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
