Does This Installation Look Correct?

[Budgie_42]

Hi all,

I wondered if you could give us your thoughts on our friend's installation? I've included some photos. We're sure that there's something wrong with it, but we wanted some expert opinions.

Here's a bit of background:

An electrician changed the original split distribution board and carried out an EICR. Prior to the CU change, the upstairs and downstairs lighting was on two separate circuits and apparently, the lightbulbs would often blow. That's not the case now. The tariff is just on a flat rate, so our friend doesn't benefit from lower tariff through the night.

It looks like the earth clamp is a BS951 (see bottom photo)

Can you tell us if all looks correct here, and if it's not, should the DNO be the first contact?

 

[Budgie_42]

Another point to add is that I noticed there is no isolation switch between the meter and the CU and the CU is located a good distance away from the meter.

 

[KungFuTurkeyLeg]

This is the same one posted a couple of days ago?

 

[Budgie_42]

This is the same one posted a couple of days ago?

Yes, it is. My original post was accidentally deleted because there was a glitch with the forum.

 

[littlespark]

Another point to add is that I noticed there is no isolation switch between the meter and the CU and the CU is located a good distance away from the meter.

How far?

The rule of thumb is 3m…. But it looks like it’s on a different floor, never mind a different room.

If I remember, before last weeks posts were lost, someone mentioned the clamp was wrong for the incoming cable.

My own bug bear is writing on the breakers… no need.

 

[Budgie_42]

How far?

The rule of thumb is 3m…. But it looks like it’s on a different floor, never mind a different room.

If I remember, before last weeks posts were lost, someone mentioned the clamp was wrong for the incoming cable.

My own bug bear is writing on the breakers… no need.

The earth clamp looks to be a BS951 (see above photo). The CU is part-way down the stairs to the cellar and meter is in the cellar on the far wall. At a guess, I'd say it's roughly 5 metres distance in a straight line, but further if you follow the cable round.

 

[littlespark]

how did they change the board without isolation? Even the fuse is still sealed.... which of course isnt the way it should be done.

theres an earth wire just hanging near the gas meter... shouldnt that be clamped to the gas pipe?

Changing the board doesnt effect the tariff... so they might still be on "whole house" 2 rates.... but we wouldnt know for sure.

5m or more is certain;ly too far without isolation.... and really a switch/fuse should be used

 

[Budgie_42]

I've no idea how the board was changed without isolating the supply. I get the impression that the electrician wasn't very experienced, hence us wanting to check all this out.

The property is just on a single tariff, although I don't know if this was the case prior to the board change.

I'm aware that the safety bond isn't currently attached to the gas pipe.

If the lighting was on two circuits (up and down) before, why would the electrician switch to one circuit when the board was changed?

Any other thoughts on this installation and what to do next? Contact the DNO first?

 

[littlespark]

in older properties, when there was seperate upstairs and downstairs lighting circuits, they sometime "borrowed" the neutral from one circuit to serve the other... such as the stair lights...
This didnt matter with old fuses and circuit breakers, but where RCBO's sense the neutrals as well as the live... they wouldpick this up as a fault.

Its either double up the affected circuits onto one, or spend time investigating and rewiring the lights to seperate them completely.... which could be a major upheavel just for one cable.


Theres nothing the DNO will do.... everything after the meter is the customers responsibility.

Is there no isolater just before the consumer unit? I am surprised if the tails go direct from the meter into the unit.

I might be wrong... but i wonder if he cut the seal, pulled the fuse to isolate, and just placed the seal back.... I'm just going by the photo

 

[westward10]

I suspect the two lighting circuits have crossed neutrals through the landing light not uncommon and splitting them onto separate RCBOs would result in them tripping.

 

[mainline]

The earth clamp looks to be a BS951 (see above photo). The CU is part-way down the stairs to the cellar and meter is in the cellar on the far wall. At a guess, I'd say it's roughly 5 metres distance in a straight line, but further if you follow the cable round.

Do the meter tails run through the fabric of the building less than 50 mm depth from the surface ?
Are the tails clipped /supported properly ?

It looks a bit of a lash-up to me.

 

[Budgie_42]

in older properties, when there was seperate upstairs and downstairs lighting circuits,...

Were the separate circuits only particular to older properties? Is that not the case anymore?

Its either double up the affected circuits onto one, or spend time investigating and rewiring the lights to seperate them completely.... which could be a major upheavel just for one cable.

That answers the question as to why the electrician amalgamated the two circuits. Thanks.

Theres nothing the DNO will do.... everything after the meter is the customers responsibility.

What about the BS951 clamp? That would be on the DNO side. I thought it was the case that everything from the CU onwards is the customer's responsibility?

Is there no isolater just before the consumer unit? I am surprised if the tails go direct from the meter into the unit.

I'm sure there isn't an isolator near the consumer unit. There certainly isn't one anywhere near the meters.

I might be wrong... but i wonder if he cut the seal, pulled the fuse to isolate, and just placed the seal back.... I'm just going by the photo

It sounds like the only possibility. Thanks for your input. It's very helpful.

 

[Budgie_42]

I suspect the two lighting circuits have crossed neutrals through the landing light not uncommon and splitting them onto separate RCBOs would result in them tripping.

Yes, I now realise that this is the most plausible reason why the electrician combined the circuits when he upgraded the fuse box.

 

[Budgie_42]

Do the meter tails run through the fabric of the building less than 50 mm depth from the surface ?
Are the tails clipped /supported properly ?

It looks a bit of a lash-up to me.

From what I recall, the cables from the meter ran up the wall of the cellar and were tacked along the beams. I can't remember if they continued like that all the way to the CU.

 

[mainline]

heres nothing the DNO will do.... everything after the meter is the customers responsibility.

What about the BS951 clamp? That would be on the DNO side. I thought it was the case that everything from the CU onwards is the customer's responsibility?



The Dno is responsible for the clamp and up to their meter.