What capacity is this fuse?

[milliamp]

I was asked to look at installing a replacement shower recently, the customer said he was thinking of a 9.5kW unit. He wanted to know if the existing cable was up to the job, the (very) old unit was 7.2kW.
After checking the size of the existing cable I checked on the incoming service fuse size, strange but it did not have a current rating.

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• milliamp
• 9 May 2010
• 1

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• milliamp
• 9 May 2010
• 1

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[ColJack]

looks like a neutral to me..
is this a TT system?

there might be 2 fuseholders, one for the line, one for the neutral.

 

[Click-Sure]

Thats not a fuse, its a solid link, seen similar myself recently. And it shouldn't be there!

 

[Guitarguy]

Is that fuse in a cutout directly attached to the DNO network or does it go to a ryfield distribution unit or similar?

 

[Activ8]

Thats not a fuse, its a solid link, seen similar myself recently. And it shouldn't be there!

Pretty sure this may be true, and is not safe !! You might as well have an iron nail in there !!!

 

[milliamp]

The "fuse" was installed by the residential site owners. The supply cable is protected by a 63A MCB in a distribution cabinet about 25m from the property.
As you can see it is TN-C-S at the metering position.

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• milliamp
• 9 May 2010
• 1

 

[Guitarguy]

Thought so, it'll be a solid link then

 

[securespark]

Could be TN-S.

Until you expose the connection block, there's no way of knowing.

 

[RF Lighting]

Normally see a red fuse holder when a solid link is fitted.

 

[ricicle]

Could be TN-S.

Until you expose the connection block, there's no way of knowing.

Erm, Mr Secure this thread was nearly four years old !!

 

[OwainDIYer]

Could be TN-S.

Until you expose the connection block, there's no way of knowing.

"residential site owner", 25 metres from distribution box, and no supply co markings on the fuse or the meter suggest it's a private submeter on a 'park home' site

 

[JohnW2]

Could be TN-S. Until you expose the connection block, there's no way of knowing.

"residential site owner", 25 metres from distribution box, and no supply co markings on the fuse or the meter suggest it's a private submeter on a 'park home' site

It does suggest that. However, how common (and, indeed, for what reason) is it to install a service head and fuse adjacent to the submeter in that situation? - after all, the cable supplying it is presumably adequately fuse-protected at t'other end.

Kind Regards, John

 

[plugwash]

I can think of a couple of reasons to install an unfused service cut out.

1: to convert from whatever outdoor cable type you are using to meter tails suitable for connecting to the meter.
2: to provide a local point of isolation for the meter.

I'm sure there are other ways of acheiving both goals but if the install is being specified or installed by someone with a DNO background I can see how a service cut out could be the chosen soloution.

 

[JohnW2]

I can think of a couple of reasons to install an unfused service cut out.
1: to convert from whatever outdoor cable type you are using to meter tails suitable for connecting to the meter.
2: to provide a local point of isolation for the meter.
I'm sure there are other ways of acheiving both goals but if the install is being specified or installed by someone with a DNO background I can see how a service cut out could be the chosen soloution.

It's difficult to disagree with any of that, 'unusual' though it may be. Indeed, a 'DNO background' could possible explain a choice of cable type which, in turn, invoked your (1) - but let's just hope that it's not straight con!

Kind Regards, John

 

[RF Lighting]

Unless it's an unfeasibly large CSA cable, it's too big to be straight con.