No wonder I am constantly banging on about DNOs

[oldtimer]

Whent to a job this morning checked out the supplies before starting the job and found there was no earth connection I noticed the cut out was fairly new so I asked the customer what the script was he said he got electrical work 5 years ago and the spark said you dont have a proper earth contact your DNO so he did and they came out and rectified it great but look at the photo attached the customer paid to get an earth in but they did not put the 1 metre of 16mm cable in so affectivly he paid for an earth but never got one I will say it again under the trades description act the DNO should be obliged to supply a L-N&E and even if they dont want to touch the consumer side they should issue a warning postcard the same as Transco are doing when they work on the gas.

 

[JD6400]

Beyond words really !!!

 

[rocker]

Unbelievable. They ae the worst of all the cowboys.... I'm sick of being on the phone with them saying that the cut out is melted and knackered... 'does it look like it's been like that for a while? If so, it's probably safe' well that's hardly the attitude, is it?

You'd think they would at least tell the customer that they aren't hooking it up to the CU. Sod this I'm not bothering in future; much quicker, cheaper and above all safer to connect up yourself with a bloody bonding clamp!

 

[oldtimer]

Just in case any of you wondering I put a 16mm earth in so I can sleep at night

 

[baldsparkies]

100% agree with you oldtimer,
Last time I came across this was in a large pub with restaurant attached.
Your pick shows TN-S system, but the one I went to was PME. I had a rant, over the fact that the install had been left in a very dangerous state. (We all know what happens to a PME system without the earth conductor connected) But they didn't give a monkeys.
Well out of order, but they think there god

 

[Engineer54]

I think these situations are down to the meter installer companies, not the DNOs as such. Few of there meter installers are actual electricians, as they once were under the old electricity board companies. Some of these meter installers today, are lucky if they get a couple of days training before there sent out into the field.

Same old story really, ''Cheap Labour'' Rules i'm afraid!!!

 

[malcolmsanford]

I have to agree E54 the break up of the old Central Electricity Generating Board into all these regional franchises, and we now have the situation of a generating sector and a suppliers section. Yes I think your right mate the DNO supplied an Earth to head, and I think it is then the responsibility of the suppliers/meter companies to take in into the installation.

But I bet your bottom dollar that both will say that no it is the customers responsibility to bring it in to the installation.

 

[p11jor]

Had one on Xmas day.....reverse polarity, the wire had blown on the neutral supply......only had a piece of cable on me, put the copper link in so they could cook there Xmas dinner whilst waiting for sou£&#n electric to come out, explained I had put a copper link in his words were "swell man I will put 60amp fuse wire in when i get there"

Customer told me he was a **** and switched the whole supply off for the house as it needed a test before going live again....made the customer switch it back on herself, sealed the porcelain neutral supply,

Couple days later I went round, the neutral on the main switch had burnt out, checked the porcelain fuse and he had not replaced it.....

So basically he had come round to be a **** and switch the customers supply off on Xmas day, when all he needed to do was wrap his fuse wire which they would have tons of on there van......
My lesson was learnt well and truly, if they ask you to do anything on the phone if there is a problem I just say no I only go from the consumer, the same way they will only go up to the consumer

 

[Geordie Spark]

I have to agree E54 the break up of the old Central Electricity Generating Board into all these regional franchises, and we now have the situation of a generating sector and a suppliers section. Yes I think your right mate the DNO supplied an Earth to head, and I think it is then the responsibility of the suppliers/meter companies to take in into the installation.

But I bet your bottom dollar that both will say that no it is the customers responsibility to bring it in to the installation.

Yet another of Thatcher's legacies.

 

[DurhamSparky]

In my Eyes the customer Paid for a a DNO Earth to be Fitted..! he got what he paid for...! lets not forget the responsibility for DNO stops at the Service head...!!
the spark who originally told him to get DNO to fit earth should have checked all way ok before issuing final signed certs!!

lets not jump on the back of the DNO as they could have frankly said "Pi55 off" and get your spark to fit a ROD...!

 

[telectrix]

in defence of DNOs, Norweb get a pat on the back from me. the other week i was called out to a retail shop with partial loss of power. turned out they had lost the red phase completely due to a blown DNO fuse. called |Norweb, and the guy was on site within 30 mins and replaced the red cut-out with fuse and the tail to the meter.

 

[Geordie Spark]

in defence of DNOs, Norweb get a pat on the back from me. the other week i was called out to a retail shop with partial loss of power. turned out they had lost the red phase completely due to a blown DNO fuse. called |Norweb, and the guy was on site within 30 mins and replaced the red cut-out with fuse and the tail to the meter.

It's the luck of the draw innit?

But it shouldn't be !!!

 

[mogga]

its worse than Luck of The Draw its pot luck and depends on where you are and who your DNO is Had a series7 neutral cover missing called at 1430 told call girl ( she may as well have been as she ddint have a clue what I was saying) what was required guy was there in 30mins done dusted all be it the stores heating had to have gasman out to reset as it was 25ft in the air lol

 

[VoltzElectrical]

100% agree with you oldtimer,
Last time I came across this was in a large pub with restaurant attached.
Your pick shows TN-S system, but the one I went to was PME. I had a rant, over the fact that the install had been left in a very dangerous state. (We all know what happens to a PME system without the earth conductor connected) But they didn't give a monkeys.
Well out of order, but they think there god

Is the picture not actually showing a TNC-S? Surely a TN-S would have a separate earthing conductor?

 

[telectrix]

can't tell by the pic. if that earth block is linked to the N in the cut-out, then its a complete bodge.