Supply fuse - quote to change.

1Justin

1Justin

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Arms
My customer needs bigger than 60A supply. Currently BS1361 60A. 4 bedroom house, 4 kids, new circuits..

Before I started in the place it came up at 72A (with diversity), and after my 2 new circuits I am 79A (with diversity). PME, nice condition, modern supply cable, Ze 0.27 so should be able to take 80A fuse).

Given the additions, however I look at it and use diversity I need 80A.

Since I'll be inspected on this job (Mr NICEIC etc), I am sure this needs to be shown to be all ticked off OK. The quote from SSE is £131.42+VAT to upgrade the fuse. Surely all they are likely to do is confirm Ze, check the supply cable and earthing conductor, and change the fuse. (modern cable and 16mm main earthing conductor).

Is this a typical quote? I haven't told the customer yet but he's not going to like it given that in his eyes he gets nothing for it.

Is someone here now going to tell me that they just change the fuse anyway without informing DNO? DNO never seem know what the fuse rating is anyhow when I've asked them before.

Justin
 
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Whack lots of high current loads on the system and I bet a pound to a penny,you will be surprised at what it doesn't pull
Add to that,the 60 amp fuse will take quite a bit more than that for quite some time and £100+ pounds may be unnecessary cost

As long as your system can cope with a 80 or 100 amp supply,the supply itself is a seperate issue. unless that 60 amp gets roasted
of course
 
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I'm just trying to work out why they would charge 130+ quid to up-grade a fuse?? Isn't that what your paying a monthly standing charge for?? A few years ago the local DNO was going round upgrading 60A service fuses for 80A fuses, while changing/upgrading the meters (40 max)... No charge was ever levied.
 
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1Justin said:
My customer needs bigger than 60A supply. Currently BS1361 60A. 4 bedroom house, 4 kids, new circuits..
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You sure about that?! I've just built a massive four bed, ground source, water bore, treatment, sewerage, the works..... currently sitting on an 80A. The DNO knows about it, the customer knows about it. If it goes pop in the winter then there's a £4k bill to change the pole transformer, so we'll all just wait and see. Diversity came out at something like 220A.
 
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as des and tony's posts. leave well alone. just reduce the max. demand figure on your cert.

when i moved into my dad's house ( 1988 ), it ran at a calculated 85A total load for 2 years on a 30A rewireable, before it finally died.
 
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Rockingit said:
You sure about that?! I've just built a massive four bed, ground source, water bore, treatment, sewerage, the works..... currently sitting on an 80A. The DNO knows about it, the customer knows about it. If it goes pop in the winter then there's a £4k bill to change the pole transformer, so we'll all just wait and see. Diversity came out at something like 220A.
Click to expand...

What are you getting when you clamp the tails? Im just interested in whats being pulled, from almost a worst case scenario, going by what youve posted
 
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The charge is obviously just a standard service fee as it's you that are calling them.

I'd wait and if it blows the chances are whoever comes from SSE will most likely fit an 80a replacement.

Tell the client the costs and let them make the decision, and tell them to keep a big pack of Hobnobs on standby just in case SSE have to come, might even get a 100a for that.
 
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i was talking to some contractors from SSE who recently came out for a pme enquiry and they said company policy was to change 60a free of charge if they do go so i would leave well alone.
 
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Wow such a lot of responses. Thanks. All confirming my own opinion really.

What I was trying to do was cover myself for the question Mr NICEIC might inevitably ask me. I was hoping to have a robust response up my sleeve.

As TopCat says:

"If asked by NICEIC inspector what method did you use for working out the estimated load say "the common sense method", you may even get a smile!

If I can "pass" an inspection under this sort of hand-waving policy than that's fine by me. It's not the way we've been taught to behave but I do see how classroom and reality are not always the same thing.

I'll give SSE a call anyway and ask if they'll l get me an 80A fuse for free, no harm, asking.

Rgds
 
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1Justin said:
My customer needs bigger than 60A supply. Currently BS1361 60A. 4 bedroom house, 4 kids, new circuits..

Before I started in the place it came up at 72A (with diversity), and after my 2 new circuits I am 79A (with diversity). PME, nice condition, modern supply cable, Ze 0.27 so should be able to take 80A fuse).

Given the additions, however I look at it and use diversity I need 80A.

Since I'll be inspected on this job (Mr NICEIC etc), I am sure this needs to be shown to be all ticked off OK. The quote from SSE is £131.42+VAT to upgrade the fuse. Surely all they are likely to do is confirm Ze, check the supply cable and earthing conductor, and change the fuse. (modern cable and 16mm main earthing conductor).

