Neferious wiring to the hot side of an electricity meter

[Dave Jenkins]

Here’s one for you:


A friend of a friend asked me to assess the wiring in his recently deceased father’s house – a small bungalow in fact.

Now the Dad (‘Frank’) was a bit of a botcher so I was expecting the worst.

Consumer unit – perfect with the wiring all neatly fitted etc. Wiring for the ring finals was exemplary.

But, I found a ‘change-over switch’ with cables running into the loft. I traced the ‘Line’ cable to a Henley block hidden behind and screwed to a piece of asbestos, with the cable connected to the other side (hot side) running behind several other cables into….the top of the meter! Closer inspection revealed the seals on the meter fuse had been cut as well as the paper seals round the meter housing. So Frank had wired in a cable on the live side of the meter and used a change over switch to get himself some free power.

Bugger is though, he’d already been done for the same thing some years before. The engineer that replaced that meter said to Frank that it was tamper proof but Frank clearly took that as a personal challenge!!

I attached a summary explanation of my findings to the EICR and left it with the 'client'.

I understand that following my investigations the nefarious cable running to the output of the Henley block was removed (but not the cable connected to the meter) together with the change-over switch and about a dozen sockets connected to the output of the change-over switch….

So there are no circuits connected to the wrong side of the meter now.


Question is, what should this guy do now because the meter will need changing when the house is extended and the dodgy wiring is bound to be spotted (it’s green)?

Possible choices:

1. Deny knowing anything about it?

2. ‘Fess up and throw himself on the mercy of NORWEB/Scottish Power?

3. Do nothing at all and hope nobody notices?

4. Something else?


The friend in question reportedly said he’d happily blame his dad if ever it went to court!

 

[Pete999]

....but that is illogical captain....

Indubitable Mr Spock, Indubitable set a new course warp 8

 

[Pete999]

....but that is illogical captain....

Indubitable Mr Spock, Indubitable set a new course warp 8

 

[telectrix]

the engines won't take it captain, they're ready to blow.

 

[snowhead]

It won't be a surprise to the DNO, given the previous.
They'd be interested in how "the tamperproof" meter was defeated.
They can't prosecute anyone, so can't even claim any money back from the estate.

Disclaimer; I certain you have to be alive to be prosectuted for an offence.

As above, any cover up would be frowned upon and could lead to prosecution.

 

[Pete999]

the engines won't take it captain, they're ready to blow.

Stick an RCBO in there Scotty

 

[telectrix]

RCBO? is that a Rocket Control Blast Orifice, like the one fitted to the Endeavour?

 

[Octopus]

I did an EICR a couple of years back.... a meter monkey had removed the off peak meter and had looped the supply from the head directly into the CU..... so a real dodgy situation.

Being on the meter side of the install I wrote up the report, stated that I was concerned about fraud and submitted it with my invoice ....they paid me, never been back!

 

[Marvo]

We had a very similar thread not long ago - have a search for it......

You have a good memory, we did have a very similar thread but unfortunately it was started by a troll who was replying in his own thread using multiple user accounts so it was deleted at the same time when I banned him.

 

[FatAlan]

Just tell your friend to flag it up with the DNO. I take it that there wasn't a hydroponics set up in the loft? Do you know what the bypass circuit was powering and how much of a loss the supplier would have suffered? All I'd be worried about is any financial liability. If it's all down to the late Frank then honesty is the best policy. If in doubt get some legal advice just in case the DNO decides to look back at consumption and calculate a loss that they could claim back off Franks estate.

 

[Rpa07]

Wow I did not know that (obviously) thanks for telling.

You have a good memory, we did have a very similar thread but unfortunately it was started by a troll who was replying in his own thread using multiple user accounts so it was deleted at the same time when I banned him.