Meters and boards Question

[Luke105]

I work for a company who installs electric heaters.

Usually we remove old storage heaters and replace them with our heaters using the same point with a new switched fcu.

The fuse board is usually just an old Wylex type with just an on off switch and non switched fuses.
The board is powered from the live coming out of the radio teleswitch meter so to make the board live 24 hours we remove this cable and put it into a Henley block which has permanent live feed.

The questions are....
Are we allowed to touch these meters as there are stickers all over them saying property of the electricity board.

Secondly, using the old points coming from the old style board with just an on off switch. Is this ok?

 

[Midwest]

Oh dear. Another unsatisfied customer.

 

[littlespark]

OP, you asked a simple question, you got a simple answer;
The company you work for is cutting so many corners, they've made a circle.

If the work was only changing the heaters, isolating locally, then I don't think BS7671 applies as its not the "fixed wiring" that's being worked on.... but anything that involves disconnecting the supply/ pulling the main fuse (which even us boring tradesmen are not permitted to do) or working in the distribution boards would need a qualified spark, and certification afterwards.

Obviously you cannot name the company you work for on this very public forum, but you could tell us the make of the heaters you are fitting. They may not be as good as the advertising claims.

 

[Luke105]

Oh dear. Another unsatisfied customer.

Seen it all. Someone asks a question and y

OP, you asked a simple question, you got a simple answer;
The company you work for is cutting so many corners, they've made a circle.

If the work was only changing the heaters, isolating locally, then I don't think BS7671 applies as its not the "fixed wiring" that's being worked on.... but anything that involves disconnecting the supply/ pulling the main fuse (which even us boring tradesmen are not permitted to do) or working in the distribution boards would need a qualified spark, and certification afterwards.

Obviously you cannot name the company you work for on this very public forum, but you could tell us the make of the heaters you are fitting. They may not be as good as the advertising claims.

I am qualified. I just asked a question about permitted work on the meter as I was unsure as some companies can have agreements with firms.
The board question was linked to this and just to see about rcd.

Thanks

 

[Midwest]

I can see OP's point chaps. Its all a learning thing. Some of the members on here, appear to have gone from zero to hero in one step and nothing in between.

 

[ipf]

I can see OP's point chaps. Its all a learning thing. Some of the members on here, appear to have gone from zero to hero in one step and nothing in between.

I agree wholeheartedly, mate.
Ok, Luke may be a bit short of knowledge in some areas but at least he realizes something is going ---- up and feels that he wants to do something about it. He wants to learn.
There do seem to be a lot more 'know alls', these days.....jumping in presumptuously.

 

[Shoei]

I can see OP's point chaps. Its all a learning thing. Some of the members on here, appear to have gone from zero to hero in one step and nothing in between.

Fair point but it's workplace safety issue and not really about electrical practice. Luke's employer has a simple way to avoid live working - just ask the DNO to fit an isolator. Asking employees to work live without justification is a criminal offence. Credit to Luke for questioning the situation but it won't be resolved by friendly advice from a forum, these things are fine until they're not fine.

 

[Midwest]

Fair point but it's workplace safety issue and not really about electrical practice. Luke's employer has a simple way to avoid live working - just ask the DNO to fit an isolator. Asking employees to work live without justification is a criminal offence. Credit to Luke for questioning the situation but it won't be resolved by friendly advice from a forum, these things are fine until they're not fine.

'course your right, and I think he knows the answer to his question. But he just wants confirmation of his doubts, before he opens his gob. You know what its like, going in to the Lions den with your boss, telling him what he's doing is not safe & right.

 

[ipf]

They're shysters and criminals and want showing up as such.....but when someone needs a wage, what do they do? They're put in no mans land and that's where the problem becomes greater for them. I know it's worse being in a dangerous situation but what do you do....report it and lose your living wage?

 

[richy3333]

If it's the heaters I think they are, they're carp IMHO. Selling snake oil. I have a customer that has had the exact situation. Storage heaters removed SO fitted, new super duper storage heaters installed. As others have said he was left with no heating after a meter change.
If people want electric heating there's plenty of better choices at a fraction of the cost!

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I don’t think any of my responses have been out of order.
Might be useful if someone could point out which of them are.

 

[Luke105]

That’s correct. To perform the task safely we have to pull the main fuse. If we don’t pull the fuse out we have to put the economy board live tail into a live Henley block and hope we don’t touch it with our fingers!

 

[Toneyz]

That’s correct. To perform the task safely we have to pull the main fuse. If we don’t pull the fuse out we have to put the economy board live tail into a live Henley block and hope we don’t touch it with our fingers!

The problem this is not a one-off its become standard practice for the job that you are doing.

 

[sparksburnout]

Fair point but it's workplace safety issue and not really about electrical practice. Luke's employer has a simple way to avoid live working - just ask the DNO to fit an isolator. Asking employees to work live without justification is a criminal offence. Credit to Luke for questioning the situation but it won't be resolved by friendly advice from a forum, these things are fine until they're not fine.

I am a bit uneasy with this: "
Electrician suffered shock when electrical supply had not been properly isolated
Inadequate isolation
An electrician received a severe electric shock whilst carrying out building refurbishment and fitting out work in a new estates office. The electrical supply had not been properly isolated." If he is an electrician, how come he did not go through the safe isolation procedure? It should be embedded on the back of any decent sparks eyelids surely? I find it a bit odd it is on the HSE website.

 

[Midwest]

I don’t think any of my responses have been out of order.
Might be useful if someone could point out which of them are.

You don't agree with anyone; where do we start.

 

[Midwest]

Oh dear. Another unsatisfied customer.

I do fear some have miscued my double entendre; or have they?