Pulled a fuse today...

[Knobhead]

So where’s the problem? A bog standard DNO sub main. As for explaining it, why?

 

[Eddiesparks]

Couldn't agree more... like they do in Scotland .... but its just a profit game for them and frustration for us... Ive changed many with live tails ... its a matter of competence and PPE... Im no fool I hope either... they are single core its simple task to cut them live and fit into a Henley block..just don't get into the habit of chewing the insulation of the end of your cutters :hat:

It 's a simple task but one that carries a lot more risk than pulling a fuse i reckon!

If there's henlys already in place then unscrewing the outgoing live and getting it out quick is acceptable i suppose but always far from ideal.

A belt from meter tails is going to be a lot worse than a tingle off some rcd protected lights.

 

[topquark]

Number to notify SSE (DNO for Southsea) for resealing -- 8000 483516. Temp seals available from local DNO stores in Portsmouth (Walton Road). Just ring nr to notify before removal and use a temp seal after. They'll arrange with home owner to reseal fuse/Meter as necessary.

They'll want to know that you have approp PPE and knowledge before issuing temp seals.

 

[infinity]

We used to install these when I worked for sse they are red links,nothing wrong with it, the fuse will be in the riefield unit in the riser
These are mounted in each flat by the meter as mentioned

 

[7029 dave]

Link fuse, an all above.^^^

 

[Eddiesparks]

So they are basically a single pole isolator?

 

[infinity]

Basically, yes

 

[southsea1201]

I'd like to thank all the contributors, having rarely ever having worked in flats I'd never seen this before....

 

[atm84]

I pulled the main fuse in an ex council house to find 40amp BS88. The client wanted an electric shower and storage heaters. I said the fuse wasn't big enough. The DB had been switched off for a few months and when switched back on with only two storage heaters on the fuse blew. I called the DNO, they came out, changed the 40 amp fuse for a 100 amp. He never bothered to seal it and gave me a few seals for myself.

 

[Rockingit]

I do wish people would learn about this properly. It's not illegal, per se. It's the DNO's equipment, and yes it's an offence under something somewhere to tamper with DNO equipment. If it came down to it in court, it would be the job of the DNO to argue why you should NOT have pulled the fuse - HSE would default to your defence - assuming that you are a competent person to start with as defined by EAWR. I have yet to meet a DNO lad who'd even mildly been bothered by a proper sparks making safe to work (although a couple of grumpy ones have commented that it's chargeable work!). It's only the office plebs that haven't got the first clue and no experience of being at the coal face. That being said, you do also need to know what you're doing and looking at - if one came apart or exploded in your hand whilst pulling.........

 

[Geordie Spark]

Scotland has a different approach if I remember not repeated in many other areas ... you can go on a 1 day course and have authority to withdraw and replace the cutout fuses or maybe just prove competence can't remeber how it works with the jocks ... Majority of the UK you cannot although Im sure ill be reminded where you can ...

PS any country that lets their tackle swing free in icy winds is tough enough in my mind to pull the main DNO without PPE

Never mind the "icy winds" ... what about the thistles??

 

[Knobhead]

I do wish people would learn about this properly. It's not illegal, per se. It's the DNO's equipment, and yes it's an offence under something somewhere to tamper with DNO equipment. If it came down to it in court, it would be the job of the DNO to argue why you should NOT have pulled the fuse - HSE would default to your defence - assuming that you are a competent person to start with as defined by EAWR. I have yet to meet a DNO lad who'd even mildly been bothered by a proper sparks making safe to work (although a couple of grumpy ones have commented that it's chargeable work!). It's only the office plebs that haven't got the first clue and no experience of being at the coal face. That being said, you do also need to know what you're doing and looking at - if one came apart or exploded in your hand whilst pulling.........

Now this has me fascinated.

Please explain just why a fuse would explode? It’s only the reaction people have to pull a fuse back out when they hear the initial “crack” when it’s put in under load that causes problems. That comes down to proper training. You keep on pushing the fuse home, if there’s a fault the fuse will deal with it. Even in a metal head you’d have to be totally cag handed to short one to earth. You need to know what you are doing and be confident, without both of them you are heading for disaster.

 

[Engineer54]

Even i would be a little wary of pulling an old ceramic 3036 service fuse in a metallic enclosure that showed signs of damage or cracks!! lol!!

 

[SparkyJoe]

Id rather take the risk with the DNO being arseholes, then risk myself trying to change a db live.

 

[Knobhead]

Even i would be a little wary of pulling an old ceramic 3036 service fuse in a metallic enclosure that showed signs of damage or cracks!! lol!!

If it shows signs of damage then yes, leave it alone. They don’t just disintegrate if you sneeze near them.

It was more the comment that it could explode that got me interested.