Ownership of the supply earth

[sparc]

Does anyone know if there is a definitive answer on who can do what, who is expected to do what, with regards to the supply earth?

I'm getting conflicting stories from two neighbouring suppliers on this, so I'm wondering if it comes down to their own policies, or they're interpreting a national policy in different ways.

Specifically, in one circumstance with a TNS supply the Ze reading was awful, but the supplier told the customer it was the electrician's job to PME or TT the supply - no testing done or offered by them.

In another circumstance where there is a lousy Ze of an earth spike, the suppliers says they will assess whether it can be PME's, then its sparks job to do it, if it is - or presumable convert to TT if it can't be PME'ed.

Can anyone shed some clarity on this please?

 

[Knobhead]

Seconds out. Round 2!

 

[Knobhead]

At one time I’d wipe a bond on to the lead. Now either a Hepworth clamp or a constant pressure spring with braid. Lead suitably cleaned and abraded before hand.

 

[Engineer54]

What? Did you read my post at all? I've not said the DNOs don't make earthing connections with jubilee clips! I know we do, but we also strip back the steel tapes and remove the pitch/clean up the lead then make a decent connection to the lead! I was on about a "dodgy" electricians mock up.

Who's frightened to remove them? Where have I even mentioned that?

I wasn't referring to what you wrote verbatum, just making an observation from a previous thread in the ''Commercial Industrial'' section of this forum!!!

Netblindpaul ...In the WPD area there are a lot of 951 clamps and jubilee clip type connections having been made to their network over the years.
I have not had any of their people admit as to who made these connections, however, when you look at the numbers, then it was certainly not the odd spark or DIY'er.

They have had incidents and reportable accidents when removing these clamps, thus they no longer do it unless they have to.
The cumulative experience of WPD is that to remove one is more dangerous than to leave it, and is also more dangerous than to undertake a controlled, clean, live cut, on an undamaged cable.

As for the use of 951 clamps being used on lead sheathed cables, this has been a No No, from the time i came into this industry, and probabaly long before. So the method you describe above, is still NOT an acceptable method, DNO performed or not!! The only mechanical clamps suitable for use on Lead sheathed PILC cable that i know of, are Hepworth clamps (generally used by the DNO's) or constant pressure spring clips....

 

[telectrix]

been meaning to remove the bs951 clamp ( at home, not done by me) and replace it for a while. now i don't know if i'll get blown up or not. perhaps a case if if it ain't broke, don't fix it. LOL.

 

[ringer]

Came across this last week. For some reason the MET has not been used, and the main earth to the consumer unit and the main bonding to the water service have both been connected direct onto the cable sheath using a BS951 type clamp. Any ideas why the MET might not have been used? And opinions please on whether I can/should re-terminate both conductors to the MET, or need to call out the DNO?

 

[Engineer54]

Pure laziness is my best guess!! A complete mess of an earthing installation.

You can see the standard of the electrician responsible, by the state of his crimp connection!!

 

[telectrix]

even worse than ringer's photographic skills. LOL.