Fused neutral cut-out

[monoloco]

Apologies if this isn't the appropriate bit of the forum to post this to, or for any uneducated comments in what follows - straying beyond my elec expertise!

We had our meter changed over to a digital one the other day & the guy who did it spotted we had an old fused neutral cut-out. So Western Power Distribution have been out today wanting to replace it.

I understand enough to appreciate it needs replacing (not that I'd personally be fiddling with wires to come a cropper if the neutral fuse did get blown), but they're saying they need to dig up w nice hole/trench in our (recently tarmaced) driveway to fix it.

Is there a good reason why the service head couldn't safely be replaced without doing that, or is it genuinely unavoidable?

I just want to make sure they're not doing the thing that's easiest/cheapest for them, but not best for us!

Thanks!

 

[driverman]

Re cut out change........as said earlier..DNO safe practice.....work on head dead. In order to do that joint hole required. However, as you mentioned new tarmac, ask the DNO to do the joint hole elsewhere. that may well mean doing on the public footpath ( assuming there is one) where your service cable is.

 

[Plonker 3]

Re cut out change........as said earlier..DNO safe practice.....work on head dead. In order to do that joint hole required. However, as you mentioned new tarmac, ask the DNO to do the joint hole elsewhere. that may well mean doing on the public footpath ( assuming there is one) where your service cable is.

sorry I dont follow, how are they going to isolate the head without working live?

 

[gnselectricals]

There's less risk by chopping the cable in the street than working on a metal cutout live I believe

 

[driverman]

sorry I dont follow, how are they going to isolate the head without working live?

Hi Dillb, On the face of it, it may sound strange. However it is deemed to be much safer to dig joint hole, cut cable safely, so as to make safe the cutout to work on. Yes, years ago jointers would off worked on the head live. i suppose it safer to work on the separate cores dead as opposed live. Has been that practice for many years. I had to inform customers exactly that whilst I worked for a DNO service alterations. Like the OP's case above....... i would try to avoid sensitive areas like the tarmac.but your governed by the existing service route.

 

[7029 dave]

Hi Dillb, On the face of it, it may sound strange. However it is deemed to be much safer to dig joint hole, cut cable safely, so as to make safe the cutout to work on. Yes, years ago jointers would off worked on the head live. i suppose it safer to work on the separate cores dead as opposed live. Has been that practice for many years. I had to inform customers exactly that whilst I worked for a DNO service alterations. Like the OP's case above....... i would try to avoid sensitive areas like the tarmac.but your governed by the existing service route.

Yep, they always ditch the cable on my patch too, on cut out changes.

 

[mechelec]

I believe WPD jointers need specific authorisation to replace metal clad cut outs live. Not everyone has it and a risk assessment is carried out on each one before it is changed. Risk assessments being subjective and every person being different what one deems to be OK to change live another will want dead (ie service cutting outside)

 

[monoloco]

Thanks all!

So it sounds like it depends on their risk appetite & is potentially quite valid for them to say they need to dig outside.

I'll see what options they can suggest for a hole that doesn't wreck our driveway (though unfortunately there's no pavement outside - it's our Tarmac straight to the road).

Should i expect them to have a good record of where the service cable runs?

and on a slightly different note, the house was gutted & renovated in 2011, with all the electrics (on consumer side of the meter) completely replaced. Was it valid for that work to be certified with the fused neutral cut-out left in place? (does that certification only consider consumer-side bits, with meter, service head, etc handled totally independently under DNO regs??)

 

[davesparks]

They won't have the faintest idea where the service cable is!

 

[monoloco]

I thought that might be the case! :nonod::nonod:

 

[UKMeterman]

If you ask them they can trace the service cable with a cable location tool, I know this as I used to work in the Radiodetection design office. Should be able to trace it back to the street without needing to dig.

 

[PEG]

It goes without saying that you must not in any way attempt to even open that cutout, let alone do anything else to it.
But for anyone who is interested here's a few pages from the book.
View attachment 28870
View attachment 28871
And if you are wondering what tools the modern cable jointer might require to practise his trade, here's the list.
View attachment 28872
View attachment 28873

Love it...you would enjoy my book collection! ...only bit that let it down,was the ball "pane" hammer...not seen one of them...:yes:

 

[davesparks]

Love it...you would enjoy my book collection! ...only bit that let it down,was the ball "pane" hammer...not seen one of them...:yes:

Yes, I noticed that one, it's a bit late to tell the publishers though!

That book is WT Henley's 'practical cable jointing' fifth edition published 1940.

 

[PEG]

Yes, I noticed that one, it's a bit late to tell the publishers though!

That book is WT Henley's 'practical cable jointing' fifth edition published 1940.

Not got that particular journal,but i do have the appropriate Buck and Hickman catalogue,with most of the equipment listed for sale...i also have a collection of vintage tools,including joint box casts,for bitumen,and even a 9lb lead mould,for casting a "tee" on a water pipe,to save all that wiping!

...Born too late...i fear my lads first phone call,the day after my service...will be to the scrap-man...:smile5:

 

[davesparks]

...Born too late..

You and me both!

 

[Knobhead]

I was surprised to see you can still get CI through and breach joints for 11KV PILC-SWA. When I went to the EMEB I had to take one with me, EMEB didn’t use them but we did. The company still use them to this day.

I’ve never done an 11KV breach joint and I’ll be honest I wouldn’t even attempt one. There’s about 5ft of wiped joints around the lead sleeve. I’d be happy doing a modern breach using a cast resin joint.

I’ve still got my apprentice log books. There’s an entry 11/02/74 for a 11KV termination, 23/07/74 3.3KV through joint and 30/08/74 11KV through joint. A lot of my time was sat in muddy holes.