What's this?......

Rusty190

And will the electrician coming to my house need access to it to test it? If it helps, it had a little "badge" on the board saying P. M. E system. Thank you. 

Browntoa

Yes , will definitely need access to test it

Rusty190

What is it? 

QrizB

Rusty190 said:

What is it? 

It's the DNO cut-out, the point at which your local electricity distribution network operator (DNO) fits their fuse and hands responsibility over. The next thing after it should be the meter, which belongs to your electricity supplier. Everything after the meter is yours.

See:

https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/help/what-is-a-cut-out

molerat

It is the electricity connection to your property from the grid with a 100A main fuse.

Looking closer - is that still actually connected ?  Is there another one closer to the meter ?

Rusty190

Thank you. Very helpful.
These essential pieces of kit are so ugly. 
I was hoping he'd say I didn't need it any more and he would take it out! 

Rusty190

molerat said:

It is the electricity connection to your property from the grid with a 100A main fuse.

Looking closer - is that still actually connected ?  Is there another one closer to the meter ?

No, I don't have 2 of them (thank God), so presumably it is still connected.
I've just removed all the "boxing" from around it so that the electrician can get at it. 

grumpy_codger

Rusty190 said:

molerat said:

It is the electricity connection to your property from the grid with a 100A main fuse.

Looking closer - is that still actually connected ?  Is there another one closer to the meter ?

No, I don't have 2 of them (thank God), so presumably it is still connected.
I've just removed all the "boxing" from around it so that the electrician can get at it. 

I don't see anything 'connected' (at the bottom). Even the earth wire seems to be cut. If so, it's disused and there is no anything to 'test'.

QrizB

There is something weird going on here! It does look as though the cable isn't connected to the cutout, but it might just be a photo compression artefact:

FreeBear

molerat said: Looking closer - is that still actually connected ?

There is a cover at the base, so the cable probably comes up behind the backboard before entering the bottom of the fuse holder.

Although.... It could be an optical illusion. There appears to be a fairly thick cable sticking up from the bottom of the frame painted white. If there is a brown band just below the cover, it blends in quite well with the wooden backboard.

Section62

FreeBear said:

molerat said: Looking closer - is that still actually connected ?

There is a cover at the base, so the cable probably comes up behind the backboard before entering the bottom of the fuse holder.

Although.... It could be an optical illusion. There appears to be a fairly thick cable sticking up from the bottom of the frame painted white. If there is a brown band just below the cover, it blends in quite well with the wooden backboard.

I see a white painted cable coming up from below into the service head - the 'brown band' looks as though it could be a copper (or rusted steel?) attachment to connect to the incoming main sheath/armour onto the length of green/yellow wire.

It isn't clear where that green/yellow wire then goes - because there's no sign of it going off in the same direction as the meter tails.  AIUI, as a PME supply the 'earth' should be bonded to the neutral at the service head... so the electrician needs to take a look at how the property earthing is actually arranged.