Worrying activities!

stevels4 · Nov 17, 2017

I had a call out today as the customer reported they had no E7 since their electrician replaced the DB.
Looking at the meter I questioned if they ever had E7 as the meter was a single rate 4 wire.
"We did have storage heaters but had them took out so the electrician removed the E7 DB, the associated wiring and the timer clock.
Well that would explain the loss of the E7 then!
Electrician has obviously removed the cut out fuse to do this work and replace the DB with a split load one as no isloator was fitted and the seals were missing..but not authorised to do so no doubt!
Also obviously replaced the load meter tails to the DB as these were new and again seals missing, in fact one of the meter terminal covers screws was missing...again another no no!
The customer also mentioned the same electrician had disconnected the existing TT arrangement and connected the earth to the neutral on a TNCS but the cut out was not labelled as PME....another no no!
Not particularly happy at this point so checked the NIC paperwork for the installation to see a ZE of 0.13ohms recorded so assume correct and within specification.
The cables into the new DB had mostly been extended to reach, I assume they were all tightly and safely crimped before being wrapped in grey insulation tape not heatshrink.
So apart from unauthorised removal of the cut out fuse, unauthorised opening of a whole current meter,theft of a metering time-switch and decidedly dodgy wiring methods it was a great job.
Apologies for the picture quality.

stevels4 · Nov 18, 2017

Another better quality photo.

stevels4 · Nov 18, 2017

The final one.

mhar · Nov 18, 2017

happyhippydad said:
He's upgraded the tails to 25mm which is a good thing.

Why is this a good thing? Unless the service fuse is 100A then it is completely unecessary.

stevels4 said:
I don't need to contact the DNO to remove a cut out fuse as I am authorised to do so.

You are in a WPD area. I would check on the validity of the authorisation which you think you have, maybe try to get it in writing?

Resu · Nov 18, 2017

Wouldn't even know where to begin with that tbh.

Would have been a bit of a nightmare to be fair with cables entering from all angles but certainly could have been executed better than that!

Pete999 · Nov 18, 2017

stevels4 said:
Finally....got a good one to transfer.

View attachment 39386

Don't think anyone has mentioned that the joints under the CU are not enclosed, as SC said what a mess.

SparkyChick · Nov 18, 2017

Looking at it, I'd guess the extensions are just singles... possibly the cores from the cable. Had he made an effort to make a decent joint (using non-insulated indent crimps or in-line splices) and then put them in some good quality adhesive lined heatshrink (to provide strain relief), it would be much better. But I'm betting they are standard insulated crimps with no strain relief... no supports or clips on the cables... recipe for disaster and if I were you I'd be advising the client to get the guy back to sort it out before it kills someone.

Wilko · Nov 18, 2017

That is "an 'orrible mess" ...

willy fixit · Nov 18, 2017

Looks like he could've dropped the CU down level with the meter and not had to crimp anything, hidden al those grotty cables and made access easier - as its level with to top of the window at moment!

Wilko · Nov 18, 2017

SparkyChick said:
... and if I were you I'd be advising the client to get the guy back to sort it out before it kills someone.

And that's just the bit we can see... Personally I wouldn't have 'em back. Reminds me of the old days of typing docs - likely to end up with more typos added when fixing the first lot.

elsparko · Nov 18, 2017

flex glands instead of grommets , something ive not seen in a domestic setting.

andysparkfree · Nov 18, 2017

main earth looks like its coming from a henley block with the neutral rather than from the heads earth terminal , strange set up
me personally don't like through crimps as difficult to varifie how good the connection is (i much prefer a connection box and some connector strip )
theres mixed colour stickers and rcd notices missing also(unless under the flap ....
so easy to snag others works , but in this case a small child or even my wife could point out a few bad looking stuff

davesparks · Nov 18, 2017

That’s a self-connect meter, there is a separate cover for the outgoing terminals so that an electrician can access them without exposing the incoming terminals. Also there is a single pole isolator under the cover so no need to pull the bullet.

stevels4 · Nov 18, 2017

mhar said:
Why is this a good thing? Unless the service fuse is 100A then it is completely unecessary.

You are in a WPD area. I would check on the validity of the authorisation which you think you have, maybe try to get it in writing?

I have it in writing, "Safety,Health and Environment to Industry Standards" "Operation of Cut Out Fuses"

andysparkfree · Nov 18, 2017

i have a swimming certificate hahah 200m (but I'm proud ) lol
no seriously , i guess its one of them installs that when you in front of it answers the questions

stevels4 · Nov 18, 2017

davesparks said:
That’s a self-connect meter, there is a separate cover for the outgoing terminals so that an electrician can access them without exposing the incoming terminals. Also there is a single pole isolator under the cover so no need to pull the bullet.

Very true but in that case how did he manage to safely isolate in order to change the 25mm neutral incoming tail to the meter from the Henley block?

Toneyz · Nov 18, 2017

willy fixit said:
Looks like he could've dropped the CU down level with the meter and not had to crimp anything, hidden al those grotty cables and made access easier - as its level with to top of the window at moment!

I was thinking that maybe the client wanted higher up be interesting to know if the cables came down the wall or up.

Deleted member 9648 · Nov 18, 2017

I do not believe that was carried out by an NICEIC contractor, you mentioned the cert OP, any chance of uploading a picture of it?

telectrix · Nov 18, 2017

SparkyChick said:
Holy cow! What a mess and what a bloody idiot!

yep.those curtains are YUK.

Gavin John Hyde · Nov 18, 2017

davesparks said:
That’s a self-connect meter, there is a separate cover for the outgoing terminals so that an electrician can access them without exposing the incoming terminals. Also there is a single pole isolator under the cover so no need to pull the bullet.

not come across that myself, but tbh not looked. I play it safe and dont go prodding where i maybe shouldnt. Can you upload more info on these self connect meters? Not sure i have seen many around this way....

As for the installers joints skills, i would at the very least have used a junction box to tidy the cables and then used either a block or some din connectors on a rail if budget allowed.

stevels4 · Nov 19, 2017

wirepuller said:
I do not believe that was carried out by an NICEIC contractor, you mentioned the cert OP, any chance of uploading a picture of it?

Unfortunately I am not in the position to copy or indeed upload the certificate but having quickly looked through it I can assure you it was NIC and the details entered electronically, my sole interest was the Ze figure given the conversion from TT to PME by the electrician and as previously mentioned this was on the certificate with a value of 0.13 ohms.

stevels4 · Nov 19, 2017

Gavin John Hyde said:
not come across that myself, but tbh not looked. I play it safe and dont go prodding where i maybe shouldnt. Can you upload more info on these self connect meters? Not sure i have seen many around this way....

As for the installers joints skills, i would at the very least have used a junction box to tidy the cables and then used either a block or some din connectors on a rail if budget allowed.

The only one I know is manufactured by Siemens and no longer used.
The right cover when removed exposes the load terminals (there is normally an additional clear plastic cover over the terminal screws but unsurprisingly missing on this one) The switch is a single pole only.
Most have a sticker on the cover advising contractor operation only.