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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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henley block / fuse seal
I want to replace my csu. I notice in my leccy box that the main supply
tails come up through the service fuse, which has a metal seal, through a metal block of 3"x2"x2" into the digital meter and into my csu. It looks like I'd have to break the seal to remove the fuse to allow me to detach the main tails into the csu. I know you probably should get permission to break the seal (they'd probably insist on a qualified electrician to do the job + resealing - just trying to save some money by DIY), but it appears very easy to be done. Then in goes the new csu with rcd and I'm update with spare fuses. Any thoughts though on this main tails/fuse seal issue would be welcomed. |
#2
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henley block / fuse seal
"Matt Pearson" wrote in message
... I want to replace my csu. I notice in my leccy box that the main supply tails come up through the service fuse, which has a metal seal, through a metal block of 3"x2"x2" into the digital meter and into my csu. It looks like I'd have to break the seal to remove the fuse to allow me to detach the main tails into the csu. I know you probably should get permission to break the seal (they'd probably insist on a qualified electrician to do the job + resealing - just trying to save some money by DIY), but it appears very easy to be done. Then in goes the new csu with rcd and I'm update with spare fuses. Any thoughts though on this main tails/fuse seal issue would be welcomed. I was in the same situation not so long ago... I rang the elec company, and they sent someone out free of charge to isolate the supply in the morning, and someone else in the afternoon to reconnect. (They took the fuse with them, so I couldn't reconnect it myself for some reason) I took the opportunity it fit an isolator in between the CU and the meter, so if I needed to do any more work to the CU, I could just switch it off at the isolator. The bloke that came round to reconnect me was surprised to see I had done it properly by calling them out to isolate the main fuse, and said most people just pull the fuse themselves - So I took that as it wouldn't of cause a major problem if I had simply removed the sealed fuse myself - But as it didn't cost anything for them to do it, If I were to do it again I would still call them out myself to be 100% sure! Sparks... |
#3
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henley block / fuse seal
On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:55:30 -0000, "Sparks" wrote:
I was in the same situation not so long ago... I rang the elec company, and they sent someone out free of charge to isolate the supply in the morning, and someone else in the afternoon to reconnect. (They took the fuse with them, so I couldn't reconnect it myself for some reason) The first time I fitted a new CU I rang the f(r)iendly local elec board and the conversation went like this: me: I'd like someone to remove the consumer fuse from (house) and refit next day please them: why? me: I'm going to replace the consumer unit and I don't want to do it 'live' them: are you replacing an old unit? me: yes them: oh, in that case we won't come out without a certificate me: really? How do I get a certificate? them: you need to replace the CU me: ????? In the end I did the disconnection/reconnection live, with rubber gloves on, one hand behind my back, hair well out of the way and standing on wooden boards whilst wearing rubber soled boots. Just looking at the apparatus surrounding the street fuse gave me The Fear, so I preferred to work with the Henley block (or Lucy block in this case) instead. Thanks NEDL., you truly are professionals. -- cheers, witchy/binarydinosaurs |
#4
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henley block / fuse seal
snip
me: really? How do I get a certificate? them: you need to replace the CU me: ????? Sadly, a lot of the time the service you receive depends on the banana quotient of the monkey on the other end of the phone :-} I have daily contact with enough to fill a chimp sanctuary :-} -- Please add "[newsgroup]" in the subject of any personal replies via email * old email address "btiruseless" abandoned due to worm-generated spam * --- My new email address has "ngspamtrap" & @btinternet.com in it ;-) --- |
#5
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henley block / fuse seal
In article ,
Witchy writes: In the end I did the disconnection/reconnection live, with rubber gloves on, one hand behind my back, hair well out of the way and standing on wooden boards whilst wearing rubber soled boots. Just looking at the apparatus surrounding the street fuse gave me The Fear, so I preferred to work with the Henley block (or Lucy block in this case) instead. The risk is not only that of electric shock but also that of explosion and serious burns from accidently shorting the meter tails and forming a flash arc spraying molten and vaporised copper over you. The precautions should include eye protection (preferably full face protection), clothing which covers the rest of your skin (leather is good for this;-) and removal/covering of all earthed metelwork in the area, as well as having someone on hand (but not too close) who is familiar with CPR. Of course, this is all just such a ridiculas level of risk and pulling the fuse so much safer that you shouldn't even be considering working on live tails. -- Andrew Gabriel |
#6
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henley block / fuse seal
"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... The risk is not only that of electric shock but also that of explosion and serious burns from accidently shorting the meter tails and forming a flash arc spraying molten and vaporised copper over you. The precautions should include eye protection (preferably full face protection), clothing which covers the rest of your skin (leather is good for this;-) and removal/covering of all earthed metelwork in the area, as well as having someone on hand (but not too close) who is familiar with CPR. Of course, this is all just such a ridiculas level of risk and pulling the fuse so much safer that you shouldn't even be considering working on live tails. Can't agree more Arc flash apparently kills more than electrocution http://tinyurl.com/36l3n |
#7
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henley block / fuse seal
"Chris Oates" none wrote in message ... "Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... The risk is not only that of electric shock but also that of explosion and serious burns from accidently shorting the meter tails and forming a flash arc spraying molten and vaporised copper over you. The precautions should include eye protection (preferably full face protection), clothing which covers the rest of your skin (leather is good for this;-) and removal/covering of all earthed metelwork in the area, as well as having someone on hand (but not too close) who is familiar with CPR. Of course, this is all just such a ridiculas level of risk and pulling the fuse so much safer that you shouldn't even be considering working on live tails. Can't agree more Arc flash apparently kills more than electrocution http://tinyurl.com/36l3n ouch. Lee's paper on arc burns makes for sobering reading. -- Richard Sampson email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk |
#8
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henley block / fuse seal
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#9
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henley block / fuse seal
Replaced both my dodgy consumer units by withdrawing the tails from the
unsealed Henly block - if that is what the Bakelite box with two stacked busbars is called. I used a seriously insulated screwdriver to undo each tail in turn and then refitted the cover. Removed and replaced the consumer units and mounting board. Remade new tails and then refitted them to the Henly. All without removing the company seal. This was all done after watching the bod from the Lecy board replace the company fuse by hammering the tar filled remains off the incoming cables (live) without any protection apart from the wooden handle of his hammer (and plenty of practice!). BOL Richard PS he didn't seal my Henly block. |
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