Should Electricians Cut Fuse & Meter Seals?
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Күн бұрынThe regulations regarding removing meter and electricity cut-out fuse seals have recently changed. In this episode of eFIXX TV, we delve into who has adopted the new procedures. The year has kicked off with a flurry of new products in the electrical industry. We examine the feedback from eFIXX viewers and introduce an innovation from WeQuote designed to streamline the quoting process.
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Time Stamps ⏱
00:00 Welcome to eFIXX TV 22nd Feb 2024
01:44 Where's Gary - Play along with Gary Bingo
05:00 Should Electricians Cut Fuse & Meter Tails?
08:45 Some comments from viewers on the topic
13:15 Dangers to watch out for
15:20 You can become a safe isolation provider...
17:03 There's a shockingly low number of SIPs
24:18 Time to introduce tonight's guests
25:40 Meet Nick Gloster from NHG Electrical
26:13 Meet Lee Roche from WeQuote
29:16 Electricians' Challenge - ex boss takes on ex apprentice
35:34 Who came first?
37:32 Time to Ring Jenny on the Burner Phone
38:50 Someone's on the Burner Line - It's not who you think!
40:24 Loser sweeps up in the greencable room
43:06 Nominate someone for this years 30 Under 30
45:43 What do WeQuote do?
53:28 Let's see how it works
55:37 Setting up quotes is so simple
01:02:29 Walking through a security quote
01:05:06 Joe has a very expensive kitchen
01:06:45 Pricing and benefits for electricians
01:18:11 Customers can select what they want straight from the quote
01:21:49 Where is the rest of the team tonight?
01:23:42 Rick's Tool Time
01:28:15 Tooooool
01:29:44 Placing the tool on the Tool Wall
01:33:07 More about NHG electrical
01:34:45 A revolutionary cable launch this week
01:38:14 What has Gary been up to this week?
01:45:07 A brand new AI register 👀
01:50:54 Thanks for watching - roll the credits!
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@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
In France each house/flat has a DNO supplied double pole 500mA RCBO with an integral main switch. The RCBO does the whole premises. It is about time the DNO cowboys in the UK did the same.
@JamesKing-ev1wc 2 ай бұрын
The client only wants to pay £50 for a next-day board change...DNO want £250+VAT for an isolator within the next month. You do the math.
@electricalstuff259 2 ай бұрын
Maths.
@lukwal3514 2 ай бұрын
Exactly 🤣
@TestGearJunkie. 2 ай бұрын
@@electricalstuff259 The Americans never could spell, they miss out u from loads of words as well 😋
@Plumbing-and-gas 2 ай бұрын
Why cant the sparky put an interim seal on the fuse then the supplier can visit at their leisure to check the work and put on their own seal.
@JamesKing-ev1wc 2 ай бұрын
@@Plumbing-and-gasbecause we can't take occupational control of their switchgear.
@electrician247 2 ай бұрын
Missed this as was out last night. Interesting chat! Keep it up team Efixx and happy belated birthday Gordon. I have heard all the best looking electricians have birthdays in Feb.
@Davidhughes9467 2 ай бұрын
That last statement is an absolute fact I see him in the mirror every day 🤣
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
A good point is that a DNO is *against the law,* by putting a seal on the *only means* of _safe_ isolation to a supply, the main fuse, is *restricting safe isolation,* putting an obstacle in the way, as they do not provide an easy to operate double pole main isolation switch.
@GretatheEvilGremlin 2 ай бұрын
A very good point. Shows how they've got away with things forever, as consumer units and tails were rarely changed. One would think with all the social housing upgrades which have been done, there would be an industry standard in place by now. Zero cooperation between the various organisations, more like disorganisations.
@MikeSmith-tx2lp 2 ай бұрын
Typical stove pipe behaviour. Where’s there’s a chance to make money, they’ll not let it go.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@MikeSmith-tx2lp There is no excuse not to have *100%* electrical isolation of a premises - that is a three pole L, N & E switch. They are frightened of people stealing energy. There are many ways to counter that and still have 100% isolation. *_Safety_* is *_paramount,_* not their fears and profits.
@MikeSmith-tx2lp 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 completely agree, business people think differently to us engineering folk.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
Or simple, if safe means of isolation is not provided, and you are NOT allowed to isolate safely, you refuse to perform work. Simple as that. Its the same if you doing work in a property, where the main means of isolation is locked away so only the landlord or property owner can access. Because your customer "permits" the work doesn't mean you can do it, if means of isolation is owned by someone else, like the DNO or another property owner, you don't break seals, you say to customer: "I cannot perform this work because theres no permitted means of isolation that I as a electrician is permitted to operate. You have to ask your utility to seal supply since no means of safe isolation is provided."
