Crossed Polarity smart meter into mains

[HS2018]

hello!

Just looking for some advise,
Basically we had an electrician fitting a new shower and lights yesterday, he tested a light socket before touching it (after turning all fuses off) and it was live... come to realisation an electrician working on behalf of an energy supplier had fitted the smartmeeter into the mains the wrong way round (crossed polarity?!) and all the sockets, light switches and light fittings were the same downstairs.
The electrician shut our electricity down straight away and told us we weren’t to turn anything on until the contractor came out to fix it as he couldn’t touch it, he said he’s amazed the house didn’t burn down (they came out, done reports, took photos 12 hours later with two children under 2 in the house) at 11pm
I’m just wondering how bad this is and where do we stand?
Obviously not getting much info from the energy suppliers and just wanted to know the best course of action


Thank you

 

[Octopus]

The electrician has mislead you ...................... if the installation is safe then reverse polarity isn't a big "day to day issue"

Shutting the power down was unnecessary IMHO, especially that time of night.

I think you need him to justify, in writing, why he did this!

 

[shaun1]

I'm not sure that I would agree that shutting down the power was unnecessary. Whilst the installation would function without issue if there were no other faults, if there were no RCDs present there would be very little protection against Live to earth faults.

I guess with RCDs present it would be much less of an issue, but without it wouldn't be that much safer than finding no fuses/overcurrent devices present at all

 

[HS2018]

Sorry, basically the electrician said the neutral and live from the smart meter were going into the main fuse socket the wrong way round (neutral into live and vice verse)so when we thought the electric was off, it wasn’t
So this is no concern?

 

[Deleted member 105166]

he said he’s amazed the house didn’t burn down

Really? Can he elaborate on why he thought this?

 

[HS2018]

The smartmeter has been installed for a year
Our electrician done work before this and only come back yesterday as we needed the shower putting in- that’s when he noticed the smartmeter had been installed into the mains incorrectly

 

[Bobster]

Sorry, basically the electrician said the neutral and live from the smart meter were going into the main fuse socket the wrong way round (neutral into live and vice verse)so when we thought the electric was off, it wasn’t
So this is no concern?

Got any pictures you can post?

If it's a modern consumer unit, the main switch will be double pole. So switching this off will have cut power across both live and neutral.

 

[HS2018]

This is the only photo I could take before the contractor electrician came out again, of the mains unit, my electrician said it has no seals on it either from the man who fitted the smartmeter

 

[Octopus]

Your "electrician" needs to do some reading ............... rather than scaring homeowners

As I previously stated "if the installation is safe then reverse polarity isn't a big "day to day issue"

It could be an issue is a DIYer or spark weren't practicing safe isolation .......

 

[HS2018]

Your "electrician" needs to do some reading ............... rather than scaring homeowners

As I previously stated "if the installation is safe then reverse polarity isn't a big "day to day issue"

It could be an issue is a DIYer or spark weren't practicing safe isolation .......

Thank you for your time and info

 

[Pete999]

I take it from your initial post that your energy supplier (DNO) fitted your smart meter.
The "Electrician" who came to fit your new shower and located the reversed polarity of your new meter installation, should, in my opinion informed you immediately, and recommend you contact your DNO right away.
There was no need to switch your CU off, for the reason Rob has given, if the Reversed Polarity is infact the correct assumption, then your DNO want's a good kicking. Take this issue further if the installation of the meter was incorrect.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - polarity is a basic test that should have been done by your meter installation person. Perhaps your Electrician was surprised to find it and was thinking "if they've got that wrong, what else?".

 

[HS2018]

I take it from your initial post that your energy supplier (DNO) fitted your smart meter.
The "Electrician" who came to fit your new shower and located the reversed polarity of your new meter installation, should, in my opinion informed you immediately, and recommend you contact your DNO right away.
There was no need to switch your CU off, for the reason Rob has given, if the Reversed Polarity is infact the correct assumption, then you DNO want's a good kicking. Take this issue further if the installation of the meter was incorrect.

