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Earth Clamp on incoming cable to provide means of earth. What code and who is responsible.

Hi all,

first post on the new page.

I am doing domestic electrical condition reports on Council properties and i am coming across earth clamps on incoming cable to provide means of earth.

I used to coded as cat 2 but the side manager says must be cat3 because he contacted the local REC (Western Power) and they do not want to know. Today property was an upstairs flat so to put a rod is not and easy solution.

My last experience with them I had to change a fuseboard and the cutout was a very old square metalic with the main switch next to it, in a similar square box

The means of earth at the moment, was a 4mm bare multicore cable attached to a bolt, on the cut out,and the ZE was like 250 Ohms.

So I called them, they went out and said to the customer that the cutout need to be changed. They said to replaced it with TNC-S cut out it will cost 400 pounds.

The customer called me and said what do you think? I said say no and we will see what cut out they will provide for free. So of course they fit a cut out without earth so I had to put an earth rod.

My other point with the REC's is that when they fit a new smart meter they suppose to fit an isolator/one shot too. Must be a local isolation.

A few years ago I did, an one shot course with Npower and I asked the question and the answer was no because we charge 100 pounds per one shot.

I believe is wrong not to provide one shot for free and TNC-s cut out for free because that make the installations safer.

Many Thanks

Paul

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0 AJJewsbury over 5 years ago

I am doing domestic electrical condition reports on Council properties and i am coming across earth clamps on incoming cable to provide means of earth.

I used to coded as cat 2 but the side manager says must be cat3 because he contacted the local REC (Western Power) and they do not want to know.

Some kind on connection onto the incoming cable sheath is quite normal and correct for TN-S supplies - quite what the connection arrangement was seemed to vary greatly with time and region - in the old day most liked a soldered (sweated) joint, nowadays constant pressure springs seem fashionable, in between a variety of clamps were uses by the suppliers - some looking very much like BS 951 clamps we'd use on pipework (the suppliers at least know the type of cable they're dealing with so could appraise the risks involved in using a compression clamp).. That of course makes it very difficult to tell the difference between a genuine DNO connection and one that's been made inappropriately by 'some other'. Usually as long as it seems secure and gives a reasonable Ze, I think they're typically left alone.

My other point with the REC's is that when they fit a new smart meter they suppose to fit an isolator/one shot too. Must be a local isolation.

Ah, it all a bit messy. RECs don't exist any more (at least not on the UK mainland) - there are DNOs and there are electricity suppliers - and typically the suppliers sub-contract the metering side to another separate meter operator. The idea of installing an isolator at the same time as upgrading to a smart meter was discussed apparently, but dismissed as too expensive. Isolation continues to be provided by removing the cut-out fuse (by request to the supplier for the likes of us). Personally I stick isolator in whenever I get the chance - that way the supplier only needs to get called out the once.

- Andy.
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0 AJJewsbury over 5 years ago

I am doing domestic electrical condition reports on Council properties and i am coming across earth clamps on incoming cable to provide means of earth.

I used to coded as cat 2 but the side manager says must be cat3 because he contacted the local REC (Western Power) and they do not want to know.

Some kind on connection onto the incoming cable sheath is quite normal and correct for TN-S supplies - quite what the connection arrangement was seemed to vary greatly with time and region - in the old day most liked a soldered (sweated) joint, nowadays constant pressure springs seem fashionable, in between a variety of clamps were uses by the suppliers - some looking very much like BS 951 clamps we'd use on pipework (the suppliers at least know the type of cable they're dealing with so could appraise the risks involved in using a compression clamp).. That of course makes it very difficult to tell the difference between a genuine DNO connection and one that's been made inappropriately by 'some other'. Usually as long as it seems secure and gives a reasonable Ze, I think they're typically left alone.

My other point with the REC's is that when they fit a new smart meter they suppose to fit an isolator/one shot too. Must be a local isolation.

Ah, it all a bit messy. RECs don't exist any more (at least not on the UK mainland) - there are DNOs and there are electricity suppliers - and typically the suppliers sub-contract the metering side to another separate meter operator. The idea of installing an isolator at the same time as upgrading to a smart meter was discussed apparently, but dismissed as too expensive. Isolation continues to be provided by removing the cut-out fuse (by request to the supplier for the likes of us). Personally I stick isolator in whenever I get the chance - that way the supplier only needs to get called out the once.

- Andy.
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Earth Clamp on incoming cable to provide means of earth. What code and who is responsible.

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