@effervescence5664 2 ай бұрын
Re: Fuse & Meter Seals, as many regulars will know I'm dual qualified with gas and as standard every 5 years safe isolation of the gas system and it's a requirement for a main isolator before the meter. The fact it's not standard to either have a DP MCCB on the incomer like many countries around the world or with BS7671 regulation updates to have part of the refresher course be about the different type of fuse heads in use and how to safely isolate them is moronic and honestly counters the EAW. It's the equivalent of sending a GasSafe engineer to site and telling them they can't turn off the gas to cap off the meter to commence a boiler change. Idiotic and needs industry wide change and acceptance that safe working first should be the standard not the exception.
@dstat79 2 ай бұрын
Lee seems like a top bloke, be a good laugh having a beer with him. Weqoute sounds like a great concept too. Great show 🙏🏻
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
We had a blast with Lee!
@wequote_cloud 2 ай бұрын
Thank you- Happy to give you a demo any time
@dstat79 2 ай бұрын
@@wequote_cloudthank you 🙏🏻
@adrianking6309 2 ай бұрын
We should be able to cut seals to tightness check on periodic inspections also. Cant see the harm in putting a temporary seal in and noting the serial number on a certificate.
@electricalstuff259 2 ай бұрын
Maybe they could try fitting isolators as standard like they do in Europe.
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
Far too sensible.
@robertburrows6612 2 ай бұрын
When the new electronic meters were first installed they used to have an isolator switch which the electricians could operate, hey presto the new smart meters did away with it.
@eddiereed5025 2 ай бұрын
cost was the excuse laughable @@robertburrows6612
@GretatheEvilGremlin 2 ай бұрын
Digital meters in the 90's had a double pole switch built in. They sealed through the other cover screws and leave access to the one housing the switch. Its like magic!!!!!!!
@everbrite_sparks 2 ай бұрын
I recently had a smart meter fitted. In parallel to this I tried to talk with the electrical supply company to also install a means of isolation from their equipment to my equipment. I lost the will to live talking with them by phone. Anyhow when the metering company came to install both the electrical and gas meter I asked the installer if they could install an isolation switch for me. No problem they had the correct equipment on the van and installed it no charge. Therefore they have this equipment on their vans but it appears you have to ask for this to be fitted. I wanted this as I plan to have a new distribution board fitted. There should be a law to have a means of isolation between equipment owned by different parties. To enable upgrade and maintainability to be carried out in a safe manor.
@LickorishAllsorts Ай бұрын
Ovo?
@MartinE63 2 ай бұрын
Working live can be dangerous, attempting say a CU change without effective isolation is reckless. Either the DNO provides as standard a safe means of isolation or you take a managed safe approach and provide it yourself, always making sure that the cable entry & head is in sound condition and you’re not breaking load by removing the fuse. In a sound installation it’s a bloody seal, it’s nothing but a means of preserving revenue. I’d argue this safety first approach in court with the assistance of the HSE if the DNO ever got arsey about this. I’m just a DIY’er, with certificates on the wall & letters after my name from two professional engineering institutions, now retired but previously amongst many other things, authorised for switching 400kV, defeating interlocks, earthing really big bits of wire, big transformers, scary sized capacitors and then issuing safety documentation.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
Thats why, if you can't do work safely, without breaking the law, you refuse to perform requested work. You don't break the law to work safely, if safe work CANNOT be done due to you needed to break laws to isolate safely, then you REFUSE to perform the work. Then its up to the customer to get DNO to install a isolator, or pre-isolate prior to your work.
@mikejoseph425 2 ай бұрын
When I was an apprentice back in 1970 and were supposed to do a shut down the sparks used to drill live busbars to fit new lugs. Rubber gloves and rubber mats and that was with paper insulated incomer and metal heads😮😮😮
@andrewstafford-jones4291 2 ай бұрын
Our Dysfunctional Electricity system gets even more convoluted and uncompetitive. We have the most expensive electricity in the world and apparently run by market rigging rules disguised as safety regulation - its much like the whole EU market where massive over regulation ensures virtually no competition.
@rogerphelps9939 2 ай бұрын
Worse than the EU.
@NicolasRaimo 2 ай бұрын
Great Tool Rick!
