Isolation switch for rewire/new CU

[Karl Atkins]

Are we required to install an isolation switch between the meter and CU when completing a full rewire and/or CU upgrade, I think it's best practise, mate's/colleagues think unnecessary, customers don't like paying for it!

Opinions please

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

fitting the isolator is a straight forward task. The issue is do you have a visit from the seal fairy or do you get the dno out to pull the fuse and if you have got things ready to connect up (ie tails and isolator on wall ready) then you can do it whilst they wait, just boil the kettle first and make them a cup of tea!
i did just that recently, Western Power came out pulled an old fuse i didn't think the seal fairy would like! I also managed to avoid the customer getting billed as i told the dno i had concerns about the condition of the cut out so they sent an engineer to assess and pull fuse at same time and i connected an isolator up then changed the tails between it and the meter ready for a pending CU change in a couple of weeks. guy was happy to sit drinking tea and scoffing biscuits and chat whilst i did it. it saves them having to come back out later in the day so are usually happy to do it.
Western Power Distribution usually charge £63+vat to pull the fuse unless you can wrangle it for free- usually depends on if you speak to call centre or a local engineer office.
fitting an isolator is £167 + Vat
So you can see it makes sense to get fuse pulled by DNO and fit it yourself

 

[elsparko]

fitting the isolator is a straight forward task. The issue is do you have a visit from the seal fairy or do you get the dno out to pull the fuse and if you have got things ready to connect up (ie tails and isolator on wall ready) then you can do it whilst they wait, just boil the kettle first and make them a cup of tea!
i did just that recently, Western Power came out pulled an old fuse i didn't think the seal fairy would like! I also managed to avoid the customer getting billed as i told the dno i had concerns about the condition of the cut out so they sent an engineer to assess and pull fuse at same time and i connected an isolator up then changed the tails between it and the meter ready for a pending CU change in a couple of weeks. guy was happy to sit drinking tea and scoffing biscuits and chat whilst i did it. it saves them having to come back out later in the day so are usually happy to do it.
Western Power Distribution usually charge £63+vat to pull the fuse unless you can wrangle it for free- usually depends on if you speak to call centre or a local engineer office.
fitting an isolator is £167 + Vat
So you can see it makes sense to get fuse pulled by DNO and fit it yourself

you do know were aloud to cut the lead seals ourselves with permission from distributor?

 

[johnduffell]

Not all dnos would give that permission though, as they have to take responsibility for the consequences of allowing it.

 

[Octopus]

Not all dnos would give that permission though, as they have to take responsibility for the consequences of allowing it.

True ................ but they don't make it straightforward for us to deal with them do they?

 

[johnduffell]

True ................ but they don't make it straightforward for us to deal with them do they?

Ukpn were really helpful, it was easy to get to someone who knew their stuff and the came and replaced the whole cutout pretty quickly, on the other Hend the energy supplier didn't have a clue, eventually agreed to fit an isolator at a cost, then forgot to charge us. So i think it must gf depend a lot on your local area.

 

[Octopus]

Ukpn were really helpful, it was easy to get to someone who knew their stuff and the came and replaced the whole cutout pretty quickly, on the other Hend the energy supplier didn't have a clue, eventually agreed to fit an isolator at a cost, then forgot to charge us. So i think it must gf depend a lot on your local area.

UK PN are always really helpful ............... but its not them we have to deal with for isolators ...............

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

you do know were aloud to cut the lead seals ourselves with permission from distributor?

Not around these parts you ain't!! WPD the DNO get very funny if you so much as mention it, the field engineers couldnt care less as long as you don't go pulling dodgy looking ones or really old ones that could be a bit stuck, its just the people in the offices and one or two senior engineers that get funny about it.

 

[Dave OCD]

Ok - so if you fitted a stand alone 'up front' DP isolator and did no other work on the installation, what, if any tests and certification would be required ?

 

[Octopus]

Ok - so if you fitted a stand alone 'up front' DP isolator and did no other work on the installation, what, if any tests and certification would be required ?

Mwc

 

[Risteard]

Mwc

I wouldn't consider it minor works. Replacing the tails is essentially installing a new circuit. So I would consider an EIC more appropriate, and if that's all you're doing shouldn't take very long to fill out either.

 

[Dave OCD]

But what test results would you record as the altered main tails are feeding multiple circuits ? I do wonder if this is worth certifying at all as effectively you're doing an alteration before the installation. Obviously you'd do it carefully and check that the new isolator actually isolates.

 

[Risteard]

The ordinary tests for the tails. No need to test the rest of the installation if you haven't increased the Zs at the DB(s).