Live neutral reverse!

[Delboybully]

I go to a job today, a nice simple one to replace a light switch.

They have a nice 8 way board with 6 used ways, all RCBO's installed about 2 years ago. So i turn the light on that this switch controls and turn the relavent braker off and out goes the light. I then pop on my volt stick as i usually do before i check for dead and it beeps. Odd i think. So just to be sure i turn all the brakers of and the volt stick still beeps. I turn off the main switch and volt stick no longer beeps. To double check this i set my tester to volts and run through the same procedure again. Sure enough, there is a voltage at the switch until i turn the main switch off. So i think the sparky who installed the CU has made a big mistake and somehow connected live neutral reverse. So i pop the cu cover off and all looks ok (correct coloured wires in the right postions), the incoming tails look ok (the correct coloured tail in the correct terminals). I test for polarity with my AVI, and the live and neutral are reversed. So i mention to the client that this isnt good and he informs me that the meter was changed 3 months ago. I follow the live from the head and sure enough it goes into the neutral of the meter. Unbelievable, i mean these are supposed to be professionals and it isnt hard to test polarity.

So i phone the DNO and they tell me that it isnt their responsibility as they only go as far as the head and its the billing companies responsibility. So I leave telling the customer to contact their billing company ASAP to get them to sort it.

I am still fuming about this, i cant believe they screwed this up so bad!!!!! Not to mention it very dangerous!!!!!!

 

[telectrix]

@ delboy. i think that you were faced with a difficult decision. clients safety against technically breaking the law. as you have made the client aware of the situation and are going back monday, not much more you could do. the old farts amongst us would have cut the seals and reversed the tails, but i remember when i was a young sprog, it was drummed into us never to tamper with DNO/supplierts equipment. then however, we didn't have muppets changing meters.

 

[JD6400]

No i think you get a special prize for that one , free lecy !:grinningelf:

 

[DurhamSparky]

If you cut the seals and pull the bullet, and also cut the seals on the meter...do you get 2 different -------ings and does an engineer from 2 different companies have to come out to refit the seals?

Nah electricity supplier will seal both of them...! it can get awkward at times with buck passing and politics...!

 

[HandySparks]

I think I'd have contacted the electricity supplier myself, rather than leaving it for the customer to do. Give them the opportunity to sort it as an emergency job and advise them that I would be pulling the fuse unless they came out promptly.

 

[Marvo]

I think I'd have contacted the electricity supplier myself, rather than leaving it for the customer to do.

He did contact the DNO and they were happy to say it's not their problem.

 

[Des 56]

Agreed it is a dangerous situation and most would have acted instantly to rectify,but he did not cause this situation,he didn't put the user at risk,he instigated reporting of the danger,why are the venomous comments aimed at him

The other parties dont give a monkeys,either with the rectification or by employing people that should not make these errors

He was aware of the danger,he has informed the client of the danger,the danger has been reported,the law says he must not interfere with suppliers equipment,what more do you want?

The industry is alllowed to have incompetents performing in all sectors and these are the consequences

 

[La Poste]

The guy did what he was taught to do and thought of safety first, he's informed all the related parties.

He was also taught not to interfere with the companies property.

 

[Dave 85]

Agreed it is a dangerous situation and most would have acted instantly to rectify,but he did not cause this situation,he didn't put the user at risk,he instigated reporting of the danger,why are the venomous comments aimed at him

The other parties dont give a monkeys,either with the rectification or by employing people that should not make these errors

He was aware of the danger,he has informed the client of the danger,the danger has been reported,the law says he must not interfere with suppliers equipment,what more do you want?

The industry is alllowed to have incompetents performing in all sectors and these are the consequences

I agree, he did the right thing...He has no right to deny the householder electricity. I cant see anyone suddenly dropping dead just because they have reverse polarity for 24 hours.

Personally I woulda yanked the fuse and rectified because I've never been one to give a **** about petty rules but I have no problem with the OP's course of action

 

[HandySparks]

He did contact the DNO and they were happy to say it's not their problem.

Just to clarify, I meant the supplier, not the DNO. ie the company that fits the meter and bills the customer (billing company).
(Yes, the UK energy supply arrangements are confusing.)

DNOs:
Electricity Distribution Network Operators

Suppliers:
Electricity Suppliers: Energylinx lets you compare all UK Electricity Suppliers

 

[La Poste]

The electricity suppliers network must be a real cut throat business.

Very little profit margin and lots of competition.

The DNO's on the other hand must be raking it in, very little competition.

 

[D80]

Blimey, Northern Ireland has fallen off the map lol.

 

[markthespark]

I spent a short time with the DNO installing meters and the importance of polarity was drummed into us throughout our 2 week training course so i find it hard to believe how someone could leave an installation with reversed polarity!

It was a sackable offence, no 2nd chances!

 

[Knobhead]

As said it’s not the DNO’s problem. So long as their live is protected and the neutral unimpeded that’s their job done. Enter the supply company, in this instance it is their problem and unfortunately the consumers.

The whole situation smacks of incompetence on the part of the supply company operatives.

I’m disappointed Delboy didn’t act immediately to protect the customer.

If you look at the possible outcome of a fault on say a lighting circuit protected by nothing but a 100A fuse . . . . . Sorry my toes are curling up just thinking about this.
I got caught out years ago in a EE Red Spot SP fuse board, neutral bar live, it f***in* hurt!

 

[La Poste]

If you look at the possible outcome of a fault on say a lighting circuit protected by nothing but a 100A fuse . . . . . Sorry my toes are curling up just thinking about this.

Up in the loft with all the cables surrounded by insulation springs to my mind, big fire hazard.

I spent a short time with the DNO installing meters

I thought only the electricity suppliers installed meters, not the DNO's.

 

[ipf]

Up in the loft with all the cables surrounded by insulation springs to my mind, big fire hazard.



I thought only the electricity suppliers installed meters, not the DNO's.

Depends how long ago.