Worrying activities!

[stevels4]

I had a call out today as the customer reported they had no E7 since their electrician replaced the DB.
Looking at the meter I questioned if they ever had E7 as the meter was a single rate 4 wire.
"We did have storage heaters but had them took out so the electrician removed the E7 DB, the associated wiring and the timer clock.
Well that would explain the loss of the E7 then!
Electrician has obviously removed the cut out fuse to do this work and replace the DB with a split load one as no isloator was fitted and the seals were missing..but not authorised to do so no doubt!
Also obviously replaced the load meter tails to the DB as these were new and again seals missing, in fact one of the meter terminal covers screws was missing...again another no no!
The customer also mentioned the same electrician had disconnected the existing TT arrangement and connected the earth to the neutral on a TNCS but the cut out was not labelled as PME....another no no!
Not particularly happy at this point so checked the NIC paperwork for the installation to see a ZE of 0.13ohms recorded so assume correct and within specification.
The cables into the new DB had mostly been extended to reach, I assume they were all tightly and safely crimped before being wrapped in grey insulation tape not heatshrink.
So apart from unauthorised removal of the cut out fuse, unauthorised opening of a whole current meter,theft of a metering time-switch and decidedly dodgy wiring methods it was a great job.
Apologies for the picture quality.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Apart from the blindingly obvious problem with using tape there are regulations to cover this, and to fully comply you would need to be very careful over the choice of exactly which specification of heatshrink is used.

Can you expand a bit please Dave? Is it because the insulation tape is not thick enough to offer basic insulation? Also with regard the heatsink are you talking about the different types of heatshrink? Thick glue lined as opposed to thin not glued?

 

[westward10]

Why put anything on an insulated crimp.

 

[stevels4]

Hopefully a slightly improved picture.

 

[stevels4]

No it's not! Trying to bluetooth from one device to my ipad but not working.

 

[davesparks]

Can you expand a bit please Dave? Is it because the insulation tape is not thick enough to offer basic insulation? Also with regard the heatsink are you talking about the different types of heatshrink? Thick glue lined as opposed to thin not glued?

No it’s because the glue goes off and the tape loosens, becomes a sticky mess and falls off after a few years, you must have come across this on installations?

I mean the choice of heatshrink with regards having the correct voltage rating and mechanical properties as needed, also it may need to meet standards for flammability or lsf insulation etc. Each application is going to be different and may need different materials.

 

[davesparks]

Can you expand a bit please Dave? Is it because the insulation tape is not thick enough to offer basic insulation? Also with regard the heatsink are you talking about the different types of heatshrink? Thick glue lined as opposed to thin not glued?

No it’s because the glue goes off and the tape loosens, becomes a sticky mess and falls off after a few years, you must have come across this on installations?

I mean the choice of heatshrink with regards having the correct voltage rating and mechanical properties as needed, also it may need to meet standards for flammability or lsf insulation etc. Each application is going to be different and may need different materials.

 

[stevels4]

Attempt number 3

 

[Strima]

And he's used a Chint board, must be burnt at the stake!!!!

 

[stevels4]

Finally....got a good one to transfer.

 

[SparkyChick]

Holy cow! What a mess and what a bloody idiot!

 

[stevels4]

Another better quality photo.

 

[stevels4]

The final one.

 

[mhar]

He's upgraded the tails to 25mm which is a good thing.

Why is this a good thing? Unless the service fuse is 100A then it is completely unecessary.

I don't need to contact the DNO to remove a cut out fuse as I am authorised to do so.

You are in a WPD area. I would check on the validity of the authorisation which you think you have, maybe try to get it in writing?

 

[Resu]

Wouldn't even know where to begin with that tbh.

Would have been a bit of a nightmare to be fair with cables entering from all angles but certainly could have been executed better than that!

 

[Pete999]

Finally....got a good one to transfer.

View attachment 39386

Don't think anyone has mentioned that the joints under the CU are not enclosed, as SC said what a mess.