- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 45,892
- Reaction score
- 3,521
- Country
If you want to know the reasons, I suggest you ring your DNO and ask.
Or Ofgem, as they regulate the DNOs.
Or Ofgem, as they regulate the DNOs.
CLOSED - Moving main fuse and meter board
- Thread starter Entropy
- Start date
Other than 'out of curiosity', I have no reason for wanting to know, which is probably just as well, since I would be amazed if I could get a meaningful and sensible answer by calling them!
There's nothing any of us could do if they chose to 'enforce' their rules in relation to our own installation, or one that an electrician was working on. However, I strongly suspect that there are countless installations out there which violate the 'rule', without the DNO being remotely aware of that, In fact, whilst I certainly can't be bothered to measure them, I think that my 'tails', from isolator to switch fuses, are probably a bit over 3m long, but that doesn't concern me one jot
I hope we can agree that what matters most is safety, and from that point-of-view I think we can all sleep soundly, regardless of the length of meter tails that are protected only by the DNOs fuse.
They just make it easy for themselves and everybody else.
The DNO declares they are happy enough (all other things being correct) with 3 metres no more (or whatever their own rule is).
They will accept that as their responsibility, to a degree, and nothing more.
If you want longer tails then you must fuse it down adequately to protect the remainder of the tails and it matters not if your fuse is smaller, bigger, the same as theirs.
So thats it, one rule for everyone whether absurd or not, it is what it is and thats what it is, no argument allowed.
Without any caveats or codicils or whys or wherefores etc etc a one rule fits all for everyone, KISS simple as that.
Actually if we could make all things in life that simple it could make life easier, one rule, one law and no one allowed to bend it break it and thats it.
You could do away with the highway code etc etc.
Its when people start thinking it can (sometimes) cause problems, different people think different things, all may be valid or not valid or some are and others not.
Everything sold in shops must be one pound in weight (or 1Kg if you prefer) , oh it would make life simpler!
The DNO declares they are happy enough (all other things being correct) with 3 metres no more (or whatever their own rule is).
They will accept that as their responsibility, to a degree, and nothing more.
If you want longer tails then you must fuse it down adequately to protect the remainder of the tails and it matters not if your fuse is smaller, bigger, the same as theirs.
So thats it, one rule for everyone whether absurd or not, it is what it is and thats what it is, no argument allowed.
Without any caveats or codicils or whys or wherefores etc etc a one rule fits all for everyone, KISS simple as that.
Actually if we could make all things in life that simple it could make life easier, one rule, one law and no one allowed to bend it break it and thats it.
You could do away with the highway code etc etc.
Its when people start thinking it can (sometimes) cause problems, different people think different things, all may be valid or not valid or some are and others not.
Everything sold in shops must be one pound in weight (or 1Kg if you prefer) , oh it would make life simpler!
- Joined
- 11 Jan 2004
- Messages
- 45,892
- Reaction score
- 3,521
- Country
It might get very expensive when buying saffron.....
I don't think it's quite as simple as that. If, for some crazy reason, they decided that they were only happy for their fuse to be protecting 3m of tails, they could simply say that they were 'only responsible for' the first 3m of the tails. As has been suggested, one can but imagine that they are probably trying to minimise the risk of their fuse operating - but that (tiny) risk will be there regardless of the length of the tails.
What you've actually written obviously is not correct, since having a downstream fuse which was "the same or higher" in rating than the DNO's fuse would obviously not constitute "fusing down". However, as I've said, an additional silliness is that I've never seen or heard of them trying to enforce a requirement relating to the rating of the customer's downstream fuse - their only 'requirement' seemingly be that there should be 'a fuse'! As I've said, my 80A fuses downstream of their 60A ones is one example!
Kind Regards, John
We know that and they know that but their blanket 3M and no more gives them an air of superiority about themselves, anyway if the tails are 6m long they are only in anyway if ever at all be held to account for half of it if they can not otherwise wiggle put of it, and yes of course they will wiggle out of anything and prove it was only your bit that caught fire thereby igniting their bit anyway.
They are god in their own heaven for goodness sake
.Do not dream of silliness not coming into it, they make the rules, but you know that John
Stop applying common sense, it will not work!
But the DNO do not accept responsibility for any part of the instalation after the meter, not even the bit between the meter and the isolator when fitted by the energy provider.We know that and they know that but their blanket 3M and no more gives them an air of superiority about themselves, anyway if the tails are 6m long they are only in anyway if ever at all be held to account for half of it if they can not otherwise wiggle put of it, and yes of course they will wiggle out of anything and prove it was only your bit that caught fire thereby igniting their bit anyway.
They are god in their own heaven for goodness sake
Do not dream of silliness not coming into it, they make the rules, but you know that John
Stop applying common sense, it will not work!
EDIT: Thinking about this does the DNO even accept responsibility for the tails before the meter?
When I was involved with an upgrade to 3ph it was made quite clear I had to provide all of the new tails, it was only by sheer luck I had some in the car from a couple of recent EICR CU replacements which were long enough to get to the isolator I also had to supply. Rather silly but the meter fitter was happy to use red and black with grey sheath where the existing were brown and blue. The before
Last edited:
I do know that, and I've certainly never suggested that there is no silliness involved!They are god in their own heaven for goodness sake
However, it rather annoys me that at organisation which denies responsibility for anything downstream of their cutout seeks to impose rules (whether sensible or not) about those very same things!
It works for me, and the attitude I take to the 'rule(s)' in question
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
