30 Amps DP mains supply concern

[Thirst]

mhar that is very interesting. Are you suggesting that it may be for the DNO to do a new 3 phase cable run to the property because the current setup falls foul of ESQCR? What exactly would the suppliers (5 different ones might I add) be expected to provide/change/upgrade in this case?

Should I ring UK Power Networks and ask them to confirm in writing whether the current supply is 2 or 3 phase as a first step?

Right now this whole setup sounds rather dodgy.

 

[mhar]

Yes re confirmation letter

 

[Midwest]

I'd expect they'll want you to pay for whatever you'll doing in your property, I don't know.

You have one house thats been (at some point) converted into 4 separate houses. Looks like (at some point) it had a 3 phase supply, thats now single phase supply. What occurred first, then subsequently changed is the question.

 

[dmxtothemax]

5 units = 100A service
100 / 5 = 20A.
So 20A is readily available for each
With 30A surge capacity.
I think this is just enough, you have had no problems yet.
As your fuses are correctly choosen to protect the system ?
Then you have no worries.
Ideally twice this capacity would be ideal,
But all this upgrade will have to be paid for by someone
If they are willing, go for it,
If not, I would not worry too much.
Does the land lord understand that his electrical
system is limited and maxed out ?

 

[Thirst]

Ok, so I spoke to a very helpful woman from UK Power Networks who use to do installations herself for 8 years. Going by photos she believes that there is 3 phase power coming into the property as we have a 3 phase cutout, however only 2 phases are being used. She also suspects the current fuse will be 80Amp and not 100Amp.

She suggested that I:
1) Get one of the MOPS to confirm 3 phase supply
2) If confirmed, contact UK Power Networks to perform replacement 3 phase cutout as current unit is damaged.
3) Have an electrician install a 3 phase ryefield distribution board.
4) Have all 5 MPOS come and re-connect to the ryefield distribution board.
5) At the same time as above replace all 4 DP isolation switches and install 5th for Landlord supply.

This means that we can then take advantage of the 3 phase supply coming into the property.

How does this sound to you guys?

 

[snowhead]

How does this sound to you guys?

Compared to your original plan of do nothing, expensive.

 

[Thirst]

The only cost to me would be having a distribution board installed? Certainly cheaper than an electrical fire burn down the house. If I install a new kitchen as planned this year that's an additional 40Amp to the theoretical maximum load.

 

[Thirst]

And so it gets even more confusing. After much searching I managed to find a photo I took when UK Power came to 'make safe' the exposed fuse a few months back.

Appears there are 4 x 60amp fuses. Each of the 4 flats running off a 60amp fuse with one sharing its fuse with the landlord supply.

What's going on here? Is this a 3 phase supply head being used as a single phase split distributor?

 

[Thirst]

UK power coming back out tomorrow to investigate because nobody seems to know what the hell is going on with this supply

 

[ipf]

Who has removed that^^^cover?
…..and where is that brown connected?

 

[Thirst]

As stated in the post that was taken when the U.K. power engineer initially came to make safe the supply a couple of months ago. It’s been resealed since.

 

[Octopus]

FWIW I think you need to confirm the incoming supply, then improve the setup so that the communal area has its own meter........... this will involve the supplier and a Part P electrician

And obviously some of your hard earned money

 

[Thirst]

This is what’s so farcical about the whole thing. U.K. power came out to do this patch repair and didn’t make any site notes. Hence now they can’t confirm what exactly what cable is in the supply head and need to investigate yet again. Thankfully I took this photo but thought it was long gone. Still doesn’t show what cable is feeding it though.

 

[Octopus]

what "patch repair"

 

[ipf]

Sorry mate. Is the taped and labelled unit, ie, that separate from the head, just being used as a connection point?

Could be the patch repair. Whatever that is, it looks rough.