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THE CAMPAIGN FOR REAL EARTHING

John Peckham
I think that we were considering adopting PME earthing systems today on what we know now we would say no thanks?


I strongly believe that the use of PME earthing systems is inherently unsafe. I am keen to hear any technical arguments to defend the use of PME?


Most PME DNO new distribution cable use 3 core Wavecon cables for UG distribution with single phase concentric cables tapped off for single phase users. For overhead open wire supplies of newer installs ABC cable.


There is no reason not to use 4 core Wavecons and distribute a much safer TN-S earthing system other than the cables will be a 1/3rd more expensive.


 I believe that the DNOs having been tentatively asking government  for a £trillion pounds to upgrade their networks for when we stop burning fossil fuels and go all electric. No doubt the DNOs hope that the government, civil servants and politicians will have forgotten that these private companies purchased a public assets for a knock down price with the idea that the public would no longer have to subsidies a public body! 


A good start would be that no new supplies will be PME, no replacement cables will be PME and no repairs to cables will be PME conversions. For instance a new housing estate would have to be an all TN-S installation. I understand that WPD are already installing TN-S earthing systems for new housing estates. If this is the case then well done WPD. Can anyone confirm this?


I am also concerned about the degradation of the of the Global Earthing System with use of all plastic covered cables, no bonding to metallic service pipes and the failure on DNO contractors to install earth rods and joints to save time and money. Will we start to see 442 type over voltages?


Look at my EV charging thread and the measures we are having to deploy due to PME earthing, we are having to do this because the PME system is inherently unsafe!


Is there support for my proposed campaign?
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    We are going to need to replace the LV network anyway for two reasons. Firstly a lot of it is approaching  a 100 years old, my supply cable from my local Tx and the cables in my road date back to the 1930s. Secondly if we are going to go all electric for heating and car charging the LV network will need a massive upgrade.



    Unfortunately I can guess at some counter arguments on that score. I guess PILC cable doesn't age in quite the same way as PVC (or indeed rubber) insulated cables - many, as you say, are approaching a century in constant service and most still seem to be in adequate condition - is there any evidence that they're about to fail anytime soon? Or might there be some optimism that we might be able to squeeze another few decades out of them?


    On the electricity for space heating debate - if the (building) engineers rather than bean counters have their way - it'll be accompanied by a massive upgrade in thermal insulation - so space heating demand could potentially be quite modest (perhaps 2 or 3kW) per home - and then only at the coldest times of year - or even less if via heat pump - so perhaps then manageable with comparatively modest reinforcement?


    Likewise with EVs - if properly controlled - much charging could be spread around times when the network is less than fully utilised - so the increase in peak demand could be quite modest.


    For sure some re-inforcment will be needed, and we'll have to be a lot cleverer about load control (things like local load shedding, wider smart-meter control and load-shifting by heating stored hot water rather than instantaneous) but I don't see complete replacement of the LV network as inevitable.


    I share you dislike of PME, but I think we're going to have to find better route...


        - Andy.
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  • 0

    We are going to need to replace the LV network anyway for two reasons. Firstly a lot of it is approaching  a 100 years old, my supply cable from my local Tx and the cables in my road date back to the 1930s. Secondly if we are going to go all electric for heating and car charging the LV network will need a massive upgrade.



    Unfortunately I can guess at some counter arguments on that score. I guess PILC cable doesn't age in quite the same way as PVC (or indeed rubber) insulated cables - many, as you say, are approaching a century in constant service and most still seem to be in adequate condition - is there any evidence that they're about to fail anytime soon? Or might there be some optimism that we might be able to squeeze another few decades out of them?


    On the electricity for space heating debate - if the (building) engineers rather than bean counters have their way - it'll be accompanied by a massive upgrade in thermal insulation - so space heating demand could potentially be quite modest (perhaps 2 or 3kW) per home - and then only at the coldest times of year - or even less if via heat pump - so perhaps then manageable with comparatively modest reinforcement?


    Likewise with EVs - if properly controlled - much charging could be spread around times when the network is less than fully utilised - so the increase in peak demand could be quite modest.


    For sure some re-inforcment will be needed, and we'll have to be a lot cleverer about load control (things like local load shedding, wider smart-meter control and load-shifting by heating stored hot water rather than instantaneous) but I don't see complete replacement of the LV network as inevitable.


    I share you dislike of PME, but I think we're going to have to find better route...


        - Andy.
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