Urgent help with domestic supply in my house

[Baker1988]

Hello i was wondering if any one could help me i am doing my level 3 at college and have a bit of knowlege but not loads the problem is i woke up this morning and my electric wasnt working i checked the meter and every thing seems fine then i checked the db and it had power too it if i turn all the mcbs off and then turn the 6 amp lighting on the light will work if i tirn another light on the first light goes dim and so does the second light if i turn another one on every thing seems to go off like some sort ov voltage drop problem so i got my multi meter and checked how much voltage was coming in and it read 201 volts and then i turned one of the lights on and tested it on the incoming supple and it went down to 156 volts then i teturned another light on and tested it and it said 78 volts does any one know whats wrong any help would be great as i have never seen this happen before

 

[Specialist]

Have you tightened the Tails coming into the CU ? Did you check the voltage across the incoming tails ? If you did & the voltage is dropping coming into the CU then you may have bad connections at the Meter or Service head & thats a DNO repair. Unless you can safely isolate the system then you should'nt be touching anything, just remember that a Multimeter is'nt classed as proof of Safe isolation.

 

[Guest123]

Sounds like a loose connection on the supply side.

Can you safely isolate your CU to check the soundness of all the terminals???

 

[telectrix]

as above. sounds like a loose connection on the supply side. isolate CU. measure volts across the incoming tails at the main switch. if below 230v, then measure L/E. if this is the same, then it's a fault on L. if it's higher, then yhe fault is on the N. loose tails is favorite. or even a poor connection to tghe busbar in the CU. check that the busbar is located correctly and not behind the back of the terminal/s on main switch and MCBs.

 

[Baker1988]

Yes i checked the voltage accross the incoming tails and it was 201 volts i have checked if the tails coming into the board was loose and they was tight and i safely isolated the full supply by removing the 100 amp main bs 88 fuse before tightening any thing

 

[Baker1988]

I checked between l and n and it was the same as l and e

 

[Baker1988]

I know i shouldnt but i even by passed the meter entirely and put the tails directly into the consumer unit and it was the same

 

[Specialist]

Hope you did'nt cut the DNO seal to do it:nono: if the drop is on the incoming side then you need to contact your DNO.
NO your too right you should'nt have bypassed the meter, more than 1 have been killed by doing things like that and there's absolutely no reason for it.

CALL THE DNO & learn your limitations before you kill yourself.

 

[Baker1988]

I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem

 

[Guest123]

I know i shouldnt but i even by passed the meter entirely and put the tails directly into the consumer unit and it was the same

Most definitely a step too far.

A call to the DNO is your next step, & hope they don't realise what you have been doing to THEIR equipment!

 

[Specialist]

I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem

Sorry mate but people saying things like that, really wind me up. I've had to attend more than 1 inquest on people who've done silly things.
If your in rented accomodation, is it local authority ? if it is then you can ring them & get their Emergency engineer out, when they find it's a supply fault they can call the DNO & they've got more clout than you or me, it certainly sounds like you've got a supply problem. You also need to be aware that if the DNO have any inkling that you've been messing with their equipment they can disconnect your supply & take you to court for it.

 

[UNG]

I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem

Rather strange that the DNO can't get anyone out till tomorrow on a supply fault

Are any of your neighbours having electric supply problems, it might be worth checking and call the DNO back to get someone out pronto

 

[UKMeterman]

I know i shouldnt but i even by passed the meter entirely and put the tails directly into the consumer unit and it was the same

1. Ohms law should have told you this was not required. If you see low volts at the supply side of the CU master switch and the switch is OFF then there is a DNO / meter supplier issue and you do not need to go any further. If you saw normal normal volts (252-216) which then dropped as you put more load on then you might have had a problem at the CU terminals, but you would have probably seen damage round the CU due to I2R heating.
2. Did you have to break the meter seals, let alone the DNO fuse cutout?

I would suggest that you call the emergency number for your DNO now, whilst there is some light (just!!)

 

[Baker1988]

Thanks for all your help guys they have just rang me back they have checked it at the sub station and its on the supply side they are sending a jointing team now to dig it up out side

 

[UKMeterman]

I didnt cut any seals they wasnt any on it maby from some on previous tenent cutting them but i wouldnt cut them and i have just got off the phone with them but they cant get any one out to come look till tomorrow. So do u think it is on the supply side and they is nothing i can do to try to rectify the problem

I do think that is Doggy Doo...... Phone them up and say the lights have now gone out.. That will get the moving.