An interesting read

[EFLImpudence]

The black cable definitely is on the 'fused' side of cut-out. There is no way through - just a chunk of metal at the top and bottom.
If it went into the bottom of the cut-out the bare Neutral would be covered by the box.

That's why I was concerned about it. If it were not protected by the fuse it would need its own switch fuse.

It seems the DNOs can do whatever they like.

 

[JohnW2]

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So did I - and the OP said a few message back that he thinks that one of them is probably the shower feed (which seems reasonable - or maybe a cooker circuit), and I would guess that the other one is probably some other final circuit.

Kind Regards, John.

 

[JohnW2]

The black cable definitely is on the 'fused' side of cut-out. There is no way through - just a chunk of metal at the top and bottom. If it went into the bottom of the cut-out the bare Neutral would be covered by the box.

Thanks for confirming - as I said, that's what I thought. So what do you think about two properties having only an 80A fuise for their combined supply?

That's why I was concerned about it. If it were not protected by the fuse it would need its own switch fuse.

Even with straight con? In any event, as you go on to say, it seems that DNOs are essentially a law unto themselves. Just because they would probably insist on protection of meter tails >3m in length doesn't necessarily mean that they wouldn't allow themselves long feeds to neighbouring properties without protection!

Kind Regards, John.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

the black cabled feed to next door was re-terminated on Mon as it was disconnected it for testing etc.

You missed a good cat-pigeons tactical opportunity there.

You could have refused to let them reconnect it, on the grounds that it represents a hazard to you.

 

[EFLImpudence]

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So did I -

Right, I should get some new specs. I thought they looked like more tails.

 

[matt1e]

Hands up anyone who would like to claim that there could be no way that what happened was simply that the builder used a bunch of incompetent numpty electricians who wired everything as TN-C-S because they were incompetent numpties?

Oh my hands are down by my ankles........
It's a definate possibility!
and as I recall even in the 70's when I was an apprentice, NEEB (our local electricity board then) always stuck a PME warning label at the cutout position
don't suppose there is any signs of any stickers anywhere is there andrew?
of course it might have been different around your neck of the woods

 

[JohnW2]

Right, I should get some new specs. I thought they looked like more tails.

Well, it's certainly not crystal clear, because of shadows. If they were sheathed singles, I think they'd have to be 10mm ², since they're appreciably smaller than the tails from meter, which look as if they're probably 16mm² (and the feed to the meter probably 25mm²).

Andrew, can you confirm that the two cables (the front one of which is definitely grey) that go upwards from the bottom right hand corner of the CU are 'flat' cables, and not round ones?

Kind Regards, John.

 

[EFLImpudence]

So what do you think about two properties having only an 80A fuise for their combined supply

On the one hand - electrically it may be alright but very inconvenient.

On the other - going by the pictures of Gran's house, does next door also have an 80A fuse or is there a lesser rated one in each of the 'second' houses?
We shall be charitable and assume it has a 60A otherwise it's never going to 'blow' first is it?

Another gripe about the DNO - why don't they label with what is actually inside the cut-out?
Frequently flats are supplied in 10mm² T+E and the cut-out is labelled 100A. If you enquire from the supplier; the response is "That's alright, it'll be a 60 inside". Well, why the hell isn't it 60 outside?

P.s. Why do I get a wiggly red line under 'labelled'? How do the Yanks spell it?

 

[JohnW2]

On the one hand - electrically it may be alright but very inconvenient.

Maybe 'electrically OK', but pretty marginal I would have thought.

On the other - going by the pictures of Gran's house, does next door also have an 80A fuse or is there a lesser rated one in each of the 'second' houses? We shall be charitable and assume it has a 60A otherwise it's never going to 'blow' first is it?

There's a bit of pot luck involved, isn't there? If both were 80A and 'the first house' was drawing little current, then if the 'second house' drew a large current (e.g. due to a fault), I imagine it would be pot luck as to which of the 80A fuses (or both) operated first.

Another gripe about the DNO - why don't they label with what is actually inside the cut-out?

Quite!

P.s. Why do I get a wiggly red line under 'labelled'? How do the Yanks spell it?

Goodness knows. The only possibility I can think of is that they only have one 'l' in the middle - or maybe (a bit like DNOs with fuses!) they don't label anything, and therefore don't have a word for it

Kind Regards, John.

 

[andrew1210]

Hello, been out just back in, the grey is definately flat grey PVC T&E and I am sure it is the shower feed and that is why it's not exiting behind the CU ad it was upgraded 8 years ago when we got a new, higher powered shower.

The white wire however is white rounded T&E.... I *think* this is the feed for the front door light although don't want to pull of the plasterboard to find out!

Thanks again everyone, God help this engineer coming on Friday to fit the voltage monitor, I'm going to bombard him with all these questions and put my foot down about the state of that neutral! I will also ask about the size of my service fuse and ask why it also takes next doors currrent.....

I wonder if he'll reply it's a flat headed steel wood nail fuse in use???? tbh this wouldn't surprise me in the least

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Oh my hands are down by my ankles........

What a gruesome image...

 

[andrew1210]

@matt1e

There is deffinately no "Warning PME in use" etc etc warning stickers about on any of 5 houses I've checked up here!

This only furthers my doubts of PME and my worry that we're all wired incorrectly, you would think Scottish Power would know though grrrrrr

 

[andrew1210]

Hi everyone, SP engineer out this morning, heres how it currently looks.

View media item 35691

then he asks where the transformer is as he's to fit one there.... we point to it.... "no I can't fit one there, they didn't tell me it was 30ft up in the air . . ."

so.... we're left with this big bag with another voltage monitor in it and a linesman is coming to fit later. . . hmmmm, why do I bother? [/img]

 

[andrew1210]

Hello, just an observation I made that may or may not be helpful regarding to TT or PME dilemma.

I was at my grans house yesterday, who has the power pole in her garden, there is the 'thick' 3 phase cable running down the side of the pole heading underground to the relative houses BUT i noticed a much thinner GREEN earth wire (although faded) running alongside this and disappearing into the gorund. Does this help make it any clearer?

This appears to be joined to the bottom most line on the pole.

Strangely, this is the only pole in the area I can find that has this green wire running down the pole.

 

[radioredcat]

Did the linesman fit the recorder and how long are they going to test it for.


Andy