Who is responsable for the supply to the property

AA410 · Nov 10, 2009

Hi good people i have a job that is near compleastion the property had no earth from a T-N-S so i put an earth rod down with a good reading but i think this should be sorted by the supply company can anyone tell me who is resposable for this the property is in streatham surrey many thanks

patricklondon · Nov 10, 2009

anything before the suppliers cutout is the responsibility of the suppliers themselves there should be an earth cable coming from the supply terminated into an earthing block for all other bonding etc

Mac · Nov 10, 2009

AA410 said:
Hi good people i have a job that is near compleastion the property had no earth from a T-N-S so i put an earth rod down with a good reading but i think this should be sorted by the supply company can anyone tell me who is resposable for this the property is in streatham surrey many thanks

I thought Streatham was in south london.It was when i lived there.Here is a map of DNO suppliers for the UK. Distribution Network Operators

zapped · Nov 10, 2009

As patrick said, anything before the supplier cutout is the responsibilty of the distributor. I know this may sound a stupid thing to ask, and I don't mean to offend, but are you sure it's not a TT system if its got no earth from the distributor?

AA410 · Nov 11, 2009

The property it old but there it an old erth strap around the incoming supply with a old 6mm earth cable the supply cable is a lead sheath cable The thing that gets me iis all the hassel to sort this out

zapped · Nov 11, 2009

Well it sounds like you were right about the T-N-S, but it is still the responsibility of the Distributor. Sounds like they're dragging they're feet - best of luck.

pushrod · Nov 11, 2009

Isn't the lead sheath the earth ? If your earth goes to an earthing block its the DNO's job to connect the supply to that.

zapped · Nov 12, 2009

The Distributor's Main earth cable should be soldered to incoming supply (lead sheath in your case) and taken to the Main Earthing Terminal (MET). Your Line and Neutral would go to the consumer unit, or if your distributor has been consisderate they may even have put an Isolator Switch between the meter and the consumer unit (But its rare). All of this is the responsibility of the distributor. There are exeptions, such as if you add additional tails and need to remove the main supply fuse- but you would need authorisation and a go ahead from the Distributor before you do this.

pushrod said:
Isn't the lead sheath the earth ? If your earth goes to an earthing block its the DNO's job to connect the supply to that.

AA410 · Nov 12, 2009

What gets me is the sparks on the ground what he has to go through to earn a crust like to put new tails on a supply

Mac · Nov 12, 2009

Just take the 6mm from the lead sheath into a MET and run your new 16mm to the board and inform the DNO who covers that area.

Phil Mumford · Nov 12, 2009

The local electricity provider is under no obligation to give you an earth connection. If they do, then it is up to them to maintain it.

I have seen instances of lead sheath cables and they wouldn't let you use it as an earth. You can also get a two wire overhead supply and they will give you PME (neutral used as earth on the supply side).

I would do a loop test on the lead sheath and if good connect. If not convert to TT and pray the wiring is sound and no water in the o/s light fittings

If the sheath is a poor earth you could ask for PME but seeing as we all have RCD's looking out for us, what's the point? Go TT and create work for future generations of electricians

AA410 · Nov 13, 2009

I like ya thinking TT is what i have done i have just looked at an other job with no earth but this one has a broked head so they might give me a pme but i wont hold my breath