To Pull or Not to Pull (DNO Fuse that is)

[DurhamSparky]

HONEST ANSWERS LADS.....! No Lying as its not big but it is very Clever if you can get away with it.

 

[telectrix]

mut admit, i sometimes change tails into meter live. as long as there's no load on the installation ( main isolator off) no problemo. how many of us ( and customers) switch off a socket before unplugging/plugging in

 

[jaresquire]

Me too, but no ones ever thanked me for the risk..

 

[Phil]

i would never cut a seal or tamper with the fuse,,,, i carry dno guy around in my tool box and he does it

 

[Phil]

Before I was advised by Elecsa that the DNO issued a statement that anyone who was a member of a scam .ooppps sorry scheme, had the DNO permission to pull the service fuse, provided there was no signs of tampering, damage or etc.

Am I struggling with age again as I can't seem to find this in my paperwork, perhaps I could be advised.

there were a couple of dno`s that had started this not sure where it was though. you had o go and collect 10 seals at a time from them and you had to have paperwork for the propertys in the form of an eic i think afterwards so they could tally up. not sure if it`s still running though tbh

 

[rocker]

You've to to be mental to work with meter tails live when a fuse is so easy to pull.

Personally I pull and re-seal, and if I had the facility I would crimp my business name and number into the seal and see what happens if they try to prosecute. To be honest most proper DNO guys I've come across advocate pulling the fuse, it's only the one-day-course meter changers that tend to be jobsworths about it.

I would like to get hold of a 'dummy fuse carrier', something to fill the live fuse connector while I'm working. As DS says in an ideal world you can pull fuse, d/c tails, replace fuse,work, pull fuse, replace tails, replace fuse and seal, but it seems a bit of a faff to me... is there such a device, or even a source for empty DNO fuse carriers?

 

[antimatter]

You've to to be mental to work with meter tails live when a fuse is so easy to pull.

Personally I pull and re-seal, and if I had the facility I would crimp my business name and number into the seal and see what happens if they try to prosecute. To be honest most proper DNO guys I've come across advocate pulling the fuse, it's only the one-day-course meter changers that tend to be jobsworths about it.

I would like to get hold of a 'dummy fuse carrier', something to fill the live fuse connector while I'm working. As DS says in an ideal world you can pull fuse, d/c tails, replace fuse,work, pull fuse, replace tails, replace fuse and seal, but it seems a bit of a faff to me... is there such a device, or even a source for empty DNO fuse carriers?

I worked as a meter fitter, (think the course was 29 days longer than one day though ) we had plastic plugs to put in the cutout when the fuse was removed, Ive still got mine, its bright red and looks like a square baby's dummy, but can save your life, i heard of one fella, who pulled the main fuse, and a 10 mm earth cable had inadvertently made contact with the cut out, he said the bang was tremendous from the cutout and vaporized the earth cable!

 

[antimatter]

mut admit, i sometimes change tails into meter live. as long as there's no load on the installation ( main isolator off) no problemo. how many of us ( and customers) switch off a socket before unplugging/plugging in

Only problem with that is it contravenes reg 14 of the EAWR 1989 Work on or near live conductors

1. This regulation is very important and should be used to reduce the incidence of live working and to ensure strict precautions are adhered to when such work is carried out.
2. All 3 conditions stipulated in the regulation must be met before live working is permitted.
3. "Reasonable in all the circumstances" (reg 14(b)) means that all necessary precautions must be taken to ensure it is reasonable for someone to be asked to work.
4. Regulation 14(c) could imply that in the absence of injury no precautions can be required in advance. This would mean that notices requiring such precautions could not be issued. This interpretation is not correct because:
   • it would not be reasonable to work in a situation where the necessary precautions had not been taken; and
   • in order to take precautions it is necessary to foresee the potential harm, and such precautions will only be suitable if they are adequate to prevent the harm foreseen.
   Therefore, if an inspector judges that the precautions taken will not prevent injury, he or she could issue a notice citing an apparent breach of reg 14.
   
5. Inspectors should question all live working wherever they find it. This could be in many establishments and also where peripatetic electricians are working.
6. The issue of accompaniment during live work is touched upon in the Memorandum of guidance. The presence of a colleague who could render assistance if safe to do so could prevent injury or mitigate its extent.

 

[pennywise]

Like these got a whole load of them a while back.

ITL (Insulated Tools Limited) Cut-Out Tees

Oh and I'm a puller too, always have been always will be

 

[Des 56]

I cut and pull
I feel no guilt
I fear no repurcussions
I only ever think about the issue if it comes up on the forum

As for the elf and safety quote,"I" and I would like to repeat "I" will look after my own elf +S

Its an annoying mainly petty dictatorial subject, and one that I resent having imposed on myself "for my own safety"
If its the elf+S of others I will concede to the mainly nonesense rules,for myself read "I" " I" and "I" alone will burden myself with responsibility

 

[electricians]

pull the fuse , worse if you blow it and needs to get them out to repair . You can always pay to get a switch and at least the customer may not be taken to court for fiddling the electric meter .

 

[antimatter]

Like these got a whole load of them a while back.

ITL (Insulated Tools Limited) Cut-Out Tees

Oh and I'm a puller too, always have been always will be

Looks like they are to seal the cutout, where the blanking plugs have come out, with them being only 5mm in diameter (cutouts can be linked)

 

[pennywise]

Looks like they are to seal the cutout, where the blanking plugs have come out, with them being only 5mm in diameter (cutouts can be linked)

I've re read what you put and know the ones you mean, I've seen a meter fitter mates in his tool box should have asked for one.

 

[antimatter]

If any of you guys out there need an isolator installing, call the DNO, some offer this free of charge and saves fulling the main fuse, Ive fitted hundreds of them, just the top part of the iso is sealed, leaving the bottom part free to replace tails, or use the switch the isolate the supply.

Some DNO's do supply them free, some charge.

 

[electricians]

In Scotland we can get a switch from Scottish Power , can take upto 4 weeks and it costs around £90 . The Hydro allow registered electricians to apply for cutting rights , you get a red seal and they come back later ( suppose to anyway ) and reseal .

When it gets down to it , the very nature of an electrical supply is to provide isolation , how have the DNO's got away with not providing this ? ?

 

[antimatter]

Very true, this does need to be elevated, as I pointed out earlier, I have heard of at least one incident where this could have been avoided if isolation had of been supplied. Maybe a group needs to be formed to put this right.