the norm

That is already here mate, the average person just going about their day to day business appears on cctv 300 times a day according to something I saw on Panorama a while back. Councils can use anti terrorism legislation to watch you to make sure you live in the catchment area for the school you want to send your children to. The government's plan to access information about who you contact by phone and email WILL come about, it has only been put on the back burner until they can come up with a way to sell the idea to us because the anti terrorism excuse didn't work.
Just for the record I am not some sort of conspiracy theory idiot

 

[sparks1973]

That is already here mate, the average person just going about their day to day business appears on cctv 300 times a day according to something I saw on Panorama a while back. Councils can use anti terrorism legislation to watch you to make sure you live in the catchment area for the school you want to send your children to. The government's plan to access information about who you contact by phone and email WILL come about, it has only been put on the back burner until they can come up with a way to sell the idea to us because the anti terrorism excuse didn't work.
Just for the record I am not some sort of conspiracy theory idiot

indeed not trev....just a practicing electrician like most others in here....but you have it about right mate....its all about selling an idea to the public.....mandelson and his minions were very good at it....time will show who within this lot is prepared to step up to the job.....hmm, i can think of a few already....