Electrics - Isolation Switches

ronniepurple_2

Hi,

I just typed out a long post and it got lost in the system so will make this shorter. If you need further info, please ask and I will provide what I can.

I work for an electrician and we regularly have to ask customers to arrange for an isolation switch to be fitted so that we can replace consumer units.

The customer has to ring their electricity supplier to arrange the work but are frequently told that it is not the responsibility of the supplier to do so. I spent many hours getting on to British Gas last year, pretending to be our customer, in order to sort the problem out so I know first-hand that it is the supplier that is the problem (or their call centre, at least).

The latest one is with Southern Electric, but they are switching to Scottish Power after the 19th of this month which addds complications. Anyway, Southern Electric have said that they used to replace isolation switches but now the customer has to arrange for the power to be disconnected so that the electrician (us) can carry out the work. This doesn't sound right but I have no way of finding out the truth.

Can anyone help with any contact numbers for people who know what they're talking about, or a procedure that works in these circumstances?

Thanks in advance

Ronnie

andrew-b

Never had this done as a customer (though have looked into it when looking into the costs of upgrading consumer unit) but the impression i got from my research was that it's not the regional suppliers responsibility to provide isolation switches - nor is anything the customer side of the meter. I thought that the electricity company the customer pays bills to is irrelevant when not the same as regional supplier and that it was best to contact the regional supplier direct.

Not sure if that helps you at all!

Andy

espresso

ronniepurple wrote: »

I work for an electrician and we regularly have to ask customers to arrange for an isolation switch to be fitted so that we can replace consumer units.

I am surprised to read that an electrician finds it necessary to arrange for an isolation switch to be fitted, so that the consumer unit can be replaced. Surely most electricians are capable of connecting the live meter tails to the new consumer unit?

ronniepurple_2

but the impression i got from my research was that it's not the regional suppliers responsibility to provide isolation switches - nor is anything the customer side of the meter. I thought that the electricity company the customer pays bills to is irrelevant when not the same as regional supplier and that it was best to contact the regional supplier direct.

I'm not quite sure what you're saying, but thanks for the reply.

Do you mean that it is not the responsibility of the customers supplier (ie. Southern Elec or Scottish Power in this instance) or that it's not the responsibility of the regional supplier (NPower in this instance)?

And are you saying we should contact NPower or Southern/Scottish?

From what I can gather, it is the responsibility of whoever owns the meter, which is whoever is sending the customer their bills (Southern/Scottish).

NPower won't do it (from previous experience) and nor will Central Networks. I have done a bit of googling on this and it seems to be the same story everywhere - nobody who should knows the procedure.

We've thrown it back at the customer for now (suggested they contact their supplier-to-be in the hope that they will be more helpful or knowledgeable). When they come back to us on Monday, I guess it'll be my turn to start making the phone calls and pretending to be the customer.

Thanks again, I appreciate your reply.

Ronnie

espresso

ronniepurple wrote: »

but the impression i got from my research was that it's not the regional suppliers responsibility to provide isolation switches - nor is anything the customer side of the meter. I thought that the electricity company the customer pays bills to is irrelevant when not the same as regional supplier and that it was best to contact the regional supplier direct................

In all installations that I have seen the main fuse is effectively the isolator, however this belongs to the electricity distributor.

Why does a qualified electrician need an isolation switch fitting (at the customers expense) before they will fit a new consumer unit? This can't be normal practice surely? Are you saying that you won't work on live wires?

ronniepurple_2

I am surprised to read that an electrician finds it necessary to arrange for an isolation switch to be fitted, so that the consumer unit can be replaced. Surely most electricians are capable of connecting the live meter tails to the new consumer unit?

I am not an electrician (just the office girl) so am unable to comment on what you say, but from the discussions I have found today, it appears to be good practise (and safer) to have an isolation switch fitted or to break the seal on the meter box (I think) and remove the fuse. The latter is something that the electricity supplier does not like anyone to do apart from their own contractors.

HTH

Ronnie

espresso

I am not an electrician either, hopefully some real sparks will post their comments regarding the fitting of new consumer units and isolation switches.

sparky883

It is the Electricity providers responsibility to ensuse isolation can be made,and as such new installations will have a switch and also some old ones.
But the majority of houses do not,In practice Electricians will "pull" the main fuse after cutting the tags as a means of isolation instead of connecting LIVE.
Technically we Electricians are not supposed to do this,But a blind eye is turned by the providers as they do not want the cost of having to install an solation switch.
And they also do not want Electricians calling them to take out the fuse.
In answer to your Question Your boss is just following the rules to the letter and there is nothing wrong with that.
But to most Sparks its just unessesary hassle.
For the record i would never dream of touching the electricity suppliers Main Fuse as it belongs to them!
And i also would never cut through there metal tags! Your Honor!

sparky883

Also as an addition for Infomation Main Fuses should not be messed with as once the fuse is taken out this Exposes live electrical parts in the housing of the unit.The fuse takes alot of Power (fault) to blow it,I once went to a house where the shower had been disconnected in the bathroom and the wires twisted together and the householder had turned off the MCB (trip switch) as isolation.
One day a bulb blowing caused the lighting circuit MCB to "trip The Householders wife then went to the fuse board and Put all the MCB's in the on Position and then BANG the main fuse had blown,as she had put the shower one on as well.
She never let her other half mess with electrics again.
By the way either the MCB should have been removed/Locked or disconnected.

andrew-b

ronniepurple wrote: »

Do you mean that it is not the responsibility of the customers supplier (ie. Southern Elec or Scottish Power in this instance) or that it's not the responsibility of the regional supplier (NPower in this instance)?

And are you saying we should contact NPower or Southern/Scottish?

I mean it's neither the billing company or regional supplier's responsibility. I agree that fitting an isolation switch is sensible (i'm sure the fire brigade would like them fitted rather than pulling fuses in case of emergency!) ..but unfortunately electricity companies don't take the same view and dont appear to want to justify the cost.

In that case i'd be calling NPower (good luck i used to be a customer for my mistake of signing up on the doorstep!). My suggestion would be that if the electrician still wants to install an isolation switch to source the switch and suitable enclosure, mount on the wall ready and let the regional supplier connect the meter tails upto that.

It's totally understandable why many electricians won't hesitate to cut the seal on the main fuse and pull it (legally they shouldnt though)! Doesn't help that you can buy new seals on ebay!

Andy

sparky883

Most Electricians,Regional Suppliers,Metering Services and Central Networks work together to provide you with Electricity as it is in all of our interests,It can get a bit confusing so here goes:
#From the Road/Outside up to your Main Fuse is the responsibility of Central Networks and there services are FREE They will try to put you off calling them out untill you have had an Electrician(Paid by you) Confirm to you its a Central Network Problem

#From the main fuse up to the meter is the responsibility of your service provider and they use a Company Called Metering Services to do the work for them breakdowns/new connections and meter upgrades once again this service is FREE

#The fuse board/consumer unit and the premises is your responsibility therfore you need to pay for an electrician.

the only problem with the FREE services is that most of the time they will ask you to pay for and call an electrician first to diagnose the fault.
Also its no good trying your luck and calling them as if there really is a dangerous fault they will just remove the main fuse and tell you to call an electrician,(leaving no power) its exactly the same with gas,people call out National Grid/transco in the hope they will fix the gas leak but all they do is turn it off and tell you to call a gas engineer.I hope this infomation helps somebody somewhere along the line.