new consumer unit

[neil_ev]

Hi all.

When upgrading a fuse box to a 17th ed. CU is it a legal requirement to get an isolation switch fitted, or can it be done live. Far from ideal I know, but the £90 price tag set by manweb puts a lot of customers off.

Thanks.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Those are gay seals.

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Well, it is an age of equality and all that' wouldn't want to be seen as homophobic by posting some heterosexual seals

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

You are indeed politically correct by posting those seals

 

[neil_ev]

This is my query. It's fine if there is no alternative but to get an isolation switch fitted, but am purely asking if there is any other method.

In answer to that then....... yes there is.

Do these other methods fall within the regulations? If so please feel free to expand.....

 

[onions1066]

Unless the meter has an isolator switch built in you should get an isolator fitted but you could always pull the fuse but be warned if you do the world might start spinning the other way.

 

[7029 dave]

Pull the big one.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Hi all.

When upgrading a fuse box to a 17th ed. CU is it a legal requirement to get an isolation switch fitted, or can it be done live. Far from ideal I know, but the £90 price tag set by manweb puts a lot of customers off.

Thanks.

Have you read this yet?!

http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...king-live-distribution-boards.html#post891747

 

[Zebra Stripe]

Do these other methods fall within the regulations? If so please feel free to expand.....

Neil, if your that worried, call clients electricity supplier and arrange an appointment for them to pull the main fuse in morning, you install the CU & dead test, they come back at end of day and liven up/re-seal, job done.......or just pull it yourself - unless of course it looks old & deteriorated - if so then get on phone.

 

[jaythegooner]

hi
if there electric is supplied be a electric supplier they contact them it takes a week, and its normally free , if its british gas its 49.99 or there about , i had a chat with western power this week and they are happy for someone to pull the fuse ,then i fit the isolater which are £30 to buy a 100 amp . its all great cutting fuses but if they turn up or the property owner is asked they will blame you . you need safe isolation so you can upgrade the tails to 25mm . follow the book you wont go wrong . i no loads of sparks doing it and there always looking over there shoulder . hope it helps kindest regards jason

 

[Zebra Stripe]

hi
if there electric is supplied be a electric supplier they contact them it takes a week, and its normally free , if its british gas its 49.99 or there about , i had a chat with western power this week and they are happy for someone to pull the fuse ,then i fit the isolater which are £30 to buy a 100 amp . its all great cutting fuses but if they turn up or the property owner is asked they will blame you . you need safe isolation so you can upgrade the tails to 25mm . follow the book you wont go wrong . i no loads of sparks doing it and there always looking over there shoulder . hope it helps kindest regards jason

Being charged and hanging on the phone for days while pulling your hair out and contemplating whether murder in this instance would be looked upon favourably by a judge, are just some of the reasons not to bother calling the supplier. As long as your not tampering with the meter, and it is obvious that electrical work requiring isolation of the installation has taken place, IMO you've nothing to worry about.......However, if the main fuse looks old and shows signs of deterioration, and if your uncomfortable doing so, dont pull it......Just out of interest why would you need to up grade the tails to 25mm, we dont know the main fuse size?

 

[jaythegooner]

well isnt 25mm and 16mm earth , current regs . and any seals you cut is against the law , as if we dont no already , ( 3 reasons we cut seal . safety of property . livestock . people ) then we notify the correct authority to reseal . and on about being on the phone for so long its not you who rings obviously its something you dont do . take no notice of who said just cut away because they are wrong if unsure ring yourself .this is the problem with sparkys out of date . sorry you are definatly wrong .

 

[telectrix]

the problem is that your new tails have to go into the meter. loads of posters have said cut the fuse seals but don't touch the meter seals. this means using henley blocks to connect your new tails into the old meter tails. then you got to call supplier to connect them direct into meter. catch 22.

 

[jaythegooner]

no even with henley blocks your still working live , these suppliers arent stupid , the reason we upgrade to 25mm is because demand ( bigger fuse boards drawing more power ) . this is why there changed we no they want to put 60 amp fuses is , but if you need 100 amp they will leave it in . you are paying for it .

 

[Zebra Stripe]

well isnt 25mm and 16mm earth , current regs . and any seals you cut is against the law , as if we dont no already , ( 3 reasons we cut seal . safety of property . livestock . people ) then we notify the correct authority to reseal . and on about being on the phone for so long its not you who rings obviously its something you dont do . take no notice of who said just cut away because they are wrong if unsure ring yourself .this is the problem with sparkys out of date . sorry you are definatly wrong .

Oh dear

 

[spark 68]

well isnt 25mm and 16mm earth , current regs . and any seals you cut is against the law , as if we dont no already , ( 3 reasons we cut seal . safety of property . livestock . people ) then we notify the correct authority to reseal . and on about being on the phone for so long its not you who rings obviously its something you dont do . take no notice of who said just cut away because they are wrong if unsure ring yourself .this is the problem with sparkys out of date . sorry you are definatly wrong .

Ha cos the OSG says so . lol