Upgrading Meter Tails

[Des 56]

I am puzzled as to why the discussion is about various ways of changing tails from the cut out to the meter

(Unless my quick read through the thread gave me the wrong impression)

The meter tails from the fuse to the meter are the property and responsibility of the supplier and not in our remit to alter

If the consumers tails are upgraded or changed and access is required to connect them,so be it,cut the seal and away to go
If you dont want to cut the seal,connect the new tails to the old via henley blocks and lodge a test form to the supplier,who charge about £ 16 I believe,to come and make the connection





I need to upgrade the tails between the fuse and the meter as well as to the cu as they are only in 16mm.

 

[martysparky]

I am a licensed meter changer and the first thing i would ask you is why were you removing the face. To change the tails you only need to remove the lower terminal cover. The face cover does have a anti tamper switch inside and i am not going to post on here how to get round it or reset it.
Second, if you are changing the tails in the cutout you must take several precautions as one little slip and you will have 600amps up your arm (i can assure you it is not pleasant).

Third, If you have had a problem with the electric company before and they have accused you of fiddling, i think you should leave well alone. The DNO or electric supplier only have to have reasonable suspicion that you are tampering with there supply and they can get a court order to discontinue your supply under the ESQCR.

[QUOTEI was told recently that the Western Power Distribution would charge £80 to put new seals back on if somebody had messed with them (the charge would go to the spark not the householder if they could find a EIC). However they charge £40 ish to stick an Isolator. I'd try to track down your DNO it may be simplier.
]

If you don't tell them in advance that is correct. Little tip, if you phone them up with a fault on your meter ie burning smell they will come out straight away and fit a new meter and if you ask nice they will fit a isolator for free[/QUOTE]

nice tip that'll be tried all over no doubt.

 

[martysparky]

I am puzzled as to why the discussion is about various ways of changing tails from the cut out to the meter

(Unless my quick read through the thread gave me the wrong impression)

The meter tails from the fuse to the meter are the property and responsibility of the supplier and not in our remit to alter

If the consumers tails are upgraded or changed and access is required to connect them,so be it,cut the seal and away to go
If you dont want to cut the seal,connect the new tails to the old via henley blocks and lodge a test form to the supplier,who charge about £ 16 I believe,to come and make the connection





I need to upgrade the tails between the fuse and the meter as well as to the cu as they are only in 16mm.

If you went with the henley block would you not be fulfilling requirements if the old tails were to small? but I guess thats why you lodge the test.

 

[ezzzekiel]

pull fuse, fit your own isolator, upgrade cu tails to new isolator, main earth to met then let dno sort the rest of there rubbish out, its always a case of oh you cant pull that or do this , well do your job then and come sort this rubbish out, sick to death of improving their side of supply just for some muppet to moan oh you not allowed to do that - no im not but theres not much chance of getting anyone elese to do it....

 

[blackiel]

You CANT Touch the meter--its out of your legal jurisdiction,you can leave new tails(16/25) hanging from a 60/80 SFCU around the time you smell a fault at the meter,I.E burning and its the local supply companies Obligation,to ensure that their tails,meter side ,are up to scratch...bear in mind,most meter fitters/changers arent sparks,so there commences another battle.....Be Lucky!!!

 

[Scud]

why is the line only fused at the supply head

DNOs in the main don't like fused neutrals. the reason is that lost neutrals can cause damage to customers' equipment.The one I work for (I'm a technical training engineer) replaces cableheads as a matter of course when they are found.

To anyone advising seals be cut, please be aware that is is an offence to do so. Seals are there for a reason. It is never, repeat never, the responsibility of a contractor to replace any tails either from meter to CU or cablehead to meter. It is, however, the responsibility of the DNO to install an isolator. They may charge for this or not, depending on the DNO, but it is quite definitely their responsibility, and the only place where a contractor may change tails is between this isolator and the meter.

Please don't think I'm trying to be heavy-handed, but frankly I have spent a pretty long career responding to reports of seals missing and watching customers being billed for the irresponsibility of contractors. The only way you can guarantee to avoid falling foul of the law is to obey it.

 

[Scud]

i dont cut the seals i allways remove the terminal cover on the cut out and do it that way but as spark doctor says you must be carefull,i allways remove the live sorry line first then the neutral and do it neutral fist when connecting back up.

I'm not sure how you manage to access the aforementioned terminals without cutting seals, unless the DNO in your area is very lax in not fitting them.