EON or ME? What is the law?

[Bishy3000]

Hi guys I'm new to all this. Found the forum from a google search randomly, glad I did now. Anyway, I wonder if anyone can help...A good friend of mine is converting his stable into a house, it's a TT system and the meter pole is 100m away. He has been advised to lay the 25mm SWA himself and Eon will come and install a new meter and connect up. The other end of the cable inside the new property needs connecting to a 100A cut out fuse, can I do this bit myself? Can you buy the 100A cut outs? Or must this be done by Eon as I know it's usually done by them? I'm just trying to save my mate a few qhid. CheersDan

 

[Bishy3000]

*quid

 

[Engineer54]

I find that a bit strange!! The DNO will normally get you to lay a suitably sized cable duct with a draw line installed, but not the cable. They tend to use concentric wiring, rarely have i seen SWA used in a DNO cut out installation.... And No you can't fit the DNO cut-out!!!

Has your mate bothered asking if this supply line that's a hundred metres away has been PME'd?? Much better for him if it has!!!

So what depth is your mate going to need for this buried cable??

 

[Bishy3000]

I thought it was strange myself, I also thought like you that they used concentric wiring and would only let you dig the trench yourself. But that's what they apparently told him. I didn't think it could be PME'd as it is an existing TT overhead feed with a rod at the existing house cut out. He asked to bury instead of going over head for the new house and apparently got told to bury 25mm 2 core and rod the ground at the new house. Where would the earth come from to PME it if every existing cut out has it's own rod? Agreed PME would be better but the difference between 2 and 3 core is about £200 so he's only going to PME it if necessary. I will be laying the cable myself at a depth of 700mm+ with sand on top and warning tape 3-400mm down from ground level. Thanks

 

[telectrix]

i'd be inclined to put a duct in with a draw . fill trench as you suggest, then if EON want to put in concentric cable, you won't have wated on your 2 core SWA and have to dig it out.

 

[Engineer54]

I'd check directly with your DNO before you start any work. While there, find out if the available supply is PME or not. I doubt very much if they will accept SWA cable, as generally they have no means of terminating the SWA in most modern DNO fuse head/cut-outs...

Whether you lay cable or ducting, always give the trench base 100mm of soft sand for either to sit on, and then at least another 300mm covering, at which point you would need protection tiles/bricks. Then fill with sifted top soil with marker tape laid around 150mm below FGL. Don't forget all filling materials need to be compacted down in the trench....

 

[Bishy3000]

Cheers guys, I think I'd better phone the DNO myself to be honest as it will be me doing the work and I'm more likely to know what they are on about. Didn't know you needed protection tiles in a trench, I did a fair few without when I was doing my apprenticeship I was just following orders though.

 

[JUD]

Agreed PME would be better but the difference between 2 and 3 core is about £200 so he's only going to PME it if necessary.

Why would you need 3-core for PME??

 

[Engineer54]

Cheers guys, I think I'd better phone the DNO myself to be honest as it will be me doing the work and I'm more likely to know what they are on about. Didn't know you needed protection tiles in a trench, I did a fair few without when I was doing my apprenticeship I was just following orders though.

As this is going to be the buried DNO supply for this installation, i'm pretty sure they will insist on cable protection tiles, especially if the supply route crosses open pasture/field.... Hopefully when completed, they will carry out survey measurements that will be transferred to the DNO's upto date local and area network distribution supply drawings...

 

[telectrix]

just re-read the OP. when you say meter pole, do you mean the meter is on a pole and you are coming from the meter to the CU? that's a different kettle of fish if the DNO fuse and meter are remote from the CU location.