Non compliant Meter tails replacement with a non compliant fix!

[bobdabuilda]

Hello all, I am desperate for some advice on a job I had done yesterday by an electrical contractor.

The job was a meter tail replacement and routing to the cu but apparently it does not meet the 17th ed regs. For the sake of brevity the thread I started with relevant pictures of the install, is on this forum Damaged a meter neutral feed cable to CU - DIYnot.com - DIY and Home Improvement.

There have been all manner of answers and irrelevant posts but could a qualified electrician tell me if this install is safe and compliant please?

Thanks

 

[domestic spark]

get them to enclose the cables in conduit then, instead of pinning to the wall, and also leave plans of where it is with notes at CCU

 

[bobdabuilda]

get them to enclose the cables in conduit then, instead of pinning to the wall, and also leave plans of where it is with notes at CCU

but then it is still noncompliant being outside of a safe zone. It looks like the only way to do this via current regs is by running external tails out the side of the meter box and up the wall into the floor space and into the consumer unit..... unless there is some way of running them through the cavity whilst being compliant? I'm sure I read somewhere that you can run cables in the cavity if they are in conduit?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I believe Wire it is suggesting using thick walled metal conduit.
If the cables are at a depth less than 50mm, incorporate an earthed sheath, are in earthed conduit or trunking, or are provided with suitable mechanical protection, they do not have to be in safe zones.

 

[domestic spark]

that is fine as long as they are protected by penetration of screws and nails. earthed galvanized capping would be ok, however not as good as a bonded 3mm plate.

 

[bobdabuilda]

Would you be able to fit such thick conduit in that amount of space, without having to channel out more and damaging the integrity of the block if over 50%? If the tails are in earthed conduit internally or externally do they still require an RCD on the meter side? I was told by an electrician today that these are a pain with tripping all the time and having to go outside to turn it back on.

This is the route I am envisaging
http://media.diynot.com/56000_55343...218440&Signature=N3M4X4AlKSHxKP2dV+OLxIs41/4=

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Getting reinforced insulated tails into conduit smaller than 50mm is going to be a right pig.
Be slightly easier in 50mm trunking.
RCD protection is only applicable when the cables are run in safe zones, and no other method of additional protection is used.
By the way, your link does not appear to work.

 

[domestic spark]

no link doesnt work

 

[bobdabuilda]

sorry, this is the pic.

 

[domestic spark]

that will look nice for you lol

 

[bobdabuilda]

obviously not in red ;o) I thought it could be concealed by running it behind the drainpipe.

 

[domestic spark]

as long asd your tails are >50mm in the wall you can avoid safe zones. and just run them, i cant find anything to say otherwise

 

[domestic spark]

your other option is to run armoured to your DB in your house, is it man enough to gland too? either change to metal clad or put a through box underneath DB and gland your armoured to that first then run cores into board.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Don't think I'd be too impressed with it being run outside.
Unlikely that an adequately sized conduit would fit behind the drain pipe.
Could peraps run up alongside the drain pipe then into the property and along the wall near the ceiling. However that would rewuire a 30mA RCD.
Why exactly can't they run the cables in the cavity, is there a prohibition in the building Regulations?

 

[thekingiam]

cant he just run some swa along outside wall into bak of consumer unit?
oh i just come across this thread and havent read all the stuff yet.
i got to admit i laughed at the people on that diy site stating tape it up!!

 

[bobdabuilda]

So running in the cavity is ok? Why did the contractors say that it wasn't allowed? The meterbox is recessed so I'd have thought it should be easy to run cables in there. I suppose there's is the damp tracking risk?