What isolator switch do I need?

[Deleted member 54734]

Reading it back I can see what you mean John

they said that I have to actually get an electrician to fit one and they are just going to cut the power between 8 and 1n and put it back on between 1 and 5.

But I also know that BG (or company's working on behalf) do fit isolators.

So why would they send a man twice in one day when he could fit it when he turned up the first time?

10min job?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Iwent from this:
http://photos.imageevent.com/sidand...rgashpiccys/large/METER SERVICE HEAD REV1.JPG

to this:

How come both outgoing tails from the DP isolator are marked "L"?

to finally this:

How come you have two tails going into the DP isolator, but only one coming out?

 

[Deleted member 54734]

Ones the OFF PEAK live, the other the 24hr live.

Must admit I would have fitted a 3pole so the neutral was switched too.

That way it's all separated supplier one side customer the other.

Looks like the customer had their Off peak installation removed in the 2nd pic.

 

[Scud]

I work for Dataserve, so can shed some light on this. The concept of the two/three/four pole isolator with a sealed top end came about many years ago and was partly so move rsponisbility for testing installations back to the contractor. Prior to that, any new/ additional installations had to be tested and connected by the supplier. The isolator has a seal at the top, so that the contractor can switch off and open the bottom end to make/change/remove connections. Up until recently, suppliers did not charge for installing this device, but I believe this may have changed. If you want one fitted now, for example to facilitate a change of or addition to your wiring, I think there might now be a charge, but I'm not 100% certain about that.

 

[kwikfix328]

How come both outgoing tails from the DP isolator are marked "L"?

The Dataserve guy marked them Domestic 24 hr & Heating in pen , just below the isolator 'L' stickers.

How come you have two tails going into the DP isolator, but only one coming out?

I did have Economy 7 storage heaters and immersion heater. The tail on the RH went to a dedicated economy 7 CU with radials for the electric storage heaters and possibly the immersion heater. These have all been removed from the house after Gas CH installation, so sparky removed the CU and isolated all of the Circuits.

The LH tail went to a 24 hour domestic CU with all of my other house circuits on it. He replaced this for a more modern split load CU and again isolated any obsolete circuits (all Heating and water again )

The Neutral from the service head went to the Econ 7 CU, the neutral from the meter went to the 24 Hr CU, but he admitted that he wasn't sure if it would have an effect on the new digital meter , so rather than fitting the Econ 7 Neutral into the new Neutral block, he installed a new henley block ( the black one) and terminated it there.

I now just have one Live feed and one Neutral going into one split load CU.
the Low rate meter readings still go up though so i presume I'm getting some Economy 7 lecky at night...

 

[Deleted member 54734]

I work for Dataserve, so can shed some light on this.

Boss.....

Kwikfix,

Your low rate reading will still advance as all your house will be using the low rate at the specific times.

Set that washer to come on at 3am, you might not be able to sleep but you'll save you a couple of quid.

 

[emphasis303]

ok so im waiting from 8am untill about 1230pm when I begin to think this guy is not showing.

I ring BG, after 20mins of waiting I speak to someone who gives the siemens engineer a call who should be coming out, I wait on the line and she comes back to tell me that BG have it logged on their system but its not on siemens system so he wont be coming today. ARGGGHH!

So I decided to play the cool calm n collective game and she gives them a call back to find out when they can come out, they said friday but I might be able to get a 2 hour slot instead of waiting 5 hours but would call me later on to confirm.

She called me once, I missed the call, she then called me a few hours later saying friday again between 8 and 1 for the deenergizing and 1 untill 5 for the reenergizing.

I was so tempted to break the seals and pull the fuse but I thought patience might be a virtue.

She also told me that on the notes of my call it is down as fitting an isolator switch, however they dont fit them they just cut the power and that I will have to get an electrician, I assured her I was aware of this and the spark would come as soon as the siemens chap left.

So all in all, a waste of time not to mention I paid £30 for this job and did insist on my money back but to no avail.

I will keep you informed and update with pics once the job is done.

thank u once again

 

[securespark]

AFAICT BG do arrange isolators.

At least, I have seen them getting fitted on jobs I have done. BG themselves don't do them, the DNO does.

BUT, in my areas at least, some DNO's do not fit iso's but only de-re-energise.

 

[consumer done over]

ok so im waiting from 8am untill about 1230pm when I begin to think this guy is not showing.

how long ago did you book the appointment?

I understand why sparks and even the odd dyer pull the fuse.
Why put up with this bullshit, having to take a day off work for some muppet not to show up.
If I ever need to pull the fuse i'm not even going to bother ringing up, if the spark is happy he can pull it himself.

 

[Deleted member 54734]

I know of a scottish DNO that would send you some money for a missed appointment

And if you kicked off enough they'd have somebody there next morning.

Am I right in thinking you've paid 30 quid to have somebody cut the seal and seal it back up again?

 

[securespark]

As I point out countless times to folk, this is a free service.

You should only get charged if the company is fitting an isolator for you...

 

[emphasis303]

you see thats the problem.

When i rang them and paid, I specifically asked for an isolator switch change and the person even wrote this on the job description.

British gas are getting out siemens, is this usual?

What would you guys recommend, I think im going to ask to speak to who evers in charge for a refund on the grounds of missing an appointment and also changing the description of what their actually going to do.

Currently yes they are only coming round to cut the seals and pull the fuse then put it back, and only now its hit me when u say it like that.

cheers

 

[JohnD]

wait until the job is finished (to avoid muddying the waters)

Then phone cust service and ask them to send you their leaflet on compensation payments for missed appointments. Don't get into an discussion on the phone on what it was, is it their fault, etc. Just say you want the leaflet. If they say they haven't got one, or can't send it to you, say you will make a note of that and ask for the person's name. Don't get into an argument about it.

 

[emphasis303]

cheers for that, I did google it and came across this

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080406014959AAPPyGd

I will do as you said though, thanks