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It is difficult to enlarge existing downlight holes, using a padsaw is one method and very messy, usually leaving a result as you have described. There is a nifty trick, with some holesaws, that you can put the one hole saw inside the other, using the smaller one as a guide in the existing hole...

Just to clarify it was Western Power removing the teleswitch that caused the issues!

I had a job where the dno had removed a teleswitch, during a service move, the meter operator later came to fit a new meter and the missing teleswitch did cause some issues, a lot of time wasting and rearranged appointments. They did take some convincing that the DNO removed it, and thought that...

Yes you are correct, though i seem to remember there are more blue cores than bare

That particular meter also has a built in isolator, there are two covers, one for the tails from the cutout which is usually sealed, then a second cover over the consumers tails, which has an isolator under it too!

Looks like a repo, the bills not been paid so DNO and energy provider have taken measures to put new supply in externally. Either so they can gain access to their prepayment meter, of the supply has been disconnected and it has been recently reinstated

I’ve seen split con used lots, and have installed it myself a number of times. As it isn’t armoured it has to be treated as twin and earth. I have used it for submains myself many times, either clipped direct or on tray Straight con can only be used for combined neutral and earth which is...

Yes, well it was obviously done by someone who shouldn’t have done it, they obviously didn’t feel confident doing too much with a cable still connected to the mains

Also, note how the outgoing split con has heat shrink or sleeving on the neutrals and earths, and not on the incoming. Would have probably been a bit too risky for whoever changed it live to sleeve the cable.

I’m going to throw a wild guess out there, that the cutout and meter may have been moved by someone other than the DNO. The original cutout is the one that’s now in the cupboard and someone has fitted something old back in the original position. Look at the size of the markings on the original...

I think that is the best option. They can see what we can’t and make a decision based on that. Yes I did mean putting junction boxes at suitable points to connect new to old, and then making note of the location on the consumer unit or something for future reference. With regards the other...

Fair point, I tend to think from a point of future proofing when I look at a job. Probably a better choice of words would be to improve the installation whilst the opportunity was there, as cables and junction boxes draped under suspended floors is hardly best practice. It is quite amazing...

I suppose the other option is to replace all the cables where you have the boards up and either take them back to a suitable place and make a note, on the consumer unit or something to make things easier in the future

That would depend on how it’s installed. I have actually yet to see even old pvc fail, well in the same way say a VIR cable would. The only I’ve seen that is potentially problematic is the 1960s stuff with the green goo. A cable installed draped on damp rubble is going to have less of a lifespan...

The simple way to look at it is, it may be a bit more cost and time now, but far less cost and inconvenience than when it reaches the end of its life or develops a fault later on down the line, and you have to disturb your flooring and decoration to get at it. I would do it all now, clip all...

Don’t go around telling too many people that you’re two inches short!

I have done this before, on conversions from night storage heaters to electric radiators, I usually leave the 5th wire terminated in a Henley block, the meter operator later changing the meter, though in a lot of cases they don’t, they change the tariff and then just meter both day and night...

So I’m confused, they shouldn’t need to turn off the electricity supply if they are just changing the gas meter. Are you sure they don’t need to turn off the gas supply for two hours?

The national grid operates lots of little power stations (diesel back ups or in the case of electric mountain, hyroelectric) which they call STOR (short term operating reserve) which can be brought on quickly and be up to capacity within 15 minutes to supplement generation. I believe it takes a...

What time is that? Fuse isn’t working in the clock!