@trevorreece6999 2 ай бұрын
I work for a crane company, one of the trainers has a story about a painter who had. Came in to do some work around the bay conductors, walked by the disconnect and noticed that people had locks on it. Went down the way and hooked his fall protection the the conductors. For this site was built around the 20s so the conductors are angle iron and the power to that crane would be 250vdc. Luckily for the painter he had decided to to a walk around before takeing his lock off and turning on the power.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
You should ALWAYS do a walk-around before turning on ANY isolation switch that have been turned off for safety. It could be a worker who hasn't a personal lock (because he is not "allowed" to lock out equipment) or similiar. ALWAYS check. Here in sweden, you could get criminal liability if you put on a switch without doing a walk-around. Lockout/Tagout is rarely used. Because people know they can be thrown in jail if they put on the power without doing a walkaround and check. A simple rule is to be followed, if you didn't turn off the switch, you don't turn it on. Simple as that. Don't touch something that you didn't turn off. Unless you follow specific handover procedures. (This only apply to safety switches). This is also why safety switches have a label that says "This may not be used for start and stop of equipment". If you want a switch for normal isolation of equipment (lets say, isolation of a furnace during the weekend so nothing burns down) - then you install 2 safety switches in series. One that has the label, one that has not. If you want to isolate the equipment "normally" for operations, then you flip the UNMARKED switch, people know that this is NOT a safety switch, and can turn it on. If you are going to work on the equipment, you flip the SAFETY marked switch, meaning people should know that NOBODY except the one who turned it off, may turn it on again. Here in sweden we usually "lock out" RCBO's with a piece of tape. Then people know someone has deliberately turned it off, not just that it has tripped. (Sweden RCBO's don't trip to middle, they trip to off, so you can't know if a breaker that is in OFF position is off because it trip, or if someone deliberately turned it off to isolate power).
@stevelawrence7111 2 ай бұрын
I'd rather cut the seal and make it safe
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
I rather refuse to perform work and specify "No permitted safe means of isolation provided by customer" on the job rejection form.
@acelectricalsecurity 2 ай бұрын
This is what I do when I need to isolate the mains and the lazy DNO has not provided an isolator. I get the client to call their energy company to tell them what work they are having done, and because there's no isolator I will be breaking the seal on their main fuse, I don't ask, I tell them I am doing it. This is the approach I have used for the last 20 years and have never had an issue.
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
Sounds a sensible approach
@bsesin 2 ай бұрын
our company use acoole , i was doing a board change .. the guy who rocked up to do the isolator install was just some sparky subbie on their books... with some half assed toolbox to boot.. same as anything .. get the accreditation then pay some spark 40 quid a job .
@glenwoofit 2 ай бұрын
Cut seal, upgrade the CU then ask the customer to get the DNO to reseal. I've never had a problem with the local DNO the guys told me it's not a problem someone will reseal it when passing. I think there should be a website where you can report any defects in the Cut out and that a reseal is needed. If they don't like it then a isolator should be fitted as standard as part of a smart meter upgrade. I have seals I sometimes put on for safety but I always ask the customer to get it done by the DNO. We do safe isolation every day on all kinds of equipment and feeds so why pulling a little cut out fuse is a problematic issue beyond me.
@jamesrobinson5450 2 ай бұрын
I do just that. Couldn't give a toss about cutting. I need earn a flipping living and do it safely. There utter incompetence is joke. I cut, do work, re seal.
@seamusellis1450 2 ай бұрын
I asked Octopus to install an iosolator when they fitted a Smart meter ...yup no problem and no charge but you have to ask ....surely it should be standard....
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
@@jamesrobinson5450 Or: Refuse work, say that there no means of CU isolation that you are by law permitted to operate, and then its up to the customer to get DNO to install a isolation switch.
@TestGearJunkie. 2 ай бұрын
06:05 That bloke working live has had a few thousand volts through his hair 🤣
@robertburrows6612 2 ай бұрын
When the first electronic meters first appeared on the market, they used to have an isolator switch built in the electrian could access and operate, move forward to the new smart meters, hey presto that switch vanished. Now the DNO want nearly £300 , to fit an isolator switch,. I can supply and fit the same switch as the DNO for around £150 , the DNO are ripping the public off. For health and safety reasons i will pull the main fuse , and if ned be argue in court. I law requires me to work safely and keep the risk to the safety of myself and others around me to a bare minimum
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
If it goes to court you will win.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
or you can refuse work and tell the customer that no safe means of isolation, that you are permitted to operate, exist. Then the customer have to get DNO to install a customer-facing isolator switch.
@VillainGang. 2 ай бұрын
Can someone share the link for the Dcusa diagram?
