Requirement to Change Tails?

[Piratepete]

Met a (proper so he said) electrician in my local Denmans. In a discussion about changing a CU he said I needed to put new tails in. I said 'wot even if they're the correct size and in good condition?' He says yes!

That's new to me! Anyone?

Pete

 

[sparksburnout]

Does the OSG actually tell you that? I don't think so.

well, I'll gladly stand corrected, and it's in the van now and I can't be arsed to fetch it, but I am sure it does. I looked the other day when doing a particularly tricky tail swap, would have been bliss to leave them in and just put some blue and brown tape on them

 

[Risteard]

Incidentally (and apologies for getting off-topic), why is posession of a guide book mandatory? It's BS 7671 that you have to adhere to (not the OSG).

 

[davesparks]

Incidentally (and apologies for getting off-topic), why is posession of a guide book mandatory? It's BS 7671 that you have to adhere to (not the OSG).

Is it mandatory?

 

[Risteard]

Is it mandatory?

I believe for the NIC it is, or their Site Guide instead.

 

[ferg]

Incidentally (and apologies for getting off-topic), why is posession of a guide book mandatory? It's BS 7671 that you have to adhere to (not the OSG).

TBH I always thought BS7671 was guidance.

I'm sure better minds will be along shortly to correct me.

 

[Risteard]

TBH I always thought BS7671 was guidance.

I'm sure better minds will be along shortly to correct me.

LOL. I believe it's an Approved Code of Practice.

 

[ruston]

well, I'll gladly stand corrected, and it's in the van now and I can't be arsed to fetch it, but I am sure it does. I looked the other day when doing a particularly tricky tail swap, would have been bliss to leave them in and just put some blue and brown tape on them

Well to be fair to you, it does say that on page 19.

PS. But the reg next to it leads you to 'identification of conductors' in the regs book, not the conductor size.
It is a bit misleading if you don't check the regs.

 

[Pete999]

generally you need to replace the tails because the old ones are red/black. that will never do. what if a french electrician was the next man there. he'd hold up his hands in horror. oh, seems they did that in 1940.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g

Not like the French then Tel

 

[Piratepete]

Well to be fair to you, it does say that on page 19.

PS. But the reg next to it leads you to 'identification of conductors' in the regs book, not the conductor size.
It is a bit misleading if you don't check the regs.

Ok. I can see where he got his 'requirement' from. But this is only advice - no such requirement in the regs. In the paragraph below it also says 'Where the meter tails are protected against fault current by the distributor's cutout, the method of installation, max length and minimum cross-sectional area must comply with the requirements of the distributor.'
So in future I'll phone up Western Power Distribution and ask them! LOL!

Every annual assessment I've had for the last 15 years involves a new CU with tail size (never mind the colours) to suit the cutout size. I've never had comment about it and my assessor has eagle eyes! Sod!

 

[ruston]

Ok. I can see where he got his 'requirement' from. But this is only advice - no such requirement in the regs. In the paragraph below it also says 'Where the meter tails are protected against fault current by the distributor's cutout, the method of installation, max length and minimum cross-sectional area must comply with the requirements of the distributor.'
So in future I'll phone up Western Power Distribution and ask them! LOL!

Every annual assessment I've had for the last 15 years involves a new CU with tail size (never mind the colours) to suit the cutout size. I've never had comment about it and my assessor has eagle eyes! Sod!

I agree with you , it is not unusual around here to have 60 amp cut outs , 80 is fairly common but 100 not so.

That information in the OSG can mislead given the reg number next to it.
Happy days.:stooge_curly:

 

[Octopus]

I agree with you , it is not unusual around here to have 60 amp cut outs , 80 is fairly common but 100 not so.

That information in the OSG can mislead given the reg number next to it.
Happy days.:stooge_curly:

Just that information is misleading in the OSG ?? lol

 

[Risteard]

Just that information is misleading in the OSG ?? lol

LOL. The unfortunate thing is I frequently see the OSG presented as "the Regulations".

And people don't always believe you when you tell them it is only guidance on how to comply with the Regulations for simple installations <= 100A (even though this is clearly stated in the On-Site Guide!).

 

[Lagentium]

I've always been intrigued by the CCC of the concentric cables that feed houses, I know they are out of our bounds, but they don't half seem small!!

 

[davesparks]

I've always been intrigued by the CCC of the concentric cables that feed houses, I know they are out of our bounds, but they don't half seem small!!

Around here they use 35mm as standard for all 100A SP supplies, not all that small really

 

[Dave OCD]

I've always been intrigued by the CCC of the concentric cables that feed houses, I know they are out of our bounds, but they don't half seem small!!

A large percentage of domestic supplies will be 16mm concentric or split concentric if TNS supplies.
Weird how supply regs differ to ours in that you can have a 16mm or 25mm cable jointed straight off something like a 185 or bigger with huge fuses behind it.