Problem with tenants energy provider and being able to get remedial work done in order to get a cert

Reed_Richards

Ectophile said:

It means that if you want to do any work on your installation, you have to get the DNO out. As the OP has found, that's a right pain.

Except that's not what the OP is trying to do, they are trying to get the supplier to come out and fit an isolation switch.

Ectophile

Reed_Richards said:

Ectophile said:

It means that if you want to do any work on your installation, you have to get the DNO out. As the OP has found, that's a right pain.

Except that's not what the OP is trying to do, they are trying to get the supplier to come out and fit an isolation switch.

But you can't fit an isolator without pulling the fuse.

Reed_Richards

I presume the people who come to fit your smart meter have permission from the DNO to pull the mains fuse; it could hardly be otherwise.  Everything I have read indicates that these fitters are employed, directly or indirectly, by the supplier and not by the DNO.  The OP wants the company that supplies their electricity and which fitted a smart meter to come back and fit an isolation switch as well.  

The alternative (which might be quicker) would be to get the DNO to pull the mains fuse in the morning then come back in the afternoon to replace it - by which time the electrician has fitted the desired isolation switch 

Martyn1981

Ectophile said:

Reed_Richards said:

Ectophile said:

It means that if you want to do any work on your installation, you have to get the DNO out. As the OP has found, that's a right pain.

Except that's not what the OP is trying to do, they are trying to get the supplier to come out and fit an isolation switch.

But you can't fit an isolator without pulling the fuse.

Cheers, been interesting to learn how things have changed as a result of smart meters, as I have to admit to thinking that most sparkie's would just pull the main fuse, as you explained earlier (but can't get away with anymore).

So here's a purely hypothetical question. Let's pretend I had a new CU fitted in the Spring, but have a smart meter and no isolation switch. Next let's pretend I met the sparkie this morning whilst we were walking the dogs, and asked him how he did it. Would 'removing the tails from the smart meter' be a solution ....... of course not something anyone should do as you mustn't tamper with a meter, but might that be a purely theoretical solution?

EricMears

Martyn1981 said:  Would 'removing the tails from the smart meter' be a solution ....... of course not something anyone should do as you mustn't tamper with a meter, but might that be a purely theoretical solution?

That would certainly make the other ends of the tails 'safe' enough to cut them and insert a switch and it's not even particularly 'dangerous' for an experienced operator taking sensible precautions.  Nor should it trigger the alarm that would bring a DNO inspector knocking at the door.

However,  accessing the meter connections would mean removing the seals which is itself illegal (albeit harder to detect &/or prove who did it and when). 

Reed_Richards

EricMears said:

However,  accessing the meter connections would mean removing the seals which is itself illegal (albeit harder to detect &/or prove who did it and when). 

My house was rewired in 2019.  If my electricity meter has seals they are not visible from the front.

EricMears

Reed_Richards said:

My house was rewired in 2019.  If my electricity meter has seals they are not visible from the front.

Can you actually see the screws you would have to loosen in order to disconnect output wires ?

QrizB

Martyn1981 said:

So here's a purely hypothetical question. Let's pretend I had a new CU fitted in the Spring, but have a smart meter and no isolation switch. Next let's pretend I met the sparkie this morning whilst we were walking the dogs, and asked him how he did it.

Many years ago - before Part P was a thing - I replaced the CU in my house. I didn't pull the main fuse because I knew it had DNO seals. I left the tails live, used an insulated screwdriver and was *very* careful.

Reed_Richards

EricMears said:

Reed_Richards said:

My house was rewired in 2019.  If my electricity meter has seals they are not visible from the front.

Can you actually see the screws you would have to loosen in order to disconnect output wires ?

My meter is an Ampy 5235A.   The output and input wires are behind a cover plate held in place by a screw.  There is a picture of a very similar meter here https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/landis-gyr-5235a-red-display.241990/ where the screw has a seal.  My meter does not have this.