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.
Interesting point, Andy, re: making it safe. I am not one of those authorized contractors who has temporary DNO seals... but i DO seal any unsealed cutout fuses I find, and notify the DNO of the address. So far they've simply thanked me. But am I taking on a responsibility here? It was unsealed when I arrived (I'm a house badger primarily but with history in commercial up to 11kv).... so it was unsafe. I sealed it to prevent the harry potter living under the stairs pulling the main fuse and putting his finger in there. But if my seal fails...am I liable? If the power company (be it the DNO or supplier or even a metering person) suspect abstraction, are they gonna point fingers?
Edit: I seal them with standard stranded sealing wire, and flag seals but with no ID number or designation on them.
Interesting point, Andy, re: making it safe. I am not one of those authorized contractors who has temporary DNO seals... but i DO seal any unsealed cutout fuses I find, and notify the DNO of the address. So far they've simply thanked me. But am I taking on a responsibility here? It was unsealed when I arrived (I'm a house badger primarily but with history in commercial up to 11kv).... so it was unsafe. I sealed it to prevent the harry potter living under the stairs pulling the main fuse and putting his finger in there. But if my seal fails...am I liable? If the power company (be it the DNO or supplier or even a metering person) suspect abstraction, are they gonna point fingers?
Edit: I seal them with standard stranded sealing wire, and flag seals but with no ID number or designation on them.