@nigelcharteris2950 2 ай бұрын
Apparently it was going to cost £5 to fit isolators integral with smart meters and that was the reason they decided against (£125 million for 25million homes). Thanks guys, so do we conclude that electricians lives are not worth £5? I'm really tired of there being chronic no solution to this problem
@bearcatkoi 2 ай бұрын
Is my quote similar to Luckins price guide and do you pay on top for pricing upgrades from wholesalers
@wequote_cloud 2 ай бұрын
No it’s different to Luckins and you don’t pay any extra for price updates. There is a 3 week free trial if you wanted to try it out
@philipholme9911 2 ай бұрын
The process of safe isolation in no diffrent bettween a final circuit or distribution circuit, if you are a skilled electrician its not a problem. I would rather get a telling off from the DNO for cutting the seals on a service head and my staff and I be safe, than get into bother from the HSE for a member of staff getting an electric shock. In my opinion the overiding pieces of leglisation are the HSWA 1974 and the electricity at work regulations 1989. if you reseal the meter when you have finished whats the problem?
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
Or simple, if safe means of isolation is not provided, and you are NOT allowed to isolate safely, you refuse to perform work. Simple as that. Its the same if you doing work in a property, where the main means of isolation is locked away so only the landlord or property owner can access. Because your customer "permits" the work doesn't mean you can do it, if means of isolation is owned by someone else, like the DNO or another property owner, you don't break seals, you say to customer: "I cannot perform this work because theres no permitted means of isolation that I as a electrician is permitted to operate. You have to ask your utility to seal supply since no means of safe isolation is provided."
@Nikolasz1173 29 күн бұрын
@@sebastiannielsen bruh stop bootlicking the DNOs
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
The gas and water utilities leave a user operated isolation tap as their services enter a premises. The services of these organisations can be isolated by the user for whatever reason, or by a workman to safely do work on the internal systems inside the premises. Common sense of course. But for some reason the electricity people do not provide one - well most do not. Well they do but it cannot be user controlled. The premises can be isolated by removing the main fuse - just a different way of isolating. Sorted. They do provide a means of isolation then. Use it.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
The reason is that gas and water is a entirely different type of utility, which can be isolated by a simple valve, which can't be tampered with. The fuse can be tampered with, you could create a bootleg fuse that allows your house to run without electricity meter. Thats why this fuse is sealed. It would be the equvalient of needing to remove a pipe section before the gas meter or water meter to "isolate" a house. Of course they would seal that pipe section so you couldn't run a hose and get free gas or water. And then have a procedure when a authorized gas installer or water installer needs to call in to the utility to have the utility seal off gas or water.
@edwardbarrett1388 2 ай бұрын
Can you put subtitles up please? I'm missing all of these.
@ooohyeahnachoman 2 ай бұрын
Are those tails out of the wagos just dangling in mid air without any support?
@kevvywevvywoo Ай бұрын
the guy came to fit a smart meter at my father's premises and said he couldn't complete it as he had only been taught to do single phase and wasn't trained to fit a 3-phase meter.
@nathanledden3892 Ай бұрын
I called the DNO about the state of the cut out. It was looped to the next house. The earth was loose and the linking cables were cotton covered. She asked if I had cut the tags, I said yes. She asked, 'are you a real electrician'. I hung up. She called back, I said we are the only people that look at the cut out. They don't actively maintain them, we note malfunctions without being payed or thanked!
@johnnicholls9023 Күн бұрын
A lot of new builds in the south uk no come with means of isolation but yea in the past I have cut seals as I’m not putting my life at risk as a qualified electrician and providing a certificate for a changed board I would put in notes what was carried out reason and seals replaced if left with no seals is irresponsible in my eyes
@royjurd3843 2 ай бұрын
Yes , l see no problem in doing this whan requirsd for safely working on the instalation .
@michaeljohnson1006 2 ай бұрын
If the tails to the consumer unit are under size or cloth coverd the dno automatically fits an isolator.
@markpotter8280 2 ай бұрын
As a self employed electrician is their a course I can do (links please) that would after completing the course allow me to cut the seals on a meter and fit an isolator then reseal without having to ask permission every time?
@heladas90 2 ай бұрын
No, that's what napit were are trying to get for their members
@rhock1979 2 ай бұрын
Before myself and my sister moved in to are new place our energy company (I will not name), change the meter to a smart meter, and they did not reseal the main fuse or place a tape to seal it (I note sure they damaged case of the fuse) also but when I checked the meter for my energy company I notice was damaged and not sealed any way, I contacted my DNO who said as there no fault and I got power they cannot do anything about it, so I have to contact my engery company to fixed it. Which I did, it took them over a month to come and fixed it. I was worried about it until they managed to seal it as anyone can pull the fuse.
