Meter Tails 16mm 0r 25mm

[chocolate]

I was changing meter tails between service head and meter when bloke from elec board came around to read the meter. Had put new tails in between head and meter, then meter to new isolator, but the main fuse was still out. The bloke didn't seem to care. Asked me to put the fuse in for a second in order to read the digital meter, then was quite happy for me to remove it again. Didn't ask at all about broken seals. Maybe i was very lucky.

 

[Risteard]

been doing it live for yonks and never had a problem yet.

Then you are in breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

 

[flukey]

Then you are in breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

well said risteard

 

[Des 56]

I was changing meter tails between service head and meter when bloke from elec board came around to read the meter. Had put new tails in between head and meter, then meter to new isolator, but the main fuse was still out. The bloke didn't seem to care. Asked me to put the fuse in for a second in order to read the digital meter, then was quite happy for me to remove it again. Didn't ask at all about broken seals. Maybe i was very lucky.

Why would you want to renew/upgrade the supply networks equipment
Better it cost them than you
Also its not very common to do so,they could prosecute you theoretically

Working live has never bothered me,but I would not encourage anybody to do so
We break the law when we do so.but I believe in individual responsibility and being careful whilst confident in carrying it out



Thats my excuse and Im sticking to it

 

[Mark2009]

Peter if you are in any dout as to weather to remove the suppliers cut out. dont be. Basicly the electricity at work act says that every installation has to be provided with a means of isolation for safe working. So if the supllier has provided a means of isolation ie a swich or the meter with a built in isolator (not designed to be switch under load) then all is fine but if they have only provided a cut out and meter then they can not argue why you have cut their seal and removed the fuse. what do they expect you to change the tails LIVE!?????
Hope this helps
Regards
AJ

Hi
If you change a fuse board do you have to change the tails.

Thanks

Mark

 

[Mac]

Hi
If you change a fuse board do you have to change the tails.

Thanks

Mark

If you change the CU,you should upgrade the tails to 25mm,only from the meter to the CU.

 

[ezzzekiel]

fit a isolator take existing tails and feed into top of isolator and run new 25mm from bottom to db that way if anything needs upgrading its dno side and you havent broke seal and gone inside meter.

 

[Mark2009]

If you change the CU,you should upgrade the tails to 25mm,only from the meter to the CU.

Hi
But on the advice of the NIC you cannot do this as this would mean breaking the LEB Clip which the NIC say you should not do.

Thanks

Mark

Hi
But on the advice of the NIC you cannot do this as this would mean breaking the LEB Clip which the NIC say you should not do.

Thanks

Mark

Hi
Can anyone tell me the best pace to buy a 17th Edition C/B

Thanks

Mark

fit a isolator take existing tails and feed into top of isolator and run new 25mm from bottom to db that way if anything needs upgrading its dno side and you havent broke seal and gone inside meter.

Hi
But we are defeating the object 16mm to 25mm as long as i upgrade to the same size board the old tails should be fine.

Thanks

Mark

 

[flukey]

Hi
But we are defeating the object 16mm to 25mm as long as i upgrade to the same size board the old tails should be fine.

Thanks

Mark

thats not you problem. your tails should be 25mm. dno can upgrade from meter so you dont have to break their seal. easiest option is as described

 

[Mark2009]

thats not you problem. your tails should be 25mm. dno can upgrade from meter so you dont have to break their seal. easiest option is as described

Hi
Could you explain how.

Thanks

Mark

 

[flukey]

exactly how ezze said. existing tails into isolator, new tails out to new cu

 

[Mac]

exactly how ezze said. existing tails into isolator, new tails out to new cu

If you do it that way then the existing tails will be live unless you CUT the seal on the cut out

 

[flukey]

If you do it that way then the existing tails will be live unless you CUT the seal on the cut out

quite right mac, ive already said i cut fuse seal, dont cut meter ones though so my tails would be dead
would never condone working live for any reason, very bad practice

 

[Mac]

Sorry mate,might be a thick,why would you cut the seal at the cut out and install an isolator.Should that not be down to the DNO.If you cut the seal on the cut out,why not the meter and just replace the tails from there.

 

[flukey]

Sorry mate,might be a thick,why would you cut the seal at the cut out and install an isolator.Should that not be down to the DNO.If you cut the seal on the cut out,why not the meter and just replace the tails from there.

most dno will believe there was no seal on the cut out, they dont when its the meter but then you should know that i leave meter alone and fit either a henley block or isolator so my installation conforms without having the hassle of getting dno to remove their seals then they can come at their leisure to connect into THEIR meter

 

[Mac]

most dno will believe there was no seal on the cut out, they dont when its the meter but then you should know that i leave meter alone and fit either a henley block or isolator so my installation conforms without having the hassle of getting dno to remove their seals then they can come at their leisure to connect into THEIR meter

I agree with you mate,but i have always replaced the tails from the meter if they were 16mm.

