Unusual voltage measurements

AJJewsbury: 
 

The electrician has used through crimps (so he says on the phone), to join a 25mm armoured and meter tails in a metal junction box. He stated this was inside of the meter cupboard on the outside wall, but it isn‘t. I think this is OK as a setup, however the builder has whacked the joint into the cavity of the wall behind the built in meter cupboard so it isn’t accessible - this of course isn’t acceptable. 

Crimped joints (i.e. ones made by a compression tool) are one of the few acceptable means of making a joint that doesn't have to be left accessible for future inspection (526.3) - so superficially at least the arrangement might well comply.

The connection to the armour might still be questionable (it would be unusual to crimp directly to the steel armour wires) - more than likely it's a threaded gland and either a banjo or earthing nut to which the PE is bolted - which strictly speaking should indeed be accessible.  If however something like a constant force spring has been used (as often done with underground SWA joints) it might be less of an issue.

The underlying issue is probably down to the DNOs/suppliers objecting to consumer equipment in the meter boxes - typically you're just allowed the tails and that's it. Something like a switchfuse for a SWA submain isn't allowed the room, so we often end up with problems like this. The typical answer when there's no room indoors directly behind the meter box, is a 2nd enclosure next to the original meter box (often a duplicate meter box) - that houses the switchfuse and connection to the SWA and then the ordinary meter tails run the short distance from there to the original meter box. But such considerations are often left rather late.

Arguably, if it's the builder that's caused the issue by moved things, it might seem a hit harsh to blame the electrician for the problem. 

   - Andy.

That said, the cable from the DNO cupboard and the DB inside is at least 6m in length maybe longer. 

It should have a fuse after the meter and it’s doesn’t. Obviously the DNOs fuse does protect the cable, albeit not completely aligned with the regulations. 

AJJewsbury: 
 

The electrician has used through crimps (so he says on the phone), to join a 25mm armoured and meter tails in a metal junction box. He stated this was inside of the meter cupboard on the outside wall, but it isn‘t. I think this is OK as a setup, however the builder has whacked the joint into the cavity of the wall behind the built in meter cupboard so it isn’t accessible - this of course isn’t acceptable. 

Crimped joints (i.e. ones made by a compression tool) are one of the few acceptable means of making a joint that doesn't have to be left accessible for future inspection (526.3) - so superficially at least the arrangement might well comply.

The connection to the armour might still be questionable (it would be unusual to crimp directly to the steel armour wires) - more than likely it's a threaded gland and either a banjo or earthing nut to which the PE is bolted - which strictly speaking should indeed be accessible.  If however something like a constant force spring has been used (as often done with underground SWA joints) it might be less of an issue.

The underlying issue is probably down to the DNOs/suppliers objecting to consumer equipment in the meter boxes - typically you're just allowed the tails and that's it. Something like a switchfuse for a SWA submain isn't allowed the room, so we often end up with problems like this. The typical answer when there's no room indoors directly behind the meter box, is a 2nd enclosure next to the original meter box (often a duplicate meter box) - that houses the switchfuse and connection to the SWA and then the ordinary meter tails run the short distance from there to the original meter box. But such considerations are often left rather late.

Arguably, if it's the builder that's caused the issue by moved things, it might seem a hit harsh to blame the electrician for the problem. 

   - Andy.

That said, the cable from the DNO cupboard and the DB inside is at least 6m in length maybe longer. 

It should have a fuse after the meter and it’s doesn’t. Obviously the DNOs fuse does protect the cable, albeit not completely aligned with the regulations.