Main Earth Terminal

[Adrian80]

I Have a big earth wire going into the service head with the neutral and a couple of loose strands stuffed in the side which connect to the old CU.

However i have a new CU located somewhere else with a 16mm Earth supplying it. There is no way that a 16mm earth will be squashed into the service head with the main earth.

I am wondering what to do? Is it best to connect the main earth to a nickel plated block then run a single 16mm earth into the service head(with the neutral), and then connect my other 16mm earths to this block?

or should i get the electric company out to provide me with a proper MET that i can connect into.

I am also not sure is via the neutral and the big earth wire is supplementary, or is infact the only earth

Cheers
Adrian

 

[Spark123]

Normal practice is to have a 16mm cable from the head to a MET (earthing conductor), then connect all the protective conductors to there.

As the head is property of the DNO only they should connect anything to it.

 

[Adrian80]

thanks spark123 ,So are you saying i should get the dno out to provide me with a proper earth that i can connect everything to?

Cheers
A

 

[Spark123]

Possibly, I don't like the sound of the piece of wire stuffed in with the neutral. Can you upload some photos?

 

[Adrian80]

Unfortunately i have no phone or camera with a photo, lost the last phone off a ladder, didnt bounce to well, and no parachute fitted as standard

I have tried to sketch something up instead.

Inside the head is one big connecting block....

Untitled

• Adrian80
• 27 Apr 2009
• 1

hope this helps.

Cheers

 

[Adrian80]

what i was thinking was something like this.

Untitled

• Adrian80
• 27 Apr 2009
• 1

???

Seems better than a couple of threads stuffed in the side.

cheers
a

 

[Spark123]

Not sure without a piccy of the cutout - when the earth and neutral are combined at the cutout it is a TN-CS supply which needs to be sized correctly, you then have a wire heading away? Can you do the earths in green!

 

[Adrian80]

Apologies colours now corrected.

Untitled

• Adrian80
• 27 Apr 2009
• 1

The idea was there is no room in the service head to get two wires, so take the seperate earth cable ( coming from the ground). Stick that into a earth block.

www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/59/p1678259_l.jpg

Then put a 16mm earth into the service head and back to the block. And then connect any other earths to the block..

the earth and neutral are connected in the cut out.

sorry about the lack of photos.

A

 

[Spark123]

Hmmmm - is beginning to sound like TT with a DIY TN-CS conversion.
Firstly you need to determine wether or not your electricity supply is safe for use as a TN-CS - you'll need to contact your DNO.

 

[Adrian80]

Cheers sparks, will get onto them.

I had the DNO round to change the meter, he kind of shrugged his shoulders and said it was fine.

will get them back round for a closer look.

Cheers
A

 

[Adrian80]

Hi Spark123,

Just to let you know, i contacted my DNO, and they have said that i am on a loop supply. And the advised to remove the earth from the neutral, as if their neutral fails everybody on the loop will be trying to use me earth as a neutral.

Another possible arrangement for the wiki.

So as you said a diy bodge..

Cheers A.

 

[bongos]

Just to let you know, i contacted my DNO, and they have said that i am on a loop supply. And the advised to remove the earth from the neutral, as if their neutral fails everybody on the loop will be trying to use me earth as a neutral.

I hope they sent someone out to have a look.

 

[Adrian80]

Did they eck..... Started off with some bird on the phone, then she didnt get it, so got a man on the job, who said it was in a loop, and they wouldnt upgrade the supply to PME unless everyone on the loop upgraded the supply.

And there is no way thats going to happen. The two people on the same loop are retired, and i dont think they are going to start digging up their floors for something that has been working for the last 50- years.

so it looks like the earth spike is going to have to do....

A

 

[bongos]

Sounds like you've been fobbed off! It's plausible that the bloke on the phone knew how your service head is installed but not that llikely. I'm suprised he told you to start removing cables though.

 

[Adrian80]

So what do you reckon i should do? force them to send someone out?

A