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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.
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  • 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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  • 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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