Pulling fuses

[Guest55]

Any links to confirm that statement, where an electrician has pulled the fuse in order to undertake a CU change?? I just find that highly unlikely!! lol!!

agreed.
my understanding is that prosecutions are only brought about when its suspected electricity has been extracted without payment , ie a meter fiddle.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I can't resist any longer!

 

[RmBo_0]

Changed a CU last week and the meter had an isolation switch which is so much easier. Don't come across many like that though.

 

[Guest55]

I can't resist any longer!

what are you babbling on about now ?

and your post coincides beautifully with my new sig.

 

[Piratepete]

You can always ask the supplier to fit an isolation switch. Cost varies but in my area British Gas charges £45 (and do within a week) which most customers will accept. I insist on this if upgrading the tails means breaking the meter seals! And yes I pull the fuse but reseal it afterwards with own seals as a safety measure. How else can you find out what size it is? Carriers are usually unmarked.
Pete

 

[Darkwood]

Any links to confirm that statement, where an electrician has pulled the fuse in order to undertake a CU change?? I just find that highly unlikely!! lol!!

Yep realised i should have had it to hand before posting that... i read it in an article re' smart meters and their intrusiveness and the legality of them and their emmisions (RF) ...it brought up a couple of similar cases where a utility customer was quoted for them to come out and power down for a DB change and then reconnect after, the quote was never accepted then the utility company set the meter to alert on any power downs which didnt coincide with DNO issues which to cut a long story short led to two companies been issued with fines for tampering with the meters....
Prior to this it was like headbutting a brick wall trying to successfully convict anyone as they could just say it was already cut when you were onsite and you didnt tamper with it.... now you can put a power down or a interference with the terminal cover on the meter down to a time and date against an invoice for work done.... no house holder would willingly cover for a company at the thought of a fine themselves (scare tactic)..... i see this as an attempt to reel in extra cash and the more test cases that are won the more resources will be put to catching those illegally pulling fuses ...it can only escalate with the mass install of these devices, ive swapped utility companies a few times and always refuse a smart been fitted and if they insist i go elsewhere... i dont like the idea the meter software can be upgraded live as they could get up to all sorts of revenue generating schemes...

 

[applemac]

just before xmas i was putting a new board in, hight level next to front door of unoccupied house, did a cut and tug jobbie when i looked round to the glass pained front door to see a nose against the glass, meter reader!
didnt seem to bothered to what i was doing but got chatting to him about the new smart meter systems coming into place.
he said they have a phone line link for broadcasting information.

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just before xmas i was putting a new board in, hight level next to front door of unoccupied house, did a cut and tug jobbie when i looked round to the glass pained front door to see a nose against the glass, meter reader!
didnt seem to bothered to what i was doing but got chatting to him about the new smart meter systems coming into place.
he said they have a phone line link for broadcasting information.

 

[sparkless]

strong wind in Birmingham, usually blows the seals off before I get there

 

[Steve_P]

he said they have a phone line link for broadcasting information.

That'll only work if the customer allows them to connect to their phone line surely, maybe it's ok for this lot to steal phone calls but not for anyone to do anything to the seals. Or do they rely on a built in O2 sim? It'll stop working if it doesn't dial every 3 months anyway.

 

[Darkwood]

No steve they have radio frequency units they transmit on air and receive from central hub if they are out of reach they transmit data from meter to meter until within range .... a big concern is the strength of the RF signals which is massive compared to say your phone so health concerns are rife but im concerned about the ability to manipulate the KWhr ratio's how do we ever know they aint putting the apparent usage up for a few days at a time ...enough to hide the fact but done over a large customer base its a big money earner and very hard to proof, they can also track your daily habits what your using when and how often.... user info is a multi million business and can be sold to anyone ..... it the biggest problem with modern society how you do you daily business is worth alot of money to many people.

Personally ive nothing to hide but still respect a certain amount of my privacy and dont like the fact that my personal habits and lifestyle is been spied and sold to whoever requests it.

If you own a phone, computer use a cash card you name it your habits and movements are been logged and profited on.

 

[Des 56]

Pulling the cut out fuse is illegal
Getting them to do it for you is a nightmare
Common sense tells you to work safely.fuse gets pulled


I love these threads,both by the persons posing the question and the terrible consequences warned of by fellow electricians
Anti pull the fuse posters come on here with dire warnings about the dangers of doing so and warnings to wear the appropriate gear etc

Remember what your trade is supposed to be,I will remind you,its an Electrician

Electricians are supposed to be skilled at working safely with electrics,whether that be pulling fuses or working live
The dire warnings do not wash with me one little bit, warning electricians about pulling fuses is akin to warning plasterers of the danger of spreading cement

If you need to ask on a forum about pulling fuses and thereby stirring up the dire warnings about what can happen to you,then it may be time to look at other trades to earn your crust

If you have doubt don't do it. also be aware that working with electricity is dangerous,but it is your occupation and there are tasks that come with the job

 

[Darkwood]

Des your spoiling my conspiracy theory post ..... Its a public forum we cant be seen to be promoting an illegal act although we can suggest what happens in reality, i tread carefully around this type of question ..you never know who snooping in on such a thread! .... :wink5:

Im just glad ive never pulled the DNO fuse myself!!! cough....cough!!

 

[Des 56]

I think the best that advise for them to be given is "don't do it,its illegal"

I can be an awkward sole sometimes with what us sparks are suupposed to do or leave alone

I am never happy that electricians are given hints during a thread how it does happen and to be told to be carefull doing so.


If they have to ask about seals,they need to leave them alone

 

[shanky887614]

I think the best that advise for them to be given is "don't do it,its illegal"

I can be an awkward sole sometimes with what us sparks are suupposed to do or leave alone

I am never happy that electricians are given hints during a thread how it does happen and to be told to be carefull doing so.


If they have to ask about seals,they need to leave them alone

personally i was always taught to work live to move the tails if the fuse is after the meter.

if its before the meter it doesnt matter.

thats about the only use i have for long nose.

surely a forum for electricians wouldnt flinch an eye lid about working live as long as its safe to do so

 

[Fin170]

Not sure how the smart meter argument will work with replacing tails. They're customers property and can't see how they will fine you because they didn't bother to put seperate covers on the terminals.

Will have to drop them out live (unloaded) if they want to steal money for allowing me to do my job safely, or invest in a lead bucket to place over the meter while I go Dick Darstadly with the fuse....