Turned up at a house today: the guy wants it rewired: The supply is an old overhead: two separate cables, but there's a hole in the neutral side of the cutout and an earth going to the existing (old , battered), fuseboard. There's no PME markings, I'm guessing just an earth attached to the neutral. but there's no way of actually knowing for sure. I rang the DNO, expecting them to confirm its TT and send one of their engineers to remove the earth, but was told " we don't know what type of supply it is: its up to you to decide, and tell us" . Thing is somebody has taken the cutout apart and done this, either the DNO, or some wiseguy? I talked to the customer about using earth rods, but what about this "earth"? Its coming out of the cutout, who's to say it can't or won't be used in future? How do I know its not been declared kosher by the supplier and i'm not just doing a load of additional work at the customers cost? I can isolate the earth into a box and put rods in but, solid floors and small concreted yard, it's not going to be simple or cheap, and i'm worried someone will come along and say its unnecessary and I've wasted the clients money. Go easy on me guys, done all my work in a big town for 15 years only ever worked on TNS and the odd PME. Now I'm out in the sticks, banging earth rods in and all, but this is a first for me.in (In the picture I've tried to attach it's the small white cable its a painted 6mm insulated green and yellow.) Any thoughts? I did wonder about ringing up and telling them its unsafe, see if I can get someone out.
If the outdoor feed is singles, as opposed to bundled, to be PME ready, the neutrals (PENs) should have 2 crimps on each join so no single fault to danger, and as others have said, every few poles a line down the side of the pole to an electrode.
However, again as others have said, the DNO is obliged by law to tell you. They may tell you it cannot be PME, and the earth is unofficial, but at least you would know for sure.
If the outdoor feed is singles, as opposed to bundled, to be PME ready, the neutrals (PENs) should have 2 crimps on each join so no single fault to danger, and as others have said, every few poles a line down the side of the pole to an electrode.
However, again as others have said, the DNO is obliged by law to tell you. They may tell you it cannot be PME, and the earth is unofficial, but at least you would know for sure.
