Getting DNO to provide an earth... What are my chances?

[DNS1]

The missus' parents asked me to pop over and sort a nuisance trip problem the other week. Solved it with a new RCD, but noticed that the system was a TT, protected by a knackered VOELCB.

Said to them I'd have to come back and put an RCD over the whole system, but was then wondering whether the DNO would just upgrade it to PME if I asked.

It's an overhead supply, but the house isn't exactly out in the sticks... It's in a fairly large village about 3 miles from Oxford.

I've heard people say that in some areas the DNO will happily upgrade the supply on request. What does everyone think my chances are?

 

[Engineer54]

and who advised anyone against trying their hand with the DNO eh?..

Depends on what you mean by stating ''in a word..crap!..''

Oh, and just because your local area DNO charge, doesn't mean that ALL the DNO's charge for providing a PME connection, as there are many that Don't!!!

 

[sparks1973]

Depends on what you mean by stating ''in a word..crap!..''

Oh, and just because your local area DNO charge, doesn't mean that ALL the DNO's charge for providing a PME connection, as there are many that Don't!!!

either way.....i never said not to try...did I??!!

 

[Rob Smith 643]

Gotta love this forum. You can't write comedy like this. Pure entertainment and the occasional good advice :ciappa:

 

[oldtimer]

The DNO have a legal responsibility to provide an earth unless you are on a TT system.

If you are on a TT and cant get a stable earth then the DNO must come out and change you to PME or TN-S by law!

Nicholas they dont have to supply and earth and also they just fought off a lobby from the Electrical Safety Council not to fit a intergrated or seperate isolator for smart meters in other words if its going to cost then they aint doing it but they will do it for a charge
you can thank the current government for the isolators they thought it would be too much cost on the poor DNO

Forgot to add that they are only legally obliged to maintain an existing earth and if you see a earth clamp on a sheath then thats questionable or chargeable

 

[Engineer54]

either way.....i never said not to try...did I??!!

Don't know, but when you follow-up with a statement like ''just RCD the whole install'' it all depends how the reader construes your meaning.

 

[sparks1973]

Don't know, but when you follow-up with a statement like ''just RCD the whole install'' it all depends how the reader construes your meaning.

My point was eng...keep it on a TT...RCD in place of the old voltage trip....we have done this before ...christ...we even kept the BS3036 board as it was good for continued service)....so then you have your fault protection dont you.....and it hasn`t lined the pockets of the DNO!!....

 

[Amp David]

Think someone needs to chill out a little.:cuss:

 

[Engineer54]

My point was eng...keep it on a TT...RCD in place of the old voltage trip....we have done this before ...christ...we even kept the BS3036 board as it was good for continued service)....so then you have your fault protection dont you.....and it hasn`t lined the pockets of the DNO!!....

Fir enough!! To be honest i wasn't sure what you were saying, which is why i didn't quote you. But it does seem possible that the OP took your meaning as, not to bother from his next post!!

Personally, if the opportunity was there for a PME connection, i would certainly take it, whether it was charged or not. Not that i think 100 quid + vat is ethical or right, it's not!! Your all paying a standard quarterly charge on every electric bill, which should cover any such conversions on the service side, including provision of safety isolators too... Just think of the revenue each service cut-out/meter position generates for the DNO's over say 20 to 50+ years, .....A staggering amount!!

 

[sparks1973]

Fir enough!! To be honest i wasn't sure what you were saying, which is why i didn't quote you. But it does seem possible that the OP took your meaning as, not to bother from his next post!!

Personally, if the opportunity was there for a PME connection, i would certainly take it, whether it was charged or not. Not that i think 100 quid + vat is ethical or right, it's not!! Your all paying a standard quarterly charge on every electric bill, which should cover any such conversions on the service side, including provision of safety isolators too... Just think of the revenue each service cut-out/meter position generates for the DNO's over say 20 to 50+ years, .....A staggering amount!!

look eng, i`m of the same frame of mind as you when it comes to tt-Vs-pme...but its an additional cost that can be counted out for customers in this frugal time....i mean lets face it.....you would have to RCD final circuits anyway for use in a domestic scenario....so as an RCD can provide fault protection for TT... ...then i just see PME as an unnecessary raid on peoples wallet/purse at the mo` by hungry DNOs....
the only thing i will say though is RCDs are still not as reliable as MCBs.....

 

[Guitarist]

Just had my in-laws overhead changed from TT to PME free of charge by UKPN. Great guys who even got the overhead uninsulated cables to the cottage replaced with a single, also free of charge.
Ze now of 0.33 so I'm very happy

My advice is to give it a go and enquire... You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[sparks1973]

just make sure they dont do what these numptys did at a place i looked at a while back.....left an unused cable connected to the overhead just clipped direct to the outside wall...and just cropped off about 8" from the ground...lol...

 

[Engineer54]

just make sure they dont do what these numptys did at a place i looked at a while back.....left an unused cable connected to the overhead just clipped direct to the outside wall...and just cropped off about 8" from the ground...lol...

Who would complain about a source of free leccy?? lol!!

 

[sparks1973]

Ub:...gimme gimme gimme....

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sorry thats AbbA.....