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

 

[Baker1988]

I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals

 

[Specialist]

I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals

No mate: Were not all saying you cut the Seals at all, we've all seen many that have'nt got any seals. The point were all trying to get across to you is that what you did was potentially Lethal & rather than talking to you we could have ended up reading your obituary in the paper, none of us wants to see another Sparky / Apprentice getting seriously injured or Killed & by giving you a -------ing we'll hopefully stop you doing it again. What you need to realise though, is that just bypassing the Meter leaves you open to Prosecution (Best say nothing to the DNO boys). By the way: what multimeter did you use ?

 

[Rockingit]

Baker - don't fret man, by your own admission you know a little but not enough, so now you know some more - from the RIGHT side of meter is yours, from the left is theirs, and ne'er the two shall meet.

 

[Baker1988]

I know but i test every thing before i touch it to make sure it is dead i wouldnt work live and i am not sure the exact model but its made by fluke it is my bosses that i had in my car

 

[Spudnik]

I know everyone has already said this but cutting seals CAN be seen as a criminal offence, as in effect, you are tampering with equipment that does not belong to you, plus the fact that it can be dangerous pulling fuses as a lot of older ones can fall apart in your hands.

However, it sounds like the DNO have found the issue and are sorting it.

If they will let you, get some pics

 

[Specialist]

I know but i test every thing before i touch it to make sure it is dead i wouldnt work live and i am not sure the exact model but its made by fluke it is my bosses that i had in my car

Fluke are Damned good meters, but for proving safe Isolation you need to get yourself a nice GS38 rated 2 pole tester. (Nice late Christmas pressy:yesnod For day to day testing on most things that's all you need, buy 1 with a Continuity feature built in.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals

Its not the seals thats the priority here...(or what may have wound a few up in here matey)......seals are just stickers and lead-crimped wire .....its your life mate that you are risking here...........

 

[Baker1988]

What do u mean "get some pics" do u mean of the work they will be doing out side cos they wont let me will they?

 

[Baker1988]

I have a fluke t50 voltage and continuity tester aswell that is what i use to test if it is live or not i would not work live

 

[Specialist]

What do u mean "get some pics" do u mean of the work they will be doing out side cos they wont let me will they?

If your takeing pictures in a Public place mate, i don't think they can stop you.
Go out & have a chat with them, tell them your an apprentice sparky & your interested in their job. You'd be surprised how most of them will open up to you.
It's those Metering boys you've got to watch out for, they're all crabby buggers:tounge_smile:

 

[Specialist]

I have a fluke t50 voltage and continuity tester aswell that is what i use to test if it is live or not i would not work live

Excellent choice for everyday work matey.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

What do u mean "get some pics" do u mean of the work they will be doing out side cos they wont let me will they?

and why wont they let you......if its on a public highway then they cant stop you can they.......the highway`s not their own personal property now is it and if they did stop you taking pics (from the edge of their working area/barrier of course)....then that would be an argument for yanking down all the speed cameras and spy cameras that are all over the place now wouldn`t it..?..

 

[Knobhead]

Under the Designs, Patents and Copyrights Act 1988 it is not possible to copyright or protect a view from a public place unless you climb the barriers. But, if you photograph the operative in the course of his work without his permission then you can fall foul of Invasion of Privacy.

As has been said tell them you’re an apprentice and nine times out of ten they will be happy to let you watch and photograph. You’ll probably get a running commentary.

 

[alarm man]

I know i should not of by passed the meter i know this but i did not break any seals i wouldnt break them as i know they can refuse me a supply your all saying that i did cut them but i have no reason to lie to any of you i did not cut any seals

no one cares you cut a seal,many have done it before, i have,so what,but the fact you bypassed the meter /fuse is frighting in the least from an experienced spark never mind a learner,the best way to find a fault if you dont have the knowledge is ask,not experiment.

 

[UKMeterman]

Sometimes they do ask bystanders to clearoff if they are just about to do a live LV joint just in case it goes bang..