@RobQuinney 2 ай бұрын
Who would come along and pull your main fuse? Is this a genuine concern? Is it shared accomodation? Thanks 👍
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
What is needed is a *three pole* isolation switch (L, N & E) as the supply enters the premises. Have the earthing TT with no earthing to extraneous metal parts (gas & water pipes) that connect the supply to supplies to other premises. So when the switch is thrown to off there is *100%* isolation from the electricity supply. Also this switch must be before any fuse protection and metering, so *all* equipment and and the supply is isolated. As the gas people do.
@deang5622 2 ай бұрын
Don't need a three pole isolation switch if the installation is TN-C-S. A 2 pole is sufficient.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@deang5622 That is so, as N & E are the same. Electricity can still enter your house via shared metal pipes and earth cables, such as gas and water. There should be no connection with other systems when isolated.
@deang5622 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 No it is not because N+E are the same. It also applies to TT. It is because there is no separate earth wire coming into the installation from the DNO, so no possibility of the earth wire in the property becoming energised if both L+N are switched.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@deang5622 It can via a common metal pipe. Read again what I wrote. As it stands a DP isolator will be after the service head and meter. The N is still into you home via the unswitched earth cable (they are the same linked at the service head). That means you are *not* isolated from the electricity supply.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 E can't return electricity. N can. Thats why there must be a earth rod connected at the service head or other reliable connection to earth, so IF the utility would accidentially backfeed voltage via N into your house, that voltage will get shorted to ground by the earth rod. Every point where TN-C is switched into TN-S, there must be a reliable connection to earth at the PEN --> PE+N separation point. Same if your neighbour connects a generator to the now floating N (if utility disconnects power) and that neighbour backfeeds N into your house via the shared PEN. By a earth rod, that N will now be shorted to ground, meaning you will not get a voltage on N inside your house. You may NEVER disconnect earth OTHER than for measurements. This is why earth connectors have a warning sign they may never be isolated. They CAN be isolated for troubleshooting purposes, where you want to measure for example earth leakage current, You may NEVER disconnect a earth cable for the purpose of "safe work isolation". Earth is designed to be safe. Simple as that.
@mfx1 2 ай бұрын
It's not illegal at most it's a civil matter but the electrician doesn't have a contract with the DNO.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
and?
@deang5622 2 ай бұрын
No, only if there is an isolation switch they can operate before the main fuse.
@eddiereed5025 2 ай бұрын
Instead of paying for a sip surely you would be better of getting the energy supplier to fit an isolator in a lot of instances this could cost nothing, done this with octopus no charge . And its there for the future which is the crux of the matter the DNO not providing a safe method of isolation in an emergency I would be interested in the health and safety executives view on this maybe you could get a representative on the show, (there again pigs not flying this year )
@stevegrace2218 2 ай бұрын
All very well saying the guidance is there when the guidance doesn't help at all. Electricians will always resent the idea of having rely on someone who is less qualified than them to come out and do exactly what they were going to do anyway. Electricians should be allowed or providers should be obliged. End of.
@jamesmoon5632 2 ай бұрын
Why do all gas meters have an isolation for emergencies so we should have one as well. Oh no we can fit AFD’s as they make more money but most thermal damage is on the main switch so an isolation device after the meter is what we should have. Just like surge protection that should be the DNO’s problem not the customers.
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
Good points !
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
The DNOs should fit a double pole isolator *as soon as their supply enters the premises,* then their main fuse and meter after. The supply *must be* isolated before any protection, meters, etc, as the gas people do. If there are problems with the DNOs equipment or meters, like melting, it cannot be safely isolated. Apply the electricity logic to a gas supply - it is having the gas Emergency Control Valve (ECV or maintap) *after* the meter. So if there is a gas escape on the gas meter you could not isolate it. Madness of course. But this logic is used by the electricity DNOs.
@eddiereed5025 2 ай бұрын
Total common sense but no ones listening the electrical trade bodies need to get this to the members of parliament
@andyburns 2 ай бұрын
Fitting isolator before cutout/meter might encourage "fiddling", but an isolator after meter is very sensible.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@andyburns The idea is *safety.* Total isolation. The gas people have no problems with that. *Safety* must not be second to measures to prevent stealing of energy (fiddling). If they want those measures they can have them by other methods.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 Gas is a entirely different utility, which CAN be safely isolated by a valve, which can be sealed in such a way so you can't tamper with it (steal gas), but you can still turn off gas. Electricity is different, which means, providing a removable fuse for the customer before meter, means the customer can also bypass the meter and steal energy. So its fully understandable that these are sealed. A better way is, that IF you need to safely isolate a meter for some reason, and you aren't permitted to do it, you refuse to perform the work.
