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]

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..

 

[alarm man]

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

in this case.it may just do that..

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Hello Baker1988, where are you based? I might come and watch if it's close by!!

 

[Specialist]

Wonder if he's going to come back with update / pictures.

 

[Knobhead]

I recently watched a jointer doing a breach joint. He originally trained at the same place as me and by the same guy. We were laughing when he showed me the plastic cages used for separation and the mechanical connectors now used. Both he and I were taught to solder the cores. A joint or breach is so much quicker now, but the care and skill needed is still there.
Took me ages to get home with the little sidetrack.

 

[Specialist]

God Soldered joints, now those were the days mate. Only thing i get to solder nowadays is PCB's.

 

[1shortcircuit]

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.

Await the sarcastic comments asking what you've been messing with in order to create that mess and call them out

Make sure you supply the tea, coffee and biscuits and I'm sure you'll be in good favour :thumbsup

 

[goldie]

lol...... i like how folk are more bothered about you cutting the seal on the meter rather than the fact that you bypassed the meter....... Quality!! By the way i cut the seals atleast once a week so i can remove the cut out fuse when replacing a consumer unit. Stops me from working live and blowing meself up. lol.
I wonder if your earthing system is pme and your neutral has blown off in the road and relying on the earth as neautral?

 

[Baker1988]

Hi sorry for the late reply only just got my internet put back on they did come and fix the problem apparently they was a fault on the neutral wire. They put a tempery supply in for now they cam at around 6pm and the electric was back on by 10.30 pm they would not let me take any pictures but after i brought them a cup of tea they was happy to let me watch i found it very facinating they even talked me through a few thing that they was doing i have never seen a live jointing before and i must say i really enjoyed it. Thank you all for all your help thanks

 

[Specialist]

Hi Baker: Thanks for coming back & updating us on the outcome of your query, glad you got it all sorted in the end.

 

[mhar]

Not overly surprised that they wouldn't let you take pictures, some working practices are not always in accordance with their own rules! For example most do not wear their visors especially when it is raining as they cannot see out of them! Additionally you could scare the proverbial out of the jointer when your camera flash goes off!
My youngest works live on 11,000 volts, they will do a complete pole change live. To be honest just the thought of it scares me stupid, didn't help when he went on youtube over xmas and was showing us examples of flashovers

 

[Guest111]

All this talk of services reminded me of something a few years back,I was called out to a house where the owner kept getting shocks and things blowing up,first thing was to put a martindale in the socket,this showed p-n reverse,so Iwent to the cu and checked there,wired up ok but polarity still reversed.as there was in my opinion a safety issue I removed service fuse and same again p-n reverse,when I rang supplier a stroppy woman went mad about pulling service,however when I spoke to the duty engineer he wasn,t too bothered,seemed more interested in coming to see the problem.Anyway 30 mins later 1 guy in a van and overalls turns up,sees whats gone on and makes a phonecall then 3 suits turn up and start going mental turns out it was a new service and had been jointed wrong in street,wouldn,t want to be the guy who did that one.the best one though was when a chap called me to a fault on a domestic and all the wiring was knackered,even the tails,he thought he was being ripped off when I advised him that it was unsafe and needed urgent work,as there were kids in the house I pulled the service (the insulation was missing in places on the tails v i r ) and rang the supplier myself,who told me to take the fuse and go as they would come straight out and check.Result they came they checked they took his meter,and told him to get it rewired before they would reconnect.Yes they dont like you pulling a service,but in emergencies or when they cock up they tolerate it,but always with care and correct ppe.

 

[jase]

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...........

why are you risking your life if you have pulled the cutout?