New consumer unit, builder says upgrade supply

[pariah66]

Hi

As part of a loft conversion to my 2 (now 3) floor flat in a Victorian Terraced house I have added about a dozen 2-gang sockets, a shaving socket, and about 16 downlights to my new floor, plus swapping four pendant lights for 16 downlights in the floor below.

An electrician was installing a new consumer unit today and then I got a call from the head builder who is not onsite. He told me the electrician is concerned that the main service feed coming into the fuse/meter is only 10mm across. The electrician has apparently wired and tested everything (even though he's left the ground floor lights not working) but says we can't turn on the power in the loft as he is not confident the consumer unit will not burn out or the RCDs will be constantly tripping as the mains service cable is too thin.

The head builder told me I will probably have to upgrade my supply. He started advising me to call The National Grid (I think he means UK power networks).

I checked the main feed wire and by my measurements it looks around 12mm across. My builder was saying it should be more like 35 mm across and they'd never seen this before.

I apologise for the lack of detail but that's literally all the information I have aside from two photos of the set-up which are attached.

The reason I am posting is this all seems very light on detail. For instance I would expect a bit more calculation and maybe some figures to justify why we need to shell out many thousands potentially to upgrade the supply. The same amount of people will be living in the house, there are just likely to be a few more lights on and maybe an extra device plugged in.

Could anyone offer any advice about this? Should I just accept it, should I ask UK Power Networks about it, or should I be asking for more detail about how he came to this conclusion (and if so, what?)? Do the photos suggest what we have is obviously wrong? Any pointers would be much appreciated


cheers,
Pariah66

 

[MG201]

Sounds like a Scottish girl that’s just bought a round!

WoW I’ve never met one of them they must be an extinct breed

 

[Baddegg]

WoW I’ve never met one of them they must be an extinct breed

They rare down here got to be extinct up there...

 

[Charlie_]

Sounds like a Scottish girl that’s just bought a round!

If that happens then for definite you are going nowhere..
“See you bonny lad, you’re coming home wi me!”

 

[MG201]

Sounds like a Scottish girl that’s just bought a round![/Qif u find any feel free to keep them UOTE]
WoW I’ve never met one of them they must be an extinct breed

If u find 1 feel free to keep her, as she will probably still be wearing a shell suit

 

[Simon47]

I also contacted UK power network who told me they are only responsible for up to the fuse. We found the incoming power feed (about 25mm thick) and the fuse in the basement, so the 10mm feed from the basement to my meter on the ground floor they tell me is my responsibility so an electrician can fix.

That sounds like "incorrect" information to me. Everything up to and including the meter are the responsibility of someone other than you - and no, your electrician cannot fiddle about with the wiring upstream of the meter, all the connections should be sealed for what should be obvious reasons (bypassing the meter anyone ?).
It may be that your DNO (UKPN) are only responsible up to the fuse downstairs - if that's the case, you lecky supplier (or whoever they contract out meter operations to) is responsible for the cable etc from the basement up to the meter.
Whether it's the DNO or your supplier, an electrician is not allowed to fiddle with it (and that includes pulling the fuse while they change the CU) - that fuse in your photos should have a seal on it. The lack of seal could cause you issues in the future.

 

[UKPN]

You can tell all this from a photo? How can you tell what fuse is inside the 100A rated fuse carrier?

Experience.

 

[tudore]

That sounds like "incorrect" information to me. Everything up to and including the meter are the responsibility of someone other than you - and no, your electrician cannot fiddle about with the wiring upstream of the meter, all the connections should be sealed for what should be obvious reasons (bypassing the meter anyone ?).
It may be that your DNO (UKPN) are only responsible up to the fuse downstairs - if that's the case, you lecky supplier (or whoever they contract out meter operations to) is responsible for the cable etc from the basement up to the meter.
Whether it's the DNO or your supplier, an electrician is not allowed to fiddle with it (and that includes pulling the fuse while they change the CU) - that fuse in your photos should have a seal on it. The lack of seal could cause you issues in the future.

I needed to move a board recently, and needed to get the DNO (Western Power) to move the supply and fuse. They also moved the meter, but sheared the head off a screw holding the tails, so I had to contact the electricity supplier/billing company (SSE) to replace the meter. So the DNO can move a meter for you at the same time as the fuse, unless the meter seals need to be broken, as they will in this case if replacing those 10mm2 tails.

 

[Steve000]

It's a pity that when the meters are read these days the only cause for alarm is when there's a couple of probes jammed into the meter tails helping to retard the meter via a device. Pyrotenax is temperamental at the best of times but an excellent cable with superior current carrying capacity. Earth Bond clamp on the copper sheath is hardly a respectable connection but that is the domain of the local supply authority, perhaps it was made off to an acceptable standard at some time. I would suggest therein lies the problems for starters. The suppliers should be making off into a suitable termination, that's their baby.