 

[Spudnik]

All the equipment up to and including the meter belongs to the DNO.

However, SOME or should i say most are "not bothered" if the seals are cut on the cutout, as long as you replace it.

They will "be very bothered" if you cut the seals on the meter, as this can raise their suspicions of tampering.

 

[Mac]

Yes i agree with what you say Jason,but there was a post a couple of months ago by an ex-DNO inspector stating you can cut the seals in an emergency.Changing a CU is an emergency,because of live working.I'll try and find the post.

 

[Des 56]

Its illegal to cut the seals,but in reality,they know ,we know and its generally accepted that the practice goes on and will continue
If they are that concerned,then in order for sanity to be maintained,they should be forced to supply an isolator after their meter,there would be no doubts to concern ourselves with then

 

[Mac]

Its illegal to cut the seals,but in reality,they know ,we know and its generally accepted that the practice goes on and will continue
If they are that concerned,then in order for sanity to be maintained,they should be forced to supply an isolator after their meter,there would be no doubts to concern ourselves with then

Totally agree mate

 

[ryanryan]

when you finish your apprenticeshipyou should be issued with your very own seal crimp kit!!

haha

 

[sparky paul]

Then you are in breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

Correct sir


But what are the options,mmmmmmm,let me see,ask dno to fit isolator so i can work safe,they might get around to it in 6 months maybe less.


Turn the job down as i cant do it safeley,i think not,.


I cant beleive some of you mamby pamby so called sparks,as long as you know what you are doing whats the problem???????



The dno dont have any right to seal anyones meter tails as they are the customers property,and as for sealing,i got a nice kit off ebay for around ten squid and it was the NIC that recomended it



I allso wear my nice new 10kv marigolds when changing tails live,its amazing what you can get when ya mate works for EON.

 

[Mac]

That's the kind of attitude that gets people killed or seriously injured

 

[flukey]

Correct sir


But what are the options,mmmmmmm,let me see,ask dno to fit isolator so i can work safe,they might get around to it in 6 months maybe less.


Turn the job down as i cant do it safeley,i think not,.


I cant beleive some of you mamby pamby so called sparks,as long as you know what you are doing whats the problem???????



The dno dont have any right to seal anyones meter tails as they are the customers property,and as for sealing,i got a nice kit off ebay for around ten squid and it was the NIC that recomended it



I allso wear my nice new 10kv marigolds when changing tails live,its amazing what you can get when ya mate works for EON.

cut the meter seal and work safely, OR dont cut the seal and risk electrocution
bit of a no brainer for me that one

 

[ezzzekiel]

my personal opinion is that once you join a competant persons scheme like nic napit etc then on membership you should be given a training session and issued a set of crimps, that way cutting seals is no longer an issue and greater control would exist on non compliance by diy non registered people carrying out electrical work.


but to the point concerned, pulling the service is a very dangerous practice althogh it is not given a second thought by any competant electrician and rightly or wrongly you need to isolate somehow.
however cutting seals on any other equipment is frowned upon it is not a matter of a safety issue to open a meter up you re in effect illegaly tampering with dno equipment and you cant argue that you needed to isolate the supply for your safety.

 

[martspark]

course weve got to pull cutout sometimes but gotta be careful
do none of you ever heer of supply reverses. not often but sometimes wot you gonna do then in middle of changes
never change anything supplyers side of metre

 

[northeastspark]

Totally agree mate

Well i had to replace some tails that the plumbers managed to drill through as the tails were in the cavity wall running vertically from board to o/s box. when i got NEDL to replace fuse he gave me hell on why i had cut the seal even though he could see the massive scorch marks on the wall from the drill. wot a bunch of ******s they are. he even took my company name and addy down too. he told me that even though i'm a spark, i'm not under any circumstances allowed to cut seals and only they can touch the service fuse. wot a load of crap. been re wiring and replacing boards for yrs and pulliung fuses out as well. my saftey comes 1st. sod them.

 

[Mac]

You are allowed to cut the seals in an emergency.

 

[EWebster]

Don't guidelines say when replacing a consumer unit you have to replace tails as well? And as you're doing that, you need to cut the seal to the meter to install the new 25mm tails.

I always pull the fuse and change the tails, thereby cutting both seals. A quick call to the leccy company to get the seal replaced and everyone's happy, although generally they're not very interested.

 

[Mac]

Don't guidelines say when replacing a consumer unit you have to replace tails as well? And as you're doing that, you need to cut the seal to the meter to install the new 25mm tails.

I always pull the fuse and change the tails, thereby cutting both seals. A quick call to the leccy company to get the seal replaced and everyone's happy, although generally they're not very interested.

Hi and welcome to the forumSpot on with that mate