Between Sub-Station And Our Properties

[Invisible-Man]

Just a query really, is it not a danger and indeed the most vunerable part of your electricity if the main supply cable from the overhead wire to your home is say 25mm or maybe 35mm and runs around your facia board etc before entering your home and is only protected by say a 400amp fuse at the sub-station, is this not a fire hazard!

i'm just thinking with all these regulations, the most dangerous part is the part that you don't have any say in, especially dangerous as it runs round wooden parts of your property before entering!

 

[Spark123]

Everything up to your meter comes under the ESQCR regs, http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/uksi_20022665_en.pdf

 

[Adam_151]

Its likely to be even smaller than that, like 16mm², I beleive they consider it an acceptable risk because its not likely to be damaged becuase you can see it (they don't like it when you bury it under render!) and they don't run it through the house, the service fuse stops it being overloaded, in terms of short circuit protection...in the case of bolted fault, the 400A fuse will blow, it might get a tad warm in the process though! (cable might have to be replaced )and anything less than a bolted fault is blown clear

 

[Invisible-Man]

Its likely to be even smaller than that, like 16mm², I beleive they consider it an acceptable risk because its not likely to be damaged becuase you can see it (they don't like it when you bury it under render!) and they don't run it through the house, the service fuse stops it being overloaded, in terms of short circuit protection...in the case of bolted fault, the 400A fuse will blow, it might get a tad warm in the process though! (cable might have to be replaced )and anything less than a bolted fault is blown clear

Hmmmmmm

 

[kai]

This is what happens when a fault develops in a service cable...

When an old lead covered cable failed, it blew a hole in the pavement, and yes the substation fuses actually operated - so people actually lost their power!

Be careful when walking over someone's service cable is the saying...

 

[breezer]

I wasnt there at the time, but i have seen a house ( days later) where by very heavy raid got into the incoming cable and acording to accounts yes they do go with a big bang

but i suspect, not as good as this

 

[Invisible-Man]

I wasnt there at the time, but i have seen a house ( days later) where by very heavy raid got into the incoming cable and acording to accounts yes they do go with a big bang

but i suspect, not as good as this

Who did the raiding, and how did they get into the incoming cable!

LOL

 

[Softus]

...is this not a fire hazard!

Surely a fire hazard is something that is at risk of reaching a temperature at which it will start to burn?

I don't see how an electricity supply being near some wood constitutes such a hazard, but I'd love to hear an explanation that shows the flaw in my thinking.

 

[JohnD]

A case cropped up when I was in Ipswich, an overhead supply ran down the outside of a shop/post office and had been rendered over

Someone fixing a shop sign, hanging basket or something put a drill through the hidden cable through the render.

Apparently it was quite spectacular and fiery until the drill and conductors burnt away and lost contact.

 

[securespark]

A case cropped up when I was in Ipswich

So...you've been to Ipswich then?

Do you think you ought to talk to the Police?

 

[JohnD]

Surely I mentioned that my office was in Russell Road, behind the football stadium and next to Portman's Walk where the girls work?

http://uk2.multimap.com/map/photo.c...zm=0&scale=5000&multimap.x=297&multimap.y=239

Funnily enough I later worked in Russell Way, Crawley, close to the sports ground, in a similar job and with some of the same people, but for an entirely different company.

http://uk2.multimap.com/map/photo.c...ridn=136494.498977904&lang=&db=GB&coordsys=gb

I wonder if anyone knows (or cares) why?

 

[Invisible-Man]

...is this not a fire hazard!

Surely a fire hazard is something that is at risk of reaching a temperature at which it will start to burn?

I don't see how an electricity supply being near some wood constitutes such a hazard, but I'd love to hear an explanation that shows the flaw in my thinking.

Hmmmm lets think, what about birds nests

 

[Pensdown]

Go on then JD, I'm up for the challenge but I need a few clues

Were you one of the CEGB/LEB/SEB nomads?

 

[JohnD]

None of the above (I don't know what SEB is/was) but you're very warm.

p.s. And eventually Bartons Road, Havant.

 

[Pensdown]

Was you a civil servant working in the Civic Hall in Ipswich and then the Pay Masters Office in Crawley?


PS. The SEB was the South Eastern Electricity Board