Is this a typical quote? I haven't told the customer yet but he's not going to like it given that in his eyes he gets nothing for it.

Is someone here now going to tell me that they just change the fuse anyway without informing DNO? DNO never seem know what the fuse rating is anyhow when I've asked them before.

Justin
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they have installed this BS1361 60A either because they didnt have an 80A on the van or they did it knowing more money again for company in years to come YOU CHANGE IT to 80A £40 you say its got a modern supply cable same as any other.
"just put my tin hat on" :army:
and yeh DNO wont like it cause they havnt got there £131.42 +vat
 
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sedgy34 said:
they have installed this BS1361 60A either because they didn't have an 80A on the van or they did it knowing more money again for company in years to come YOU CHANGE IT to 80A £40 you say its got a modern supply cable same as any other.
"just put my tin hat on" :army:
and ye DNO wont like it cause they haven't got there £131.42 +vat
Click to expand...


There's a more than good chance that, that 60A BS1361 fuse has been sitting in that service head cut-out since the 50's or 60's, long before 80A fuses became the norm!!!

As for changing it yourself, ...well, your the same guy that liked the idea, that you can convert your service head to PME yourself!!! ...Enough said!!!
 
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As E54 has said, that fuse will probably have been there since the service was installed in the 50's, the service cable may well only be an 0.0225" service so don't get dropping a 100a in
 
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Had similar issues as you the other day apart from it was a 7.5kW supply. Was told by the DNO system planner that everybody has a 'right' to a 15kW supply but their standard supply is 80A.
Two guys came out on Monday and altered the cutout position and meter positions, fitted a four pole isolator (econ 7), upgraded cutout to 80A and was told that the max charge would be around £70 if they bothered to charge!
The DNO's do know what fuses are fitted and do know what the earthing systems employed are at individual properties. They will come out a couple of times to change the cutout fuse free of charge before they suggest you apply for a supply upgrade.
Personally I think the dangers of peeing off the local DNO boys by unauthorised alterations far outweighs the benefits gained from keeping them sweet
 
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mharries1 said:
Had similar issues as you the other day apart from it was a 7.5kW supply. Was told by the DNO system planner that everybody has a 'right' to a 15kW supply but their standard supply is 80A.
Two guys came out on Monday and altered the cutout position and meter positions, fitted a four pole isolator (econ 7), upgraded cutout to 80A and was told that the max charge would be around £70 if they bothered to charge!
The DNO's do know what fuses are fitted and do know what the earthing systems employed are at individual properties. They will come out a couple of times to change the cutout fuse free of charge before they suggest you apply for a supply upgrade.
Personally I think the dangers of peeing off the local DNO boys by unauthorised alterations far outweighs the benefits gained from keeping them sweet
Click to expand...

Which DNO was that?
 
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I just spoke to SSE DNO.

Up till April they charged nothing for this.

Since April thay are charging £131.42 + VAT. Apparently they change the cut-out also and this with two blokes and call out and 1.5 hours is where they get the cost.

Shame I didn't do it three weeks ago.
 
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Hi Diilb. Sorry yes I've read the lot, and I wholeheartedly agree. Perhaps I wasn't being obvious there.

Point I was just making is if it were still free, then I'd have got it done. As it turns out I'll write a note on the EIC as a recommendation, and leave it at that.

Thanks for all the comments.
 
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i tested a bungalow on tuesday as was all upgraded and they division of circuits was at its best and my diversity came out at 170A @ multyplying by .4. but look there was 4 sockets on kitchen ring , the bell had its own 6A all aplliances at its own 16A .. never gonna pull that. nearly 16 circuits and best of all the ze was 213 ohms added another rd and got it down to 160 ohms
 
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poppypiesdad said:
With a hook up form the stair lighting in the close . :)

Jamie
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The wee gas torch they carry in their van
I was doing a C.U. change in the middle of nowhere n the guy asked if I wanted a coffee Said to him give me 5 mins Ill stich my temp board on ( haddnt bothered with it at start) he said s ok n fired up wee gas stove then said If we run out of gas we can fire the genny up 1 double socket in kitchen marked up "SUPPLIED FROM GENNY" it was the behind the middle of nowhere along the road from the BackOf Beyond so they were use to power cuts
 
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When I was cable jointing, the compound bucket would get shoved to one side when it was brew time / breakfast time / diner time. Well any time really.
We could be miles from anywhere in the middle of a field, I could guarantee our foreman would show up when the frying pan went on.
 
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1Justin

1Justin

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If you're a qualified, trainee, or retired electrician - Which country is it that your work will be / is / was aimed at?
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Supply fuse - quote to change.
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