@johnburns4017 Ай бұрын
@@sebastiannielsen If the only mean of safe isolation is a main fuse, then you pull it. Not difficult to understand.
@rhock1979 2 ай бұрын
Plus what I heard from other KZfaq channel they who was a electrician cut open the main fuse as that property was pulling and giving the property over 400 watts, they went though other homes near that property and tested there electric and found they was not giving enough energy for that home (times 2), so he did the same pulled the fuse, and then he contacted their DON, and told what they did and why, the DON came out and done the same test, and got same results, so they dig up the road and found the main electric wire for that street has blown, the DON give money to the three homes for damages they got because of this fault.
@markpotter8280 2 ай бұрын
Yea that was Nick Bundy. Tho I'm sure he contacted the DNO not the DON well unless he was looking for a whole different level of protection that is 😂
@animarkzero 2 ай бұрын
Here in Austria we Electricians can cut seals of the Meter Fuse compartment which is inside the main distribution box. We just have to notify the power provider afterwards so they can send a technician to check and re-seal. Sometimes we even open the main fuse box which is in the attic most of the time. The main fuses are Diazed fuses or NH-Fuses, the latter of them needing a special isolated glove to remove. Most of the time I cut the seals is to change the to TN-S-C form the old TT-System
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
I would rather have a TT using my own earth rod. All mine then, with little influence from others in the street.
@animarkzero 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017Of course you would have a need for your own earth rod or ring earth preferably! Ring Earth Systems are typically made from Stainless steel Wires with 8mm diameter which are laid in a trench around the house(full circle) It is then connected to PE via minimum 10mm² copper wire. Those Systems are often connected to lightning Rods on the roof which are aluminum wires.
@user-ts2dz2hr1n 2 ай бұрын
As per normal its all about money with regarding pulling the fuse, which I don't think it's fair to the customer to pay nearly £90.00 for 10/20 minutes. When training to be a spark its drilled into about safe isolation. If its that much of a problem why isn't there a isolaters fitted when work is done to intakes or meters ? 🙄
@jamesmoon5632 2 ай бұрын
Loads of meter companies are cowboys see broken heads with tape on them when they remove the seal and leave it. I must ring DNO three times a week to inform them there equipment is in a dangerously standard.
@davidreilly1031 2 ай бұрын
If there's no Isolator switch, I dont hesitate to cut the seal, so I can pull the fuse. Safe isolation is far more important than any rules. And if you cut the tag carefully, you can replace afterwards to make it look like the seal hasn't been cut and it still prevents the fuse from being pulled.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
Or simple, if safe means of isolation is not provided, and you are NOT allowed to isolate safely, you refuse to perform work. Simple as that. Just use a standarized job refusal form, and write in the common notes field that "No means of safe isolation is provided by the customer that im permitted to operate. Work cannot continue. Work halted."
@davidreilly1031 Ай бұрын
@@sebastiannielsen But in the real world, not on a big site, with an army of box tickers, you lose the job to someone who won't refuse to do the job. Sole traders have to earn by productivity not on the hourly rate waiting for scaffolding team to build you a 300 mm safe working platform.
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
@@davidreilly1031 as a sole trader I would suggest requiring pre-payment, and then have in the terms of service (that customer has to sign) that if there is no DNO work permit or customer-facing isolaton switch for the type of work you are performing, then work are to be refused with no refund due to safety. Voilá, problem solved.
@davidreilly1031 Ай бұрын
@@sebastiannielsen Terms of service and job refusal forms, what planet are you on? Just do the job and get paid. It bureaucratic pin heads who create problems when there are none.
@christastic100 2 ай бұрын
Cut , pull , shut ,reseal , job done and walk away? 😊me ? Surly not gov. Do you need a Sip smith ? Oh no a cup of tea please.
@robertburrows6612 2 ай бұрын
You can't obtain the same seals as the DNO , todays electric meters can notify your supplier if the power been cut to the meter
@christastic100 2 ай бұрын
@@robertburrows6612 would never touch smart meter seals . The cut out is another thing. Anyone can obtain seals and a crimping device.
