Upgrading supplier's earth.

[Smugley]

Hello all,

As part of various works in a domestic property I am installing water/gas bonding in 10mm and a new MET and earth to the board in 16mm - all required for the ongoing work, and I'm expecting the owner will agree to a board change .

The supply is TNS however the earthing conductor from the clamp on the supply cable is only a bare stranded bit of what looks like about 4mm cable. I'm pretty sure in the past I have upgraded this to 16mm but I suspect I am technically not meant to as it is the supplier's property up to the MET, is it not?

What do you reckon - carry on and upgrade it in hte interest of safety and integrity? Tell the owner to contact the supplier to do it, or just ignore it as it's none of my business what goes on the other side of the MET???

 

[IQ Electrical]

Technically, the suppliers earth cable, as you say is not your responsibility but if it were loose or providing a poor Ze then you would inform the DNO.

The supply companies methods of cable sizing are a constant mystery-how many times do you see a commercial/industrial installation where the contractor installs say a 240mm SWA to the section board but you look at the DNO's incomer and see a 'bootlace' coming out of the ground?

The cable you see is probably a 6.00mm steel uninsulated (quite common) and probably of very small length, I wouldn't worry as long as Ze is acceptable.

 

[Smugley]

Yeah, I hear you. It still annoys me though as I like 'neat 'n' tidy'

 

[lamb]

You could apply for a PME upgrade

 

[oldtimer]

I take a picture for my files then I would upgrade it ie put in 16mm in other words am improving the situation as long as you say there is a terminal to connect to but if its braid disappearing inside the sheath then its no touchy touchy

 

[ezzzekiel]

run new 16mm from met to board and leave the shabby bit for dno

 

[Sparky Ninja]

It's most likely that the adiabatic equation will prove the existing size earthing conductor to be satisfactory.