Urgent help with domestic supply in my house

Baker1988

Baker1988

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Hello i was wondering if any one could help me i am doing my level 3 at college and have a bit of knowlege but not loads the problem is i woke up this morning and my electric wasnt working i checked the meter and every thing seems fine then i checked the db and it had power too it if i turn all the mcbs off and then turn the 6 amp lighting on the light will work if i tirn another light on the first light goes dim and so does the second light if i turn another one on every thing seems to go off like some sort ov voltage drop problem so i got my multi meter and checked how much voltage was coming in and it read 201 volts and then i turned one of the lights on and tested it on the incoming supple and it went down to 156 volts then i teturned another light on and tested it and it said 78 volts does any one know whats wrong any help would be great as i have never seen this happen before
 
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Have you tightened the Tails coming into the CU ? Did you check the voltage across the incoming tails ? If you did & the voltage is dropping coming into the CU then you may have bad connections at the Meter or Service head & thats a DNO repair. Unless you can safely isolate the system then you should'nt be touching anything, just remember that a Multimeter is'nt classed as proof of Safe isolation.
 
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as above. sounds like a loose connection on the supply side. isolate CU. measure volts across the incoming tails at the main switch. if below 230v, then measure L/E. if this is the same, then it's a fault on L. if it's higher, then yhe fault is on the N. loose tails is favorite. or even a poor connection to tghe busbar in the CU. check that the busbar is located correctly and not behind the back of the terminal/s on main switch and MCBs.
 
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Yes i checked the voltage accross the incoming tails and it was 201 volts i have checked if the tails coming into the board was loose and they was tight and i safely isolated the full supply by removing the 100 amp main bs 88 fuse before tightening any thing
 
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Hope you did'nt cut the DNO seal to do it:nono: if the drop is on the incoming side then you need to contact your DNO.
NO your too right you should'nt have bypassed the meter, more than 1 have been killed by doing things like that and there's absolutely no reason for it.

CALL THE DNO & learn your limitations before you kill yourself.
 
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I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem
 
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Baker1988 said:
I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem
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Sorry mate but people saying things like that, really wind me up. I've had to attend more than 1 inquest on people who've done silly things.
If your in rented accomodation, is it local authority ? if it is then you can ring them & get their Emergency engineer out, when they find it's a supply fault they can call the DNO & they've got more clout than you or me, it certainly sounds like you've got a supply problem. You also need to be aware that if the DNO have any inkling that you've been messing with their equipment they can disconnect your supply & take you to court for it.
 
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Baker1988 said:
I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem
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Rather strange that the DNO can't get anyone out till tomorrow on a supply fault

Are any of your neighbours having electric supply problems, it might be worth checking and call the DNO back to get someone out pronto
 
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Baker1988 said:
I know i shouldnt but i even by passed the meter entirely and put the tails directly into the consumer unit and it was the same
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1. Ohms law should have told you this was not required. If you see low volts at the supply side of the CU master switch and the switch is OFF then there is a DNO / meter supplier issue and you do not need to go any further. If you saw normal normal volts (252-216) which then dropped as you put more load on then you might have had a problem at the CU terminals, but you would have probably seen damage round the CU due to I2R heating.
2. Did you have to break the meter seals, let alone the DNO fuse cutout?

I would suggest that you call the emergency number for your DNO now, whilst there is some light (just!!)
 
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Baker1988 said:
I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem
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I do think that is Doggy Doo...... Phone them up and say the lights have now gone out.. That will get the moving.
 
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I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals
 
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Baker1988 said:
I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals
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No mate: Were not all saying you cut the Seals at all, we've all seen many that have'nt got any seals. The point were all trying to get across to you is that what you did was potentially Lethal & rather than talking to you we could have ended up reading your obituary in the paper, none of us wants to see another Sparky / Apprentice getting seriously injured or Killed & by giving you a -------ing we'll hopefully stop you doing it again. What you need to realise though, is that just bypassing the Meter leaves you open to Prosecution (Best say nothing to the DNO boys). By the way: what multimeter did you use ?
 
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Baker - don't fret man, by your own admission you know a little but not enough, so now you know some more - from the RIGHT side of meter is yours, from the left is theirs, and ne'er the two shall meet.
 
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I know everyone has already said this but cutting seals CAN be seen as a criminal offence, as in effect, you are tampering with equipment that does not belong to you, plus the fact that it can be dangerous pulling fuses as a lot of older ones can fall apart in your hands.