Thank you, yes this is correct, sorry if I confused one.
The DNO was told by his superior to cut off the supply until the morning (11am this morning) the DNO’s superior was also speaking of a disciplinary as I asked why he was taking so many photos.
I just wanted reassurance so thank you

 

[HS2018]

Thank you, yes this is correct, sorry if I confused one.
The DNO was told by his superior to cut off the supply until the morning (11am this morning) the DNO’s superior was also speaking of a disciplinary as I asked why he was taking so many photos.
I just wanted reassurance so thank you

Also, it was a bit of a mess as our electrician couldn’t touch anything the contractor had done so I think he shut the power off just for safety until they could come to rectify the problem

 

[Pete999]

Thank you, yes this is correct, sorry if I confused one.
The DNO was told by his superior to cut off the supply until the morning (11am this morning) the DNO’s superior was also speaking of a disciplinary as I asked why he was taking so many photos.
I just wanted reassurance so thank you

Don't let the burgars fob you off with an apollogy, take it further, about time these Muppets got hauled over the coals.

 

[HS2018]

Hi - polarity is a basic test that should have been done by your meter installation person. Perhaps your Electrician was surprised to find it and was thinking "if they've got that wrong, what else?".

Yes he said he’s never seen it before so turned the power off just in case. He also said he should’ve done the polarity test both before and after installing the meter, so thank you for making things a little clearer

 

[Pete999]

Thank you, yes this is correct, sorry if I confused one.
The DNO was told by his superior to cut off the supply until the morning (11am this morning) the DNO’s superior was also speaking of a disciplinary as I asked why he was taking so many photos.
I just wanted reassurance so thank you

He probably wanted to show the pictures to the training facility they use to train these Guys, "this how not to do it"

 

[HS2018]

Hi - polarity is a basic test that should have been done by your meter installation person. Perhaps your Electrician was surprised to find it and was thinking "if they've got that wrong, what else?".

Yes he said he’s never seen it before so turned the power off just in case. He also said he should’ve done the polarity test both before and after installing the meter, so thank you for making things a little clearer

Don't let the burgars fob you off with an apollogy, take it further, about time these Muppets got hauled over the coals.

Thanks Pete, appreciated. As I know nothing of electricity and seeing so many people yesterday I’m confused to say the least. Just glad everything is safe now but want to get to the bottom of if it was a dangerous situation for my family and two girls under two!

 

[Pete999]

Thank you, yes this is correct, sorry if I confused one.
The DNO was told by his superior to cut off the supply until the morning (11am this morning) the DNO’s superior was also speaking of a disciplinary as I asked why he was taking so many photos.
I just wanted reassurance so thank you

He probably wanted to show the pictures to the training facility they use to train these Guys, "this how not to do it" mind you they only give the meter maid a volt stick to check polarity, or thats all the Guy had when he ckecked mine.

 

[HS2018]

He probably wanted to show the pictures to the training facility they use to train these Guys, "this how not to do it" mind you theyonly give the meter maid a volt stick to check polarity,

Partner has just had a telephone call from supplier..
A full investigation is going to take place into the contracting company and 60 of his jobs before and after our house, the HSE has been informed, ofcom(?) & trading standards so I guess it looked to be serious

 

[Pete999]

Partner has just had a telephone call from supplier..
A full investigation is going to take place into the contracting company and 60 of his jobs before and after our house, the HSE has been informed, ofcom(?) & trading standards so I guess it looked to be serious

Rock on, keep the Forum posted pleas emate, could become interesting, worth following up on, so keep the info coming if you don't mind.

 

[HS2018]

Rock on, keep the Forum posted pleas emate, could become interesting, worth following up on, so keep the info coming if you don't mind.

Thank you, yes I will. Will be interested to see where this goes. Even though we took our little ones to parents their already offering compensation in form of payment as it could’ve been a hotel... but wasn’t. Interesting

 

[Pete999]

Thank you, yes I will. Will be interested to see where this goes. Even though we took our little ones to parents their already offering compensation in form of payment as it could’ve been a hotel... but wasn’t. Interesting

Cheers hope all is well with you and your's

 

[westward10]

Yes keep us informed we would definitely like to know the outcome.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

The smartmeter has been installed for a year
Our electrician done work before this and only come back yesterday as we needed the shower putting in- that’s when he noticed the smartmeter had been installed into the mains incorrectly

So hes been before and done work but only just noticed? i guess when it came to the box on the minor cert or eic asking about confirming polarity he must have just ticked that box?
That is assuming he came after the meter was installed?
lets be honest though a lot of us have done small jobs without thinking before now when only changing a cracked accessory or quick like for like pendant etc..

But once again we have a case of poorly installed smart meter! the rate they are training the meter fitters up I am surprised more of these arent coming to light. but i suspect the home owners are unaware until an electrician comes around. I recall that recent episode of watchdog exposing the shoddy practices.