Mains Isolation

[unclebob1]

I've had some works done, where the electrician pulled the main fuse, and connected in a new fuse box off an existing Henley block.

There will be further works to remove the old fuse box once the first floor of the house has been refurbished, so will need to be able to isolate the henley block to remove redundant tails.

For info, i currently have three consumer units - one rewireable, one with mcb's and a main RCD in a plastic box, and the new one split RCD, with mcb's in a metal box.

In the future, i'll be looking at having the rewireable and plastic units removed and possibly a new metal one installed in another part of the house (loft).

I have called Npower to arrange to have the economy 7 meter removed and replaced with a standard one, question is will they install an isolator at the same time? Should i have one available so they can fit it? or would they fit their own? if i have one available is there a certain standard it must meet or is any mains (100A) isolator suitable?

 

[omega015]

Get them to fit one at the same time. Npower did for me a couple of years ago when swapping out the meter, cant recall if there was any charge or not though.

 

[unclebob1]

Did you ask before hand or ask the guy doing the swap?

 

[JohnW2]

Get them to fit one at the same time. Npower did for me a couple of years ago when swapping out the meter, cant recall if there was any charge or not though.

As I recently reported, I made the same request (to E.ON) when my meter was last changed (not the change this week, the previous time!). I even asked if they would like me to provide an appropriate isolator, but they said that would not be necessary.

There was no change, either for supplying or fitting the isolator. Mind you, they fitted a Proteus one (in an E.ON-branded enclosure), a bit more down-market than I would have supplied!

Kind Regards, John

 

[unclebob1]

As I recently reported, I made the same request (to E.ON) when my meter was last changed (not the change this week, the previous time!). I even asked if they would like me to provide an appropriate isolator, but they said that would not be necessary.

There was no change, either for supplying or fitting the isolator. Mind you, they fitted a Proteus one (in an E.ON-branded enclosure), a bit more down-market than I would have supplied!

Kind Regards, John

I'll give them a call and see if the installer can do the same while he/she is attending for the meter.

 

[JohnW2]

I'll give them a call and see if the installer can do the same while he/she is attending for the meter.

That's what I did and, as described above, there was no problem (or charge) at all.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

There was no change, either for supplying or fitting the isolator. Mind you, they fitted a Proteus one (in an E.ON-branded enclosure), a bit more down-market than I would have supplied!

Got one of those exact ones in the van. The WPD guys reckon the Proteus ones are actually not that bad, and on a par with the Wylex ones. I'm not a fan of the tiny 3mm hex terminals though.

 

[JohnW2]

Got one of those exact ones in the van. The WPD guys reckon the Proteus ones are actually not that bad, and on a par with the Wylex ones. I'm not a fan of the tiny 3mm hex terminals though.

Indeed - there's even a 'warning label' on mine about the 3mm hex terminal screws! ....

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

Indeed - there's even a 'warning label' on mine about the 3mm hex terminal screws! ....
View attachment 112008

Kind Regards, John

Yup. I think it's more so you don't go expecting to use a proper tool than how crap they are.

I have some decent Allen keys, but mostly everyone I know has broken at least one on those things.

Why it couldn't be 4/5/6mm I have no idea. 3mm is stupid

 

[JohnW2]

Yup. I think it's more so you don't go expecting to use a proper tool than how crap they are.

Of course - my tongue was in my cheek

Why it couldn't be 4/5/6mm I have no idea. 3mm is stupid

Quite so!

Kind Regards, John

 

[stillp]

Why it couldn't be 4/5/6mm I have no idea.

Too easy to over-torque them?

 

[Iggifer]

Too easy to over-torque them?

Good point. But I suppose easier to damage the screw head when it's only 3mm

 

[ban-all-sheds]

We haven't seen Mr Blobby for a while...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've had some works done, where the electrician pulled the main fuse, and connected in a new fuse box off an existing Henley block.

Did you not know at the time about all the other work to be done later?

 

[unclebob1]

Did you not know at the time about all the other work to be done later?

I do, but I can't afford to rip apart the first floor and stick a loft conversion on now, and the electrician (rightly) wouldn't put my old wiring in the new box as it's bodges beyond belief including my dimming first floor lights which I have found to have a break in all three conductors in the ring...