As an electrician you come across lots of different types of installations but what do you do when you look at the cut out and you see it is damaged? If you can smell burning make sure you have turned off the Consumer unit to make sure there is no load on it. Then call the DNO (electricity board/supplier) for your area.
Because the cutout is the property of the network energy operator they have a duty to look after it. So if you do see a problem with the cutout and could danger to life or property never hesitate to call.
This one i found when i was changing an Consumer unit. The under stairs cupboard where this sits normally has the children's toys in it. Touch that copper lug and you may not see tomorrow!
The various suppliers around the country are shown on this map.
You can dial 105 and it will take you to your dedicated DNO. But the below are all the contact details and web address for your area.
SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN ELECTRICITY NETWORKS
0800 072 72 82 (Central Southern England) 0800 300 999 (Northern Scotland)
www.ssen.co.uk
SP ENERGY NETWORKS
0800 001 5400 (Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales & North Shropshire) 0800 092 9290 (Central & Southern Scotland)
www.spenergynetworks.co.uk
ELECTRICITY NORTH WEST
0800 195 4141 (North West England)
www.enwl.co.uk
NORTHERN POWERGRID
0800 66 88 77 (North East & North Yorkshire) 0800 375 675 (Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire)
www.northernpowergrid.com
UK POWER NETWORKS
0800 31 63 105 (London, South East and East of England)
WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION
0800 6783 105 (the Midlands, South West England and South Wales)
www.westernpower.co.uk
When you do call they will ask for various information like name, address, phone number etc. But they will also ask for a code what describes what the problem may be with the cut out.
They are called A,B and C codes A being the most serious and normally they will be out with you within 3 hours regardless of the time of day. B and C codes are less serious and you will find they will come out when they can.
The codes you should quote to them are as follows.
A01 DB equipment operating hot (signs of over heating)
A03 Defective/weakened fuse carrier
A04 Physical damage to DB equipment requiring immediate attention
A05 Sign of DB equipment burning, smoking or arching
A07 Exposed live conductor
A10 DB earthing issue at existing installation which presents an immediate risk to customer/property
A12 damaged asbestos component in DB equipment
A14 Polarity identified as incorrect at DB equipment
A15 Immediate risk to the public or customer due to current service position location
A17 live unearthed DB metal-encased equipment
A19 Surface voltage found on plastic cut out
B01 Fuse carrier welded in to cutout base
B02 Cutout loose
B03 Damaged/missing phase barrier in DB equipment
B04 Damaged/broken cutout terminal including missing terminal screws
B05 Non-withdrawable fuse by design
B07 DB equipment issue preventing installation/ replacement of meter tails
B08 Unhinged metal cutout cover over un insulated conductor
B10 Unearthed DB metal encased equipment
B11 Cutout with fused neutral
B12 DB owned CT metering equipment issue
C02 Signs of bitumen compound leaking
C03 Lower rating fuse or cut out (less than 60A)
C06 Metal encased cut out
C07 DB equipment unable to be securely sealed
C11 Asbestos component identified in DB equipment
C14 Fed from distribution board - Local/remote from meter
C15 DB cable terminating into DB equipment is VIR/MICC
C16 DB equipment is mounted on asbestos board
C17 Black plastic cutout
C18 rewirable cutout fuse
C19 Single insulated DB conductor (phase or non-PME neutral)
C20 Missing combined neutral-earth cover on DB equipment
Of course if you see damaged network cables like this one i found a few days back where it looks like a mouse was getting hungry, never hesitate to call the DNO right away.
The shroud i fitted to it was to make it safe before the DNO come.
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