Installing a contractor switch, including breaking the fuse seal
- Thread starter RTPS
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Please don't take offence at this but as your asking this question DO NOT touch the main fuse. This is only meant to be touched by the network operator, an electrician isn't even meant to touch it (though some do). It has security seals for a reason (or should anyway). Great care has to be taken when pulling main fuses which only trained persons should do with the right protective equipment and following a certain procedure. Pulling a fuse can be very dangerous as they don't always pull easily creating a very dangerous situation. Again DO NOT touch this.
If you need an isolator fitting then call your electrical provider and speak to them, if you had another reason to ask please give us some more details.
If you need an isolator fitting then call your electrical provider and speak to them, if you had another reason to ask please give us some more details.
Hello, thank you for that. Don't worry, i know not to remove them or tamper with them in any way. I know electrical contractors have certain engineers who are 'qualified' to remove the fuse, and re-seal. I am wondering what constitutes as qualified as i can't seem to find the information online.
Thanks again
Thanks again
Look at the web site for your Distribution Network Operator ( DNO ) who are the people who maintain the local electrical supply network upto and including the main fuse
http://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/electricity-distribution-map.html
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PPE required!
Actually this posed photo is not correct.
1. I am not sure if that fleece is flame retardant
2. He is planning to pull the main fuse with the load still connected, but you get the idea.
Indeed, although I have, in my limited experience, never seen that done. Certainly when my meter was changed two or three weeks ago, the chap was on a metal stepladder with absolutely no PPE - although he was careful to disconnect the loads before he pulled the fuses.
Kind Regards, John
Don't forget the over gloves to protect the insulating ones from being cut! A right pain to work with...
Whatever the DNO in that area consider to be "qualified", as they are the ones who give authorisation.
As above. Different DNOs have different rules.
My local DNO (SSE) have a procedure for the removal of seals in the cut out (NOTE not the meter itself) by members of certain CPS. Note that they allow the removal of the seal/fuse in an emergency by anybody. The procedure for routine work is interesting.
The whole document can be found here
Procedure for the removal and replacement of company cut-out seals ...
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I wouldn't do it (got a switch fitted for free by the energy supplier) but when he came he just turned off the cu, cut the seal, opened the metal door and pulled out the fuse carrier which had an actual fuse wire in it. He had no idea the rating but he said it's extremely old.
When the dno came to replace the whole 3 phase cutout, they did the same, the only ppe used was the 1kv gloves when they had one of the live cables exposed and waving about in their hand.
So what I'm saying is it's perfectly safe if you know what you're doing, and extremely dangerous otherwise!
When the dno came to replace the whole 3 phase cutout, they did the same, the only ppe used was the 1kv gloves when they had one of the live cables exposed and waving about in their hand.
So what I'm saying is it's perfectly safe if you know what you're doing, and extremely dangerous otherwise!
Different DNOs have different procedures. Mine had full PPE, a cover for the live conductor while it was disconnected, and a colleague watching in case of accidents.
I would imagine that they are probably much more vigilant (in relation to PPE etc.) when they are actually going to disconnect a live conductor. It's when they have just been 'pulling fuses' (to facilitate downstream work) that I have personally never seen PPE used.
Kind Regards, John
Yes, but the job they had arrived for was just to pull the fuse - they only disconnected the conductor to replace the fuse holder, which had been broken by a previous 'electrician' (he didn't want to break the seal, so broke the cover instead!)
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