Picture of the week!™

[RF Lighting]

Well folks, it's been a while, but here you go!

I had a cutout moved from the kitchen inside a domestic property to a new meter cabinet mounted outside on the property.

The cutout was an old BS3036 cast iron 30A type, and it has been replaced.

 

[ColJack]

are we supposed to be spotting a fault?

wrong colour tails to the meter for a start?
earth clamp to provide an earth?

 

[mattylad]

Yes, wrong sort of earth clamp used there?

no seal on the main fuse.

Ugly person holding camera

 

[333rocky333]

No Do not remove label on the earth clamp either.

 

[BS3036]

What does it look like just underneath the box (vertically)?

 

[securespark]

The cutout is not sealed. The EC14 clamp is a no-no and as has been said, there is no label.

And it looks like someone has done my favourite trick on not clamping all the strands of the conductor behind the screw.

AND it looks like they've been really brave and resited the original cable too...rather them than me!!

 

[ColJack]

you have to do that on stranded cable of that kind of diameter.. for 2 reasons..
1.it stops the strands from splaying too far and ripping the insulation
2. to ensure the same number of strands under each side of the screw for an even pressure on the strands. ( you'd have 4 on one side, 3 on the other )

 

[conny]

Latch 'hole' on right handside compromises the IP rating.
Incoming cable entry rather large, again,compromising IP rating and also large enough to allow a rat in there!

 

[securespark]

you have to do that on stranded cable of that kind of diameter.. for 2 reasons..
1.it stops the strands from splaying too far and ripping the insulation
2. to ensure the same number of strands under each side of the screw for an even pressure on the strands. ( you'd have 4 on one side, 3 on the other )

I have to disagree Col. To combat both your reasons, you could crimp a ring terminal onto the cable.

Although I've not had a problem. Now, I crimp terminals onto all my bonding conductors. But in the past I have fitted such cable to clamps by splitting them 4/3 and shaping them into a Y before terminating. Then, as I tighten the screw, I close up the clamps "jaws" with pliers. This stops the conductor from moving as you tighten up the screw terminal.

 

[ColJack]

you can yes, but in the absence of suitable crimps, that's how we were taught at college..

ideally you would wrap the wire in a U shape round the screw.. but with the larger sizes they sometimes don't fit..

 

[Lectrician]

I am surprised they did provide the new service with a new cable jointed UG. Did they litterally swing the cable to that position?

 

[RF Lighting]

The service came in under the house, and up into the kitchen.

They just pulled it back under the floor, and shoved it up the cavity into the meter box. All whilst the cable was live of course

 

[securespark]

So, go on, what's wrong?

 

[Steve]

So, go on, what's wrong?

Several minor faults! Nothing serious though.

 

[Lectrician]

The service came in under the house, and up into the kitchen.

They just pulled it back under the floor, and shoved it up the cavity into the meter box. All whilst the cable was live of course

They would never do it like that in my area.

They would joint it underground into a concentric cable, or possibly a split concentric, and would have replaced the rather old looking service head too!

I would hazard a guess this job was subbed out by the DNO a utilities firm?