However, it sounds like the DNO have found the issue and are sorting it.

If they will let you, get some pics :D
 
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Baker1988 said:
I know but i test every thing before i touch it to make sure it is dead i wouldnt work live and i am not sure the exact model but its made by fluke it is my bosses that i had in my car
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Fluke are Damned good meters, but for proving safe Isolation you need to get yourself a nice GS38 rated 2 pole tester. (Nice late Christmas pressy:yesnod:) For day to day testing on most things that's all you need, buy 1 with a Continuity feature built in.
 
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Baker1988 said:
I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals
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Its not the seals thats the priority here...(or what may have wound a few up in here matey)......seals are just stickers and lead-crimped wire .....its your life mate that you are risking here...........
 
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Baker1988 said:
What do u mean "get some pics" do u mean of the work they will be doing out side cos they wont let me will they?
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If your takeing pictures in a Public place mate, i don't think they can stop you.
Go out & have a chat with them, tell them your an apprentice sparky & your interested in their job. You'd be surprised how most of them will open up to you.
It's those Metering boys you've got to watch out for, they're all crabby buggers:tounge_smile:
 
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Baker1988 said:
What do u mean "get some pics" do u mean of the work they will be doing out side cos they wont let me will they?
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and why wont they let you......if its on a public highway then they cant stop you can they.......the highway`s not their own personal property now is it and if they did stop you taking pics (from the edge of their working area/barrier of course)....then that would be an argument for yanking down all the speed cameras and spy cameras that are all over the place now wouldn`t it..?..
 
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Under the Designs, Patents and Copyrights Act 1988 it is not possible to copyright or protect a view from a public place unless you climb the barriers. But, if you photograph the operative in the course of his work without his permission then you can fall foul of Invasion of Privacy.

As has been said tell them you’re an apprentice and nine times out of ten they will be happy to let you watch and photograph. You’ll probably get a running commentary.
 
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Baker1988 said:
I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals
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no one cares you cut a seal,many have done it before, i have,so what,but the fact you bypassed the meter /fuse is frighting in the least from an experienced spark never mind a learner,the best way to find a fault if you dont have the knowledge is ask,not experiment.
 
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I recently watched a jointer doing a breach joint. He originally trained at the same place as me and by the same guy. We were laughing when he showed me the plastic cages used for separation and the mechanical connectors now used. Both he and I were taught to solder the cores. A joint or breach is so much quicker now, but the care and skill needed is still there.
Took me ages to get home with the little sidetrack.
 
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Go out & have a chat with them, tell them your an apprentice sparky & your interested in their job. You'd be surprised how most of them will open up to you.
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Await the sarcastic comments asking what you've been messing with in order to create that mess and call them out ;)

Make sure you supply the tea, coffee and biscuits and I'm sure you'll be in good favour :thumbsup
 
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lol...... i like how folk are more bothered about you cutting the seal on the meter rather than the fact that you bypassed the meter....... Quality!! By the way i cut the seals atleast once a week so i can remove the cut out fuse when replacing a consumer unit. Stops me from working live and blowing meself up. lol.
I wonder if your earthing system is pme and your neutral has blown off in the road and relying on the earth as neautral?
 
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Hi sorry for the late reply only just got my internet put back on they did come and fix the problem apparently they was a fault on the neutral wire. They put a tempery supply in for now they cam at around 6pm and the electric was back on by 10.30 pm they would not let me take any pictures but after i brought them a cup of tea they was happy to let me watch i found it very facinating they even talked me through a few thing that they was doing i have never seen a live jointing before and i must say i really enjoyed it. Thank you all for all your help thanks
 
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Not overly surprised that they wouldn't let you take pictures, some working practices are not always in accordance with their own rules! For example most do not wear their visors especially when it is raining as they cannot see out of them! Additionally you could scare the proverbial out of the jointer when your camera flash goes off!
My youngest works live on 11,000 volts, they will do a complete pole change live. To be honest just the thought of it scares me stupid, didn't help when he went on youtube over xmas and was showing us examples of flashovers
 
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Baker1988

Baker1988

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Kingston Upon Hull
If you're a qualified, trainee, or retired electrician - Which country is it that your work will be / is / was aimed at?
United Kingdom
What type of forum member are you?
Practising Electrician (Qualified - Domestic or Commercial etc)

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Urgent help with domestic supply in my house
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Domestic Electrician Forum
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