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

aargeitakis
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
    Just an addon to further confirm what Kelly said, it very much depends on the DNO. My local DNO, (and Kelly's),  [SSE], are particularly helpful and will respond typically within hours of a call about inadequate earthing on a TN-S supply. They still seem to install the 2 part brass clamps and supply  a 10 or 16mm tail to whatever MET is available. (they will install a MET block if one is not there, they will NOT interfere with a customer's installation, of course)


    I guess this may depend on area though, we work mostly in Gosport and the TN-S cables seem to be in fair condition.  I guess a new service head is more time for them, so if Ze is okay, a new earth clamp is cheap and cheerful?


    Anything more than that however, such as moving a service, and they'll install a TN-C-S head, and make the splice on the concentric outside the property.
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  • 0
    Just an addon to further confirm what Kelly said, it very much depends on the DNO. My local DNO, (and Kelly's),  [SSE], are particularly helpful and will respond typically within hours of a call about inadequate earthing on a TN-S supply. They still seem to install the 2 part brass clamps and supply  a 10 or 16mm tail to whatever MET is available. (they will install a MET block if one is not there, they will NOT interfere with a customer's installation, of course)


    I guess this may depend on area though, we work mostly in Gosport and the TN-S cables seem to be in fair condition.  I guess a new service head is more time for them, so if Ze is okay, a new earth clamp is cheap and cheerful?


    Anything more than that however, such as moving a service, and they'll install a TN-C-S head, and make the splice on the concentric outside the property.
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