DNO fuse - who can remove it?

[MrLights]

Hi guys.
You need to be WI-1 and OP-3 authorised. Amen!

 

[Midwest]

Hi guys.
You need to be WI-1 and OP3 authorised. Amen!

Your lot came down here a few years ago on a raid and stayed - SSE. They allow us mere mortals to pull their main fuse if I'm a sparks registered with a CPS, no idea how that fits in with WI-1 or OP3, whatever that might be?

 

[MrLights]

Your lot came down here a few years ago on a raid and stayed - SSE. They allow us mere mortals to pull their main fuse if I'm a sparks registered with a CPS, no idea how that fits in with WI-1 or OP3, whatever that might be?

http://training.scottishpower.com/downloads/SafetyBooklet.pdf
Page 5...

 

[Midwest]

http://training.scottishpower.com/downloads/SafetyBooklet.pdf
Page 5...

See that and raise you ten;

 

[sparkdog]

An interesting booklet.

 

[KeenPensioner]

May take the OP a while to reply, think the power to his property has suddenly gone off....

Hi....thanks for all the advice.....can someone tell me what an OP is?

 

[Midwest]

Hi....thanks for all the advice.....can someone tell me what an OP is?

That's you 'original poster or opening post'

Edit; or is that a have?

 

[KeenPensioner]

I wonder why the OP wants to know this?

I fully understand why professionals are a bit skeptical about "mere mortals" asking questions about how it all works but I can assure you that I have no intention of going near the main fuse no matter what you may think. I am an amateur and always will be but that doesn't preclude me from learning how things work. I also follow a lot of what NASA does but that doesn't mean I want to be an astronaut! In any case thanks for all your replies.

 

[Percyprod]

As far as I am aware you need to be lv authorised to work on cut-out, including removing or replacing main fuse. Even then I was only allowed to work on out going side, different authorisation for incoming. Remember next fuse could well be 400 or 500 amp, main problem is fault arc, not electric shock, hence all clothing worn when working on live equipment is arc proof, and face mask and gauntlets worn. Previous poster right to say many types of cut-out not to be worked on live, espevially metal-clad ones. Having said all that, if the fuse was removed by known competent sparks, who also would not touch one of it looked dodgy, we would usually turn a blind eye. Sometimes when some one phoned fault desk and said 80 amp fuse had blown and needed replacing, question would be asked "how do you know what size fuse it is"?

 

[MrLights]

Guys, the cut-out is sealed for a reason. Please don't be complacent.

 

[Midwest]

Guys, the cut-out is sealed for a reason. Please don't be complacent.

Can you explain #32 then?

 

[Madocks]

Seal was broken when I arrived, wonder why they sell spares on ebay

 

[Astolat]

When I was employed as a Distribution Engineer by a DNO I pulled many a cut out fuse but I would only touch it if the cutout was a modern Bakelite or similar insulated style. Metalclad or Glass Fronted I would not touch with a barge pole if they were live. The only exception was in a major emergency where I would go to the substation and shut down the whole street before touching a ropey old cutout.

The one cutout I would not break the seals on was the one feeding my own house. Reason not H&S but I did not wish to leave myself open to accusations of fiddling with my own meter. Could have cost me my job / pension. Anyway I could always send someone round to do it FOC.

I have now been drawing my pension from the DNO for over twenty years.

 

[MrLights]

Hey! You must be in your 70's

 

[paleosparky13]

The correct response to the wiring regs, which are not statutory. Is how much do the greedy HV (laziest bastards ever) charge to install a serviceable isolator? If costs more than a days wage then ---- em.

 

[MrLights]

HV? Were talking abourt LV here paleo.

 

[paleosparky13]

HV? Were talking abourt LV here paleo.

LV >= 600 and or upto 1kv but will still be handled by our hv dno cousins.

 

[MrLights]

ok. You're in London. I can't speak for LEB, they're a law unto their own. A totally seperate entity with unique distribution and supply concerns.

 

[KeenPensioner]

Hey! You must be in your 70's

Yep, past the three score years an 10. Well retired from the chemical industry but keen amateur sparky who knows there limitations. Read a lot and worked as a mate for a couple of years after retiring.