Replacement service head

[garyrcross]

Just done a consumer unit change in a domestic property. PSSC was 2.4kA, PEFC was 880A. The problem is that the service head is a 30A BS3036 with a Short circuit capacity of 1kA. Recorded this on the certificate advising the customer to contact the supply company to have the service head upgraded.

They have come back to her saying it will cost her between £1500 and £3000 to install a new service head. Since the service head is their property should she have to pay?

Advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Engineer54]

These Supply companies really do take the biscuit at times!!! .... If there installation or equipment has past it's sell-by date and no longer fit for purpose and needs up-dating, ...it's totally down to them not there customer!!!

Same goes for fitting fuse switches, ....lets face it, most properties electrical supplies has made the supply companies small fortunes in standing charges over the years. The least these companies can do, is provide these safety switches as and when required, can't say free because they have been paid for many times over by the present and previous owners and/or tenants!!!

By the same token, that old rewirable service fuse head that had past it's sell by date years ago, should have been upgraded as a matter of course, not waited for a requested upgrade!! Now, what are these quarterly service/standing charges for, if not to maintain their equipment and to provide a service to the customer!!!!

 

[telectrix]

overload the bugger and blow it. then phone and report loss of supply

 

[londonlec]

overload the bugger and blow it. then phone and report loss of supply

Is it possible to overload a nail?

 

[Geordie Spark]

These Supply companies really do take the biscuit at times!!! .... If there installation or equipment has past it's sell-by date and no longer fit for purpose and needs up-dating, ...it's totally down to them not there customer!!!

Same goes for fitting fuse switches, ....lets face it, most properties electrical supplies has made the supply companies small fortunes in standing charges over the years. The least these companies can do, is provide these safety switches as and when required, can't say free because they have been paid for many times over by the present and previous owners and/or tenants!!!

By the same token, that old rewirable service fuse head that had past it's sell by date years ago, should have been upgraded as a matter of course, not waited for a requested upgrade!! Now, what are these quarterly service/standing charges for, if not to maintain their equipment and to provide a service to the customer!!!!

I used exactly this argument with our DNO just this week.

A little while ago, I posted here that I was doing a rewire in a 1920s house and said that there was no earth anywhere in it, & said I was going to bang a spike in to make it TT.

It was ENGINEER54 who suggested I ask DNO if the house was in a PME area & this I did a couple of weeks ago. They said they couldn't tell me over the phone but would write to me within 5 working days.

Their letter arrived this week & it tells me that they cannot provide PME, but could supply what the called a DIRECT Earth. I telephoned again & asked what this DIRECT Earth was & they didn't seem to know !!

I then went off on one a bit - using the same argument that Engineer54 has just posted - and RESULT !!

They have now agreed to replace the entire cable from the street into the house, replace the Service Head, replace the 3foot long x 18 inches high wooden board that the existing Service Head & meter is mounted on with something of a more sensible size and provide a TNS system ...... ALL AT THEIR EXPENSE !!!

(all-in-all about £2.5k worth)

 

[Engineer54]

I used exactly this argument with our DNO just this week.

A little while ago, I posted here that I was doing a rewire in a 1920s house and said that there was no earth anywhere in it, & said I was going to bang a spike in to make it TT.

It was ENGINEER54 who suggested I ask DNO if the house was in a PME area & this I did a couple of weeks ago. They said they couldn't tell me over the phone but would write to me within 5 working days.

Their letter arrived this week & it tells me that they cannot provide PME, but could supply what the called a DIRECT Earth. I telephoned again & asked what this DIRECT Earth was & they didn't seem to know !!

I then went off on one a bit - using the same argument that Engineer54 has just posted - and RESULT !!

They have now agreed to replace the entire cable from the street into the house, replace the Service Head, replace the 3foot long x 18 inches high wooden board that the existing Service Head & meter is mounted on with something of a more sensible size and provide a TNS system ...... ALL AT THEIR EXPENSE !!!

(all-in-all about £2.5k worth)

A result indeed!! .....Just goes to show that with a good argument on your side, you can often win the day with these bloated self important companies. Well Done mate!! lol!!!

 

[rocker]

Just paint globules of bitumen coming out of the bottom of the head.... maybe scorch it lightly with a soldering iron, then call DNO and say it's knackered and needs replacement!

 

[DurhamSparky]

Geordie Spark!! lol.. NEDL get a roasting did they lol..!!

Rocker! it would be my luck if i tried what you were suggesting i would kill my self as i would probably push the soldering iron too far!! lol..... once did it at school...! pushed it into the plug top and tripped the entire power to 12 classrooms!! lol... ( this was before i knew how dangerous electric was!!!) also wired up load of thin PVC cable and told the num skull inclass to turn up the volatge on this little box thingy !! any way the wire melted and all the PVC sheath dispersed into a cloud of smoke!! also setting off fire alarm and thus evacuation lol.... he got wrong which was funny!!

 

[daniel hill]

i always report the metal clad cutouts to YEDL ad they get changed with in 6 weeks free of charge, they have to replace them as dangerous and are just replacing them as they find them or get them reported, some of the old metal clad cut outs have a fuse on neutral as-well as live which could be extremely dangerous

 

[garyrcross]

Yes this one has a fuse on the neutral as well. The previous job had the same setup, but with a lower PFC.

 

[Penance]

Our meter was changed a while ago and in chatting the fitter mentioned some properties in our area have had poor earthing in the TNS due to old deteriorating below ground joints.
I asked him to check it but he didn't have relevant test kit ( don't have my own yet). He made a call and then told me they will convert to TNCS for £177 + VAT.
Cheeky sods, they're earth system they can sort it out.

 

[Engineer54]

Don't put too much credence on what a meter fitter might tell you. At best they are semi, semi skilled cheap labour, and listen to too much of what they don't really understand. That then gets blown out of all proportion in their own minds....

If your that worried, try and borrow a bit of test kit and test for yourself, you'll probably find it's just fine!! lol!!!

 

[Penance]

Engineer54, realise that but it was the cheek they had to say I'd be charged for sorting their problem.

I suspect you're right tho and in reality it is fine. Should hopefully get a mft soon so will check then.

 

[Engineer54]

Unfortunately, unlike the old Leccy Boards, the DNOs are now a purely profit based enterprise, and therefore looking to scam every last penny from there customers. There not satisfied with the quarterly standing charges, that should cover this sort of work. ....No, they want YOU to pay for what they should be sorting out, Bad joints are totally the DNOs responsibility to put right....

 

[Geordie Spark]

Geordie Spark!! lol.. NEDL get a roasting did they lol..!!

Rocker! it would be my luck if i tried what you were suggesting i would kill my self as i would probably push the soldering iron too far!! lol..... once did it at school...! pushed it into the plug top and tripped the entire power to 12 classrooms!! lol... ( this was before i knew how dangerous electric was!!!) also wired up load of thin PVC cable and told the num skull inclass to turn up the volatge on this little box thingy !! any way the wire melted and all the PVC sheath dispersed into a cloud of smoke!! also setting off fire alarm and thus evacuation lol.... he got wrong which was funny!!

Oh aye bonny lad ........ they got both barrels big style.

Divven't mess aboot with Geordies !!!!