Scary dangerous

[trev]

I got a call from a mate of mine on friday, he's a joiner with a client who bought a smaller place after their kids moved out and want a new CU. So I bowl up yesterday to take a look thinking "Yes this is the major job I need for my DI ticket" (Don't worry guys I'm fully qualified)
There's possibly a couple of things needed on the job, smoke alarms for one, but talking to the owners and recommending them I said I'll take a look at the existing CU because you never know it might comply and then you don't need to spend the money
"Where is the mains?" I asked. I'm thinking, a quick look at the CU, the earthing system and what's existing re bonding etc and I'll be able to give them an idea of what needs to be done and how much it's going to cost them. I was shown to a cupboard filled with coats, sundry stuff, a vacuum cleaner and a shedload of children's toys. After clearing it what i saw filled me with horror.
The tails from the cutout led to the meter as we would expect, no isolator but hey no surprise there but the meter had no cover on the incoming or outgoing tails. When I got out of the cupboard I told them it had to be sorted right now!. The lady then asked "Is it really that bad I thought it couldn't be dangerous otherwise it wouldn't be that way"
Of course there is no record of anyone doing any work on the property at any time. NEDL sent a guy out within an hour, isolator fitted, cover on the terminals, jobs a good un and I got a good nights sleep last night, but the thought of toddlers going in that cupboard for years to get their toys.......

 

[i=p/u]

you still havent slept have you trev..... im doing kitchen rewire at mo, they having another 30 spotlights installed which they probably have 40 around the house already. i went into attic and cables everywhere and i mean everywhere and insulation over the top and right up close too loadsof fittings, i could see the sindging and burnt marks and they have two kids in the house......, just shows you the ordinary person hasnt a clue

 

[topquark]

Unbelievable that it had been like that for such a long time! Well done for doing the right thing!

 

[trev]

When people ask me "Is it dangerous?" I always answer well the USA used to use electricity to execute murderers.
Maybe we should use it to get shot of the cowboys

 

[i=p/u]

and still do, i like it.

 

[richy3333]

When people ask me "Is it dangerous?" I always answer well the USA used to use electricity to execute murderers.Maybe we should use it to get shot of the cowboys

That's a great retort, think I'll try that one

 

[Mr.Si]

Me too. That's very scary to me and I don't even have kids yet!

One slip of a hand in the wrong place...

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Me too. That's very scary to me and I don't even have kids yet!One slip of a hand in the wrong place...

....slip of a hand in the wrong place.... That's how I got my kids

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Well we came across one the other week at a rented up harehills (a high density area of leeds)....no front on it and a breaker "piggybacked" of another with a bit of 1mm so even if there was a cover for it...you couldn`t have got it on right....so exposed busbar etc....the letting agents wanted a report on it as they had tennants due in.....needless to say we pulled the bullit on it and reported it needed imediate action before tennants moved in...god knows how long it had been like that but it was a board full of BS3871 type breakers so had been in a while...........

 

[Rockingit]

NEDL sent a guy out within an hour, isolator fitted, cover on the terminals, jobs a good un and I got a good nights sleep last night, but the thought of toddlers going in that cupboard for years to get their toys.......

Lucky you! I reported a smashed meter with access to live exposed parts, the DNO (Western Power) made me talk to the customers supplier, they in turn just didn't understand the word 'it can kill someone' and instead wanted to know why I thought the meter reading was wrong.....eventually spoke to someone not in sales and appearing to posess a brain to be told that someone would be out within three weeks.

I then got back to the DNO and told a white lie about it being the cut-out instead, they sent out a linesman after a couple of hours....turned up and refused to do anything as 'the meter's nothing to do with us'.

I think next time, I'll just take matters into my own hands and remove the meter from circuit completely. I'm guessing THAT might get someone out when I tell them they're losing money.