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Bending a supply cable

Arran Cameron
This is a question from a plasterer.


A chipboard panel close to the floor with a service cut-out mounted on it needs to be moved away from the wall in order that it can be plastered. There is a reasonable amount of slack in the meter tails but they could be disconnected from the consumer unit by an electrician as there is an isolator switch on the chipboard panel.


If the chipboard panel is moved away from the wall to provide the space to plaster it then it will involve slightly bending the thick supply cable. Is this a safe move or will it break the insulation and short out internally resulting in a huge explosion?


Would it be safer to remove the chipboard panel by unscrewing the service cut-out from it? This does have the problem that a meter seal has to be broken in order to access its mounting screws.
  • 0
    I would say that it depends upon the age of the wiring. I have seen a board complete with service head and meter moved several feet by a DNO, but the service cable had been carefully excavated beforehand. The danger, to my mind, was the service head parting company with the cable, which is why the householder paid thousands to get it done.


    I certainly wouldn't recommend unscrewing the service head from the board.


    Some boards are stood off from the wall by spacers about 20 m long. I don't quite see why you would need to plaster behind the entire board, but why not go to the edges, or just behind if there are spacers?


    I doubt that anybody in here will give you their blessing - afraid that I cannot.
  • 0
    I would avoid any movement or other disturbance of the cable.

    There are two main risks, firstly if the cable is old or in poor condition it might fail when moved, this can be explosive in violence and might start a fire.

    The other risk is straining or loosening the connections with the cut out.  Fire risk can follow as loosened connections overheat.


    Leave well alone if possible, and if moving can not be avoided, get the DNO to do this.
  • 0
    I'm with Broadgage. Contact the DNO.

    I had a similar problem with the meter board and all the switchgear coming away from an ancient wall. Customer went away for 2 days, WPD disconnected the supply. I stripped out the old gear and fixed a sheet of ply. WPD fitted a new cutout and reconnected to my isolater. No charge from WPD. Everyone was happy.


    Dave
  • 0
    The service cut-out is a grey Henley that looks like it was installed only a few years ago. It can be unscrewed from the chipboard panel without having to open it up.


    The supply cable could date back to the 1930s. It most likely is a PILC.
  • 0
    Put a suitably sized piece beading around the edge of the chipboard to cover the gap and the edge of the chipboard or box the whole lot in. I would not want a plasterer near a live supply cable no matter how good/careful they are.
  • 0
    The plasterer would prefer that the chipboard panel is removed rather than the supply cable bent in order to move the panel away from the wall.
  • 0
    So it's 80+ year old PILC cable of unknown internal condition, which, if a fault develops when disturbed, could either explode, or start to dramatically overheat - with absolutely no means for emergency switching off. Giving you the opportunity to sit and chat to the nice person on the 105 line while watching the house burn down.


    If the home owner is utterly determined to get nice fresh paster behind the cut-out board, then I'd suggest they pay lots of money to the DNO for a couple of visits.
  • 0
    Arran Cameron:

    The service cut-out is a grey Henley that looks like it was installed only a few years ago. It can be unscrewed from the chipboard panel without having to open it up.


    The supply cable could date back to the 1930s. It most likely is a PILC.


    I'd be very surprised if all the screws were accessible.


    I should say that the cable which I watched being moved was only about 4 years old, so adequately flexible. 


    It is usually helpful to have a photograph of the installation, but from the sound of it, the service cable within the room is very short, so moving it away from the wall by any significant amount will present a significant hazard. At the very least, ask the DNO to pop in and advise.


  • 0
    Do NOT move the incoming cable at all.


    Z.
  • 0
    Here is a link to a thread on the old forum that shows what can go wrong !

    Due to an emergency I removed cut out fuses, and it all went a bit wrong. I had a suspicion that something might go wrong and was wearing PPE.

    Impressive bang.

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