this is what i found.....

[jonnyboy1]

on a call from my mate last night that he could smell fish in his birds hairdressers but eventully found it to be comming from the electrics. i told him it could be a number of things but will come to look at it this morning.

so from picture 1 some bright sparks has dipped a 1mm into the tails which has burnt out and close to a fire. i managed to get the 1mm disconnected from the main switch but it will need replaced asap, the problem i have is with no isolation after the cut out. picture 2 shows the henly cut out fuse which is pretty old and by keeping with the law of the land i dont want to remove the cut out fuse, with its age it could disintergrate in my hand another reason i should not touch it. so im worndering if the dno should replace this free of charge with it being a fault, and that i cannot change the board as i have no point of isolation and with the install being in a dangerous condition.








the shop is on london road glasgow and just wanting some info or what to say to the dno before calling them. dno is brittish gas

 

[Darkwood]

Ermmm! to start with id remove the pics of the DNO cutout open, sealed or not its illegal to open them, this issue here is clearly a loose neutral termination that has overheated thus causing said damage, the dno is obligated to replace that aged cutout for free so although i wont suggest how if you go about this the right way you may be able to avoid a charge but i cant say how if you get the picture !!!!...... this is if your an experienced electrician if not call a pro' in and see if he can help you out.

 

[malcolmsanford]

The DNO will not be British Gas, BG will be the supplier, DNO most likely will be SSE.

Nice cast head you have there, and it all honestly in pretty good nick. I thought that if you were a member of SELECT up there, you are granted permission to pull the DNO fuse? I think Mogga on the forum carries spare seals for this, I'm sure if you PM'd him he would advise.

As you say the way to go is call the DNO and ask them to come and pull the fuse, they may because it's an old head, change it free of charge, and while they do that you could fit an isolator.

Personally I would call them, tell them you need the fuse pulled and show them why, and you may get lucky they will come out ASAP. especially with that photographic evidence. I personally would in this case pull the fuse and tell them why and ask them to come and replace it.

 

[steve.b]

Pull The Bullet!!! (the seal was broken on your arrival) Safety First!

 

[jonnyboy1]

this was the way i found the installation all in a wooden boxed unit. there would also be no issue with the board change.

im basically trying to get my mate a new cut out so theres more space in the db cupboard and get it tidied up a bit, and as i dont work for myself ive never had to deal with the dno on these issues was just wanting to know the best way to deal with them. at 25 i wouldnt call myself a pro but im nearly there 2391 this year and hnc in engineering next year already got my nc from pre apprenticeship. supervised £250,000,000 pound jobs for company

 

[jonnyboy1]

seal was broken on arrival im just worried that the fuse may go, then your arse is on the line mate so saftey first may mean calling the dno first

 

[Darkwood]

now if only there was a way to cut power to the tails ??? that way you could shorten damaged tails into an henley block then retail DB with new main switch too... then in your own time contact DNO regarding a new cutout. Just a shame i cant think of a way to cut power to tails

 

[malcolmsanford]

Pull The Bullet!!! (the seal was broken on your arrival) Safety First!

Steve remember mate this is an open forum.

As said in this case where you have a real danger of a fire from a damaged accessory, then I would be calling the DNO and explaining to them what you found, and asking them to attend as a matter of urgency, or will they give you permission to pull it, but you will need someone to come and make the head safe, as you have found it open.

While they are there you can work on them about getting the head changed. Your priority though is that burn out main switch and tails, and that is what you should be telling the DNO.

 

[tony mc]

I am with Malcolm on this it needs isolating asap and you need to call the DNO.

If you leave it in that condition even with the main switch off you have the possibility of a short on the damaged part of the main switch and a possible fire.

 

[Richard]

Has anyone ever actually been prosecuted for this? At what point have you broken the law - by damaging the seal, or by actually pulling the fuse?

For the record, I would have absoultly no problem pulling the main fuse in this situation!

Rich

 

[telectrix]

as above posts. and let me guess, that 1.0mm was for an alarm system, uninteruptable supply???

 

[Darkwood]

Joking aside the correct way is to contact DNO explain that the DB main switch has burnt out and partially melted and to prevent risk of fire you had to withdraw the fuse but also note to them it wasnt sealed to start with, then ask if they can send someone out plus mentioning the service head is old and requires upgrade and then go from there, if you fit an henley block an have soe 25mm tails ready they may oblige to making the henley block live ready for you to change switch when you can get hold of a new one. Because this isnt a fault with their equipment they will most likely hit you with a charge so enquire about this.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Phone them up and get them out, don't pull the fuse, or you might get charged if the DNO are annoyed that you did it.

 

[Edd]

now if only there was a way to cut power to the tails ??? that way you could shorten damaged tails into an henley block then retail DB with new main switch too... then in your own time contact DNO regarding a new cutout. Just a shame i cant think of a way to cut power to tails

Im with you on this IF ONLY there was as way!! then as you say the switch could be replaced, a new DP isolator fitted etc...there must be a simple solution to this. I just cant think of it though

 

[Spazz]

At the end of the day why would you be prosecuted for pulling a fuse out as long as you have done it to protect the safety of the public?

We have a duty of care, our training and experience has told us that the power to the CU needs to be isolated as a priority!

Judge: Richard why did you pull that fuse
Richard: Sir because I believed that it would catch fire and impose an immediate threat to life, Isolating the power in this way would remove the potential risk
DNO: But thats our equipment, he has no right to touch it


Which one do you think will wash with the court??? - NOT THE DNO for starters!

Scenario - Yo didn't pull the fuse - CU caught fire and 2 people died

Judge: Richard where you aware of the risk before said event
Richard: Yes Sir
Judge: Where you able to isolate the power therefore preventing the said event
Richard: No Sir, there was no isolation switch
Judge: But there was a fuse which would have done the same job?
Richard: Yes Sir, but I don't have the authority to touch that Sir
Judge: But that would have saved their lives
Richard: Yes Sir

Which one would have been better? Which one could you live with?

Name Richard was used as he asked the question - no offence - hope you don't mind Richard