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Dangerous Meter Connection.

Zoomup
Today I went to give an estimate for a rewire. The wiring dates back to the 50s and 60s with some newer wiring. There is a 6 way brown Wylex B.S. 3036 consumer unit. It is fed by a twin rubber insulated cable of about 6.0mm2 conductors, but in an imperial size. The meter people had installed a new isolator and meter. They had connected in the rubber insulated "tails" even though the ends are single insulated and perished and some rubber is missing from the black core with the conductor showing,  and both conductors are badly compressed one against the other  just about to short when the old rubber finally gives way. The main fuse is a 63 Amp size. The rubber insulated cable is both a fire and shock risk. 


Why would the meter people reconnect it?  They are criminally negligent.


Z.
  • 0
    The tails are the responsibility of the property owner and the meter fitter is not allowed to touch them (as I'm sure you know). This does sound a fairly bad case, but not rare.
  • 0
    They have touched them though .  They have reconnected them.  At best they shouldn't have swapped the meter. 


    I suppose a tricky situation, at least the isolator allows the tails to be swapped




    Gary
  • 0
    Why would the meter people reconnect it?

    Probably because disconnecting it - and presumably leaving the occupants with little or no means of cooking, lighting or heating -  probably carries a greater risk. Presumably they drew their attention to the problem (hence the call to you) so they know not to touch or prod it.


    They probably don't have any right to force a disconnection - so if the customer says 'it's OK, I'll get someone in to look at it' - what can they do?


      - Andy.
  • 0
    AJJewsbury:
    Why would the meter people reconnect it?

    Probably because disconnecting it - and presumably leaving the occupants with little or no means of cooking, lighting or heating -  probably carries a greater risk. Presumably they drew their attention to the problem (hence the call to you) so they know not to touch or prod it.


    They probably don't have any right to force a disconnection - so if the customer says 'it's OK, I'll get someone in to look at it' - what can they do?


      - Andy.


    The very dangerous installation was inherited by the new owners within the last couple of months.  I remember the days when the "Electricity Board" would not connect, if at the  time of testing the installation was dangerous.


    Z.


  • 0
    davezawadi (David Stone):

    The tails are the responsibility of the property owner and the meter fitter is not allowed to touch them (as I'm sure you know). This does sound a fairly bad case, but not rare.


    They were touched by the meter fitter to connect them to the new isolator. Warts and all.


    Z.


  • 0
    AJJewsbury:

    They probably don't have any right to force a disconnection - so if the customer says 'it's OK, I'll get someone in to look at it' - what can they do?


    I am pretty sure that they do - it may be in the deemed contract or standard T&Cs.


    Zoomy will sort it out. ?


  • 0
    Chris Pearson:
    AJJewsbury:

    They probably don't have any right to force a disconnection - so if the customer says 'it's OK, I'll get someone in to look at it' - what can they do?


    I am pretty sure that they do - it may be in the deemed contract or standard T&Cs.


    Zoomy will sort it out. ?




    I will indeed Chris. But my concern is this: If I connected up such a damaged, old and degraded cable I would be leaving myself wide open for a legal claim and the full force of the law. But the meter people seem to be exempt from responsibility. They have no regard for shock and fire risks it seems.


    Z.


  • 0
    Zoomup:
    Chris Pearson:
    AJJewsbury:

    They probably don't have any right to force a disconnection - so if the customer says 'it's OK, I'll get someone in to look at it' - what can they do?


    I am pretty sure that they do - it may be in the deemed contract or standard T&Cs.


    Zoomy will sort it out. ?




    I will indeed Chris. But my concern is this: If I connected up such a damaged, old and degraded cable I would be leaving myself wide open for a legal claim and the full force of the law. But the meter people seem to be exempt from responsibility. They have no regard for shock and fire risks it seems.




    Well, if any harm came of it, they would be liable. When a place burns down, how on earth do the forensic scientists know where it started?


  • 0
    Chris Pearson:
    Zoomup:
    Chris Pearson:
    AJJewsbury:

    They probably don't have any right to force a disconnection - so if the customer says 'it's OK, I'll get someone in to look at it' - what can they do?


    I am pretty sure that they do - it may be in the deemed contract or standard T&Cs.


    Zoomy will sort it out. ?




    I will indeed Chris. But my concern is this: If I connected up such a damaged, old and degraded cable I would be leaving myself wide open for a legal claim and the full force of the law. But the meter people seem to be exempt from responsibility. They have no regard for shock and fire risks it seems.




    Well, if any harm came of it, they would be liable. When a place burns down, how on earth do the forensic scientists know where it started?




    They often know where a fires starts but not exactly why.  Anyway, I will go back today and get a temporary "builder's supply" on for the builders for tea and machine use. I find the very old electrical stuff fascinating. It is living (or just hanging on) history.


    Z.


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