@Mike_5 2 ай бұрын
Cutting seals on the DNO Cutout is acceptable but the meter should be preserved like evidence so should never be seal cut (There are some very naughty people out there ...)
@GretatheEvilGremlin 2 ай бұрын
They spent years discussing whether smart meters should have an isolation switch built in. For it not to happen is an embarrassment to the entire industry. Digital meters in the 90's had a double pole switch built in for heavens sake. Talk about going backwards. About time the DNO took responsibility for their own equipment.
@NicolasRaimo 2 ай бұрын
Jo Loves a carvan trip doesn't he, bet he tows it everywhere even when he's not camping
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
Wait until he rocks up outside your gaff.
@raychambers3646 Ай бұрын
When i was starting many years my electrician showed me how to remove and replace seals illegally ,not that i ever put it into practise!
@craigharvey17 2 ай бұрын
Why can't Western Power follow SSEs model. If you are niceic or napit approved you are allowed to break the cutout seal as long as you reseal afterwards. Western Power are being well over the top and making it difficult for sparks. Do you think Diy Dave bothers to use a sip?
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
The law says anyone can work on an electrical installation as long as they are *competent.* Simple. Easy to understand. The law does not say you need to be NICEIC or Napit, just *competent.* SSE cannot discriminate against *competent* people over another. All must be treated the same. That is the same for any DNO. Water and gas provide safe isolation by a user or a workman, by providing isolation as their services enter the premises. Electricity providers do as well but only for *competent* workmen by removing the main fuse. They provide none for the user.
@cjmillsnun 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 SSE are a private company and can effectively set their own rules on that. As can National Grid (was Western Power) UKPN and SPEN.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@cjmillsnun They have a contract with HMG. They have to conform to the laws of land like all others, and even HMG. Like even Boris Johnson had to - remember? He never then was taken to court then fined. Building regs are the law of the land as is H&S. A DNO is not a law unto themselves.
@craigharvey17 Ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 they do what they want, they own the network
@michaeljohnson1006 2 ай бұрын
The old none smart meters used to have a consumers side to the meter with a quarter turn. And a plastic seal. So why is it not compulsory to have isolation fitted as standard. Maybe its because the dno can make money fitting the switch.
@andyburns 2 ай бұрын
Pedro is very busy, it would appear ...
@martyclarke969 2 ай бұрын
Yes yes yes
@michaeljohnson1006 2 ай бұрын
The asbestos is in the old fuse its self with a hole drilled in it.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
uh?
@davidduckworth9094 2 ай бұрын
This subject is quite a problem. 1st of all, I am a metering inspector. The most important of all is that no one should work live at any time. DNO is over 100 amps supply below that is down to the supplier. Now we do have quite a lot of elections that would like us to give them a PME when the supply is going to be used for a farm ect , and they don't understand why we will not connect them it isn't rocket science give me a TT with an 30 amp RCD you can have your supply I can go on and on but will leave it at that.
@njwareing6408 Ай бұрын
It's only a criminal offense to bypass the meter and steal electricity, it is not a criminal offense to cut seals on a meter or a main fuse
@benjurqunov Ай бұрын
Why is metering a criminal offense to create special họmọsẹxxụaI rights ? They're nowhere near mexico !
@davey2k12 2 ай бұрын
My house got isolation switch and looks about 50years old 😂
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
A barrister's dream? I would love it to go to court as the DNOs would probably be fried.
@martyclarke969 2 ай бұрын
I mean no no no. Cough
@newpuppy21 2 ай бұрын
Sure there’s a lecky at work act that states… death etc is bad 😂 have a look
@mikepxg6406 2 ай бұрын
Always cut the seals. Not controversial just mundane.
@kevinmetcalfe9734 2 ай бұрын
What planet are these 2 on . get real when was the last time a barrister was employed to prosicute an electrician for removing a main fuse!
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
We are still on earth - put yourself in the shoes of someone who manages a team of electricians who may be wiring social housing or an EV charger roll out. - would you as part of your employer obligations instruct the team to break the seals, move the meter etc
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@efixx Kevin is talking law, you are not. There is no law against safely isolating a supply no matter what means even if that means removing their seal and pulling a fuse. *You replace the seal after,* so they cannot accuse you of vandalizing their property, the seal. You could argue they restricted safe isolation, so not relevant. Show me a *law of the land,* not a made up DNO law, that says you cannot safely isolate a supply and move a meter to current regs on *your own property?*
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 - UK Statutory Instruments2002 No. 2665 PART VII Regulation 25 25.-(1) No person shall make or alter a connection from a distributor’s network to a consumer’s installation, a street electrical fixture or to another distributor’s network without that distributor’s consent. 35. Any generator, distributor, supplier, or meter operator or any agent, contractor or sub-contractor of any of the foregoing who fails to comply with any provision of these Regulations which applies to him, any person who fails to comply with regulation 18(3), 21, 22 or 25(1) and any consumer who fails to comply with regulation 8(4) or 34(2) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@efixx *25. -(1)* is *not* relating to _safe isolation._ Isolation does not *_alter a connection_* So that is irrelevant. Nothing is *35* is being contravened by safe isolation.
