Two houses fed of one houses mains - what are my rights.

[Guywithahouse]

Keeping it brief. We recently had a utility room put in the back of our garage including new wiring and a new mini fusebox in the garage by certified electrician. Few weeks later smell burning from inside fusboard, the copper negative (i think that's right, it was copper with black plastic around it) had overheated and melted. Called the electrician and he said likley as you have exceeded voltage capacity due to dishwasher, washing machine and dryer being on at same time for example. He came round and took the inside fusebox lid off and tightened the wires and said should be ok now but dont use everything at once to be safe. So we didn't. Few weeks later smell burning again from fusebox, its really hot. Except nothing is on. So I decide fusebox is too old as its one the plastic case ones from seemingly when house was built in 1960s.

Electrcian is here today with new RCD board, all going well until he takes the main power feed wire to the fuseboard to change them over. 30 mins later western power guy is at the door asking if we're having work done as next doors power has gone.

Turns out both houses were linked up to the same 60v fusebox in our house, and he said they used to do it like that way back when to save time and money!

So here i am £450 down with the current electrician and western power are saying the fusboards need to be separated by western power at no cost to us.

But for me I'm already 450 down for something that turns out wasn't our fault.

 

[Guywithahouse]

Without putting myself at direct embarrassment, how much is average cost to replace the fuseboard with a modem one.

 

[Guywithahouse]

As above, the fuse is shared and power branches to your meter and to your neighbour’s installation (via the steel conduit). I agree this has not caused your problem.

View attachment 64542

Thanks for this as when everyone was saying its well obvious I had no idea where to look. He said something like he has been doing it 20 years and never seen one go through a wall, I think he thought it was somehow connected to our inside walls or something... or maybe I'm making excuses for him

 

[telectrix]

2 types.
1.dual RCD board so the circuitsa re split half on each RCD. downside is if the RCD trips, you lose half the curcuits. aveage cost installed £400.
2.All RCBO board. each circuit has it's own MCB/RCD combined so a fault will only disable the one circuit. average cost installed £550.

then there's options of Surge protection and arc fault detection both of which will escalate the cost/s.

 

[brianmoooore]

Thanks for this as when everyone was saying its well obvious I had no idea where to look. He said something like he has been doing it 20 years and never seen one go through a wall, I think he thought it was somehow connected to our inside walls or something... or maybe I'm making excuses for him

I've been 'doing it' for 50 years, and I've never seen one go through a wall, but it's right in the centre of his field of vision, and blindingly obvious as to what it must be.
The only other thing likely to be connected like that would be a large 'weed' producing facility.

 

[Guywithahouse]

2 types.
1.dual RCD board so the circuitsa re split half on each RCD. downside is if the RCD trips, you lose half the curcuits. aveage cost installed £400.
2.All RCBO board. each circuit has it's own MCB/RCD combined so a fault will only disable the one circuit. average cost installed £550.

then there's options of Surge protection and arc fault detection both of which will escalate the cost/s.

I paid £450, I guess its ok but not sure whether I've actually had work done which is verifiable and means jack all when I come to sell. We brought last year and there was no records of it electrics etc. So not sure if we'll be able to use this report thing hes left as proof.

 

[telectrix]

show a pic of the new board. with lid open.

 

[Guywithahouse]

 

[Guywithahouse]

show a pic of the new board. with lid open.

Not easy too right now, but I will later.

 

[telectrix]

there are some glaring errors on that certificate/report. e.g. max. permitted Zs 5.82 for all values of MCB WTF?
main switch 60898??? should be 60947-3
several more that I'm sure someone else will comment on.

 

[brianmoooore]

On the plus side, it does look like it was filled in using actual readings.

 

[telectrix]

anyway, should have bee a EIC for a new CU, not a EICR.

 

[Guywithahouse]

2 types.
1.dual RCD board so the circuitsa re split half on each RCD. downside is if the RCD trips, you lose half the curcuits. aveage cost installed £400.
2.All RCBO board. each circuit has it's own MCB/RCD combined so a fault will only disable the one circuit. average cost installed £550.

then there's options of Surge protection and arc fault detection both of which will escalate the cost/s.

He did say it will only trip the

anyway, should have bee a EIC for a new CU, not a EICR.

The wiring to our CU is new aswell, nor sure if that actually means anything.

 

[Guywithahouse]

I checked the NIEC register hes not registered with them, I assume its not legal then?

 

[Phil L]

I checked the NIEC register hes not registered with them, I assume its not legal then?

They could be with another body like Napit or Elecsa

 

[Guywithahouse]

They could be with another body like Napit or Elecsa

Found him on Elseca but the number u gave for him isn't the same. Says they're all migrating to NIEC in April 2021, not sure whether that means I can get bc certificate.