DNO temporary generators

Something to be to be aware of from the customers point of view, is that two approaches exist for temporary supply from a generator.

Firstly is an extension lead, probably with a 32 amp male plug and several 13 amp sockets, the other way is a temporary cable connected in place of the usual service cable.

The extension lead is less convenient since only appliances plugged into this lead can be used.but has the merit that the supply is not metered, a significant saving in some cases.

The temporary cable in place of the usual service cable will energise the whole installation as normal, but the power passes through the KWH meter and is charged for.

I once had a 32 amp extension lead for a week, free electricity for a week. though limited to 32 amps. I plugged into this lead my existing UPS, a couple of 1.5 kw heaters  and either the washing machine, or any other heavy loading appliance, or another heater.

Thanks guys.

This generator seemed to be on wheels - two pneumatic and one solid rubber jockey wheel - so no fortuitous earthing there I fear - especially as it was on the hard road surface (if  a rough unadopted one) rather than mud. I'm pretty sure both water and gas in the neighbourhood are plastic (I happened to have retained a few metres of the old lead water pipe and kept it bonded as an attempt at an additional electrode, but the DNO probably wouldn't have known that).

Good point about PME - the genny did have 5 separate cables from it, and my supply is certainly 'presented' as TN-S - so it might be they were able to treat it as proper TN-S ... but there might have been a N-PE link somewhere (supply to the street light perhaps). I guess we won't know now. My garage is TT'd and I was very tempted to do a loop test just to see how it differed from the normal supply ... but was put off my the fear of tripping out the supply for the rest of the neighbours.

  - Andy.

The usual is an earth electrode, although the System Neutral usually makes a better alternative. The temporary supply cable is usually terminated on a cutout mounted on a meter board. We would normally cut a slot in a meter box door, then mount the temp cutout next to the usual one - this is why we don't want customer equipment in the meter box!

With a cutout inside, "through the letterbox" is the best and easiest option, and would be first choice. With a "temporary" between two houses, it is not unknown to have a temporary cutout on both ends of the cable, go out one letterbox and back in through next doors. 

Regards,

Alan.