@efixx 2 ай бұрын
If you aren’t working on “the tails” there is no need to isolate using the suppliers fuse.
@GordonKay-ro1rs Ай бұрын
No it is illegal for anyone apart from Scottish power to cut the seal's and with the bs 7671 iee wiring regs these days it is compulsory to have a main switch / isolator and by the regulations it is compulsory to have a 30 ma rcd protecting the installation by law and if seal's are removed they will be replaced by Scottish power after the work is completed by law and if anyone removes the seal's apart from Scottish power they will be done for it big time lol
@uiopuiop3472 2 ай бұрын
i do the skibidi fuse toilet in hungarian promises
@paul756uk2 2 ай бұрын
Not sure what the big deal is about cutting a seal. Are electricians more frightened of the 'law' than keeping themselves safe? I mean, its hardly the crime of the century is it?
@sebastiannielsen Ай бұрын
They can keep themselves safe WITHOUT breaking a seal. Simple: Refuse to perform requested work. Just tell the customer that they aren't allowed to break the seal on the cutout by law, and since no other means of safe isolation is provided, you refuse to work unsafe with live parts = refusal of work. I guess there is standarized order refusal forms for this too so you don't get legal problems for have refused to do pre-paid work. So its possible to BOTH follow H&S laws, and DNO regulations at the same time.
@radiotowers1159 2 ай бұрын
Unless the spark is authorised to do so, then the seal should not be cut. The customer may end up being prosecuted for interference and ultimately the spark who does it. You cant have one set of rules that the electrician works to and then ignore another. If you break something your insurance will not cover you.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
Will you give us the law please? I will be waiting a long time. Work unsafe by not isolating then you will break laws.
@radiotowers1159 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 Electricity supply regulations 1988 as amended section 28 (b)to take, or desist from, such action as may be necessary to correct or avoid undue interference with the supplier’s supply or apparatus or with the supply to, or the apparatus of, other consumers.
@radiotowers1159 2 ай бұрын
@@johnburns4017 I can also assure you the DNO have and will prosecute , if there is any chance that by an electricians action for example a slack connection at the cablehead occured . There is a constant stream of cannabis cultivations offences going to court and the first thing that is guaranteed to be proven is the interference to supply bit.
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@radiotowers1159 *Electricity supply regulations 1988 as amended section 28* *Discontinuance of supply in certain circumstances* (Simplified by me from legal speak). *28 (1)* Is the DNO can cut a supply if they *test* the installation and deem it is unsafe. *28 (2)* Is the DNO can cut a supply in an *emergency* deeming the supply unsafe. *28 (3)* relates to cutting a supply in an *emergency only.* *28 (3)* *(a)* In the case of an _emergency cut off._ The consumer has to allow a man from the DNO to inspect the installation on the consumers side. *28 (3)* *(b)* In case of an _emergency cut off_ the consumer must not touch the DNOs equipment (such as switching it back on). You never understood it! That section *is not* relating to *safe isolation at all.*
@johnburns4017 2 ай бұрын
@@radiotowers1159 You can safely isolate a supply by pulling a main fuse. They may say you have destroyed our seal, so all you do is buy a sealer for £17 and put the seal back. You do not know the law of the land. The *law of the land* only matters not the DNOs own made up laws.
@GordonKay-ro1rs Ай бұрын
Only Scottish power can do any of the work with the meter or cutouts as it is dangerous and the cutouts when removed give isolation so that they can replace the meter and if they cut the seal's and can't carry out the work they must by law replace the seal's until they can do the work and if they don't its dangerous and people can fiddle with it to rig the meter which can kill someone as there is no protection from the meter to the cutouts that's why Scottish power must replace the seal's every time they do a job even if they can't do the work as it is dangerous lol
@nathanledden3892 Ай бұрын
your one man bands who don't give a fuck
@TheBigballs5 Ай бұрын
If you gotta work on the customers system' then cut it. Aren't you guys getting fed up will all this bs. Rules for rules sake. Jobs for idiots to make rules.