Earth Loop Impedance Test and problem with power supply

[Maverick777]

I think the two extra cut outs are the supply to the garage and not correct for the job.

 

[Engineer54]

Has your electrician looked at these cut-outs, ...come to that, what did the DNO have to say about them. That one by the main fuse board is certainly DNO concentric cable. Not many general domestic electricians would be touching such cable...

As for being the cause of your problem, i doubt it, but who knows where and how these supply cables have been connected to the incoming supply!! lol!!

EDIT... Can you isolate the garage CU from the main fuse board??

 

[Paul.M]

I've got a few things to say about this thread:-

First I would like to thank Maverick777 for actually posting up photos to give us all an in-depth picture of what your talking about. I/we wish that more people like yourself asking for help/advice put in as much effort as you. Well done.

A little praise to E54 that he didn't have a pop at me for suggesting that "we" (not him btw, all in this together) were crossing a line. Me and E54 have crossed swords in the past (and not like that) and its great to see us lot coming together to help out a home owner good enough to give us the info that we need.

Again to Maverick777, thanks for a new saying that I will use "cowboy cu to garage" love it and I will be using it in the future.

Btw get a proper sparky in to look at this mess. A cu change won't help your problems looking at the photos.

 

[Maverick777]

Hi,

It would be great if any of you were in the Blackwood area of Gwent. Why are some of you thinking that our house is supplied by two power companies as one meter in post 20 is of the gas and one the electric. Is this what you meant?

Thanks

 

[Maverick777]

This is what Western Power engineer said after a visit:-

Hi both,
When I visited again on Saturday morning the cause of the crossed polarity was obvious.When the RCD was installed the tails in the grey twin cable were connected red-black in the top of the consumer unit.This particular type of unit needs to be black-red.It is probable that we removed the external fuse to enable the RCD to be installed and on completion the fuse was replaced.However polarity checks showed reverse polarity.To correct this the tails were reversed on top of the external cutout and this cured the problem.At this stage there was no electrical danger and it stayed that way until the shower developed a fault last week and the crossed tails were spotted by Lloyd.
We have now reconnected the tails the correct way round.We also carried out trip testing on the RCD and found it faulty at required sensitivity,also it trips when the consumer unit DP switch is operated.This unit needs to be replaced.
The consumer unit is also old school and could be upgraded with a combined segregated unit but Beesleys will advise what options you have.
We will pay for the visits on Thursday and Saturday ,the remaining work is your responsibilty to settle directly with your Contractor.
regards

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Apart from the reverse polarity has the electrician said why you need a board change?

another example maybe of "electrician" condemning a C/U without any valid reason maybe?...lol.....reminds me of this PIR we got for this rented a bit back from this "sparky"..lol.......sparky that gave gas and water bonding using a single continuous 10mm conductor as a (1)....lolffs....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

This is what Western Power engineer said after a visit:-

Hi both,
When I visited again on Saturday morning the cause of the crossed polarity was obvious.When the RCD was installed the tails in the grey twin cable were connected red-black in the top of the consumer unit.This particular type of unit needs to be black-red.It is probable that we removed the external fuse to enable the RCD to be installed and on completion the fuse was replaced.However polarity checks showed reverse polarity.To correct this the tails were reversed on top of the external cutout and this cured the problem.At this stage there was no electrical danger and it stayed that way until the shower developed a fault last week and the crossed tails were spotted by Lloyd.
We have now reconnected the tails the correct way round.We also carried out trip testing on the RCD and found it faulty at required sensitivity,also it trips when the consumer unit DP switch is operated.This unit needs to be replaced.
The consumer unit is also old school and could be upgraded with a combined segregated unit but Beesleys will advise what options you have.
We will pay for the visits on Thursday and Saturday ,the remaining work is your responsibilty to settle directly with your Contractor.
regards

surely the option here would be to replace the RCD....if the C/Us good for continued service...then just being "old school" is not acceptable reason to replace it is it?....as long as its in good order (IP)...and disconnection times are being met......

 

[Engineer54]

Hi,

It would be great if any of you were in the Blackwood area of Gwent. Why are some of you thinking that our house is supplied by two power companies as one meter in post 20 is of the gas and one the electric. Is this what you meant?

Thanks

No, you just have a very weird set-up there with the amount of cut-outs you have in your installation. I'm guessing that the cable shown supplying the main fuse board was once where the meter was, and has now been moved to an external position, but have used the old existing cable to continue supplying the fuse board. Haven't a clue how the one in the garage got there, but suspect that is now being used as a sub-main from the main fuse box. As i say, very wired that the cut-outs have been left in place by the power supply company, they normally remove them when any changes have been made to there installation...

Sorry, but i'm rather a long way from your neck of the woods... lol!!

 

[Paul.M]

another example maybe of "electrician" condemning a C/U without any valid reason maybe?...lol.....reminds me of this PIR we got for this rented a bit back from this "sparky"..lol.......sparky that gave gas and water bonding using a single continuous 10mm conductor as a (1)....lolffs....

You posted at the same time as the op, post 35.

He's got it in writing from the electricity board! You need a new cu lol.

Again thanks for the pics but honestly get a proper electrician to investigate your electrics. I'm not in your area but I wish I was. Looks like an interesting case.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

that mem C/U may be hard to get an RCD for as they use an RCD incomer in those.....

 

[BillyTheSparks]

As most of the main subject has been covered, I thought I'd throw this in to the mix.

I'd also be concerned about that cable running through the gas meter box, it hasn't been sealed and it looks like it is a cavity wall box. So if there was a leak, it could leak into the cavity and cause an explosive enviroment.

I would call the gas company or a good plumber to see what can be done.


I don't want to scare any one by the way, it's just an observation

 

[Maverick777]

Below was received from Western Power

Hi Gary,

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Your home is supplied by the substation to the left of you rear garden a distance of approx 70m.Your service is PME and as such the earth and phase loops are the same conductors and should have a loop impedance of 0.35 ohms or less.With a value of 363 ohms I doubt anything would work.This value is at the meter position,not at an internal socket though.I'll get this external value checked anyway by the local team and will need the main fuse to be removed for a few minutes.If you decide when its convenient during normal hours there is no charge for this.​

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I await your reply,thanks​

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[Geordie Spark]

As most of the main subject has been covered, I thought I'd throw this in to the mix.

I'd also be concerned about that cable running through the gas meter box, it hasn't been sealed and it looks like it is a cavity wall box. So if there was a leak, it could leak into the cavity and cause an explosive enviroment.

I would call the gas company or a good plumber to see what can be done.


I don't want to scare any one by the way, it's just an observation

Seal it with this: PURIMACHOS FJC from here:Gas Meter Housings & Accessories