PULL THE MAIN FUSE - CAN WE, OR CAN’T WE? - FINDING THE MPAN NUMBER - HOW TO STAY SAFE AND LEGAL
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- In this video we will take a quick look at the ins and outs of removing the main fuse in order to carry out electrical work and what to do if you identify problems at the intake position.
One of the most frequent questions in chat rooms and wherever electricians congregate will be asking - Can I pull the main fuse?
I need to do a board change next week; they will tell you. So, can I pull the main fuse out?
Another one - If the customer has a Smart meter, what are my options?
And many others around the same subject.
Is it legal to remove the fuse and is it safe? And so on.
The web address to access a client’s MPAN number is:
connections.nationalgrid.co.uk/what-is-my-mpan-number/
and the general enquiries phone number:
0800 0963080
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Visit our CZcams channel where we have many more videos on a wide range of electrical topics.
In my opinion the DNS/DSO should provide the isolator switch without question and possible free or charge to comply with the Health and Saftey act /EWR 1989
Means for cutting off the supply and for isolation - It must be possible to switch off the electricity supply to any piece of equipment in case of electrical danger. This can be by direct manual operation, circuit breakers or by stop buttons in control circuits of contactors.
Precautions for work on equipment made dead - Precautions must be taken to prevent electrical equipment which has been made dead (whether temporarily so work can be done or permanently because the equipment is no longer in use) from becoming charged during that work.
If an Eectrician has to change a CU then an Isolator should be present as they are at work, thus the DNO/DSO must provide it.
Interesting response Sergio. Thanks for watching. Dave.
Thanks Dave. I was in a property yesterday which had a service head hanging off the wall, from which the Fuse had obviously once been removed and the seal broken. (no isolator) I turned down the job and left them with the advice to contact their DNO or electricity supplier to get it fixed. I may need the money, but I don't need the DNO on my case.. ever..! 😀 Thanks for the clarity of your presentation.. I feel a lot better now.. !! 👍
Thanks for the interesting situation. Yes, we've all turned down jobs in the past for a variety of reasons. Sometimes better to sleep easy at night. Dave.
Some good points there, especially on the difficulty of removing the fuse in older properties. I spent several years changing consumer units for council social housing properties and at times it seemed as though they would come apart when removing the main fuse. Luckily now more isolators are being fit by the DNO.
Fantastic feedback, appreciated Joe. Thanks for contributing. Dave.
Useful video - Thank you!
Glad it was helpful, lots more to come. Dave.
Another good informative video 😎cheers buddy👍
Thank you Martin. Thanks for your time.
👌thank you
Thanks Brian. Appreciated, Dave.
I fitting a new CU in a mates property last week.I told him beforehand about the main fuse dilemma in which he looked at me baffled...I said i would book it in and it will be around £200 (with isolator).
He laughed , called me a wimp and pulled the fuse himself.😅
Bloody plumbers..😅😅
That's ok until it goes wrong. Thanks for watching. Dave.
Gas and water supply a user accessible isolator to disengage the supply to premises. The home resident can use this user accessible isolator at any time.
With electricity they may or may not provide a user accessible and operated isolator. However the electricity supplier does provide a method of isolation. It is more involved entailing pulling a fuse from its housing, but isolation it is.
If the premises need isolating this is the only method. If the supplier disapproves this method of isolation, they can always provide another.
Thanks for the input, appreciated. Dave.
Nice, clear video - Unfortunately the website for the mpan number does not cover London/ UK Power Networks.
Nor Southern England (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks)
Thanks for the info. I'll see what I can add to this.
Thanks for the info. I'll see what I can add to this.
I guess, the electricity supplier can also disconnect your electricity if you have a smart meter.
Interestingly enough, I have done it and when my smart meter showed a message “disconnected”, I came in and using a voltage sensor measured voltage on the input contact of the main switch. To my surprise, I saw voltage going around from 50 to 150V when the main switch was off. When it was on, this voltage dropped to zero. I thought this was a ghost voltage on that input wire. Thoughts?
That's an interesting one, has anyone else experienced this. Thanks for the input, appreciated.
The video says that the seals on an MO owned isolator cannot be removed. Can an isolator be fitted (not in the meter box), new tails from the isolator switch to the meter box be fitted by the qualified electrician and the DNO/MO visit to remove the main fuse, connect the new tails to the meter and refit the main fuse. The isolator is then owned by the customer.
An isolator in the meter box may not be a good idea as it is accessible to anyone from outside the property. Most CCTV systems do not have power backup, so turning the isolator switch off is a good way to disable a CCTV system.
Good point about the location of the isolator, thanks for watching.
Anyone know what DNOs typically charge for either removing the fuse or fitting an isolator???
For the Midlands, Western Power Distribution (now part of National Grid) were charging £172 + VAT for an isolator. Not sure what the new charges are.
JK below has it covered. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the input JK.
Not going to work on it live are we , defo pull it out , safety first 😊
You'd be surprised how many people do work live when safe isolation is possible.
What if its a pay as you go with no credit🤔
I would think that their priority was to pay for electric before having work done. It may need a call to the supplier.
@learnelectrics4402 I guess what I meant was that if its out of credit, there's no power and you can work away without needing dno input. Obviously, the householder will have to run the credit right down and into the emergency reserve just in time for works!
If a smart meter is installed you say the DNO know very quickly when the fuse is removed. How do they know you haven't just turned the isolator off (where fitted)?
This is just scaremongering. Pull the fuse or use the isolator and get on with the work safely.
Because the power has gone off to the meter, as it would with a power cut, then there’s tamper sensors on the inside of the smart meter, turning an isolator off doesn’t turn the meter off
Minitom has this covered below. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Minitom, great contribution, appreciated. Dave.
Never pulled one myself, just fill out ..😢😢😢😢
Thanks for watching.
Why remove the fuse.Come on Electricians cos u will😮
Thanks for watching. Dave.
Yes, you can pull it. I have asked the DNO directly and the reply was that safety is the main priority always. Isolate! It!
You can't pull it without the permission of the DNO. And secondly they are normally sealed with a wire tag which needs to be replaced and only the DNO should be resealing it.
Yes some dnos let you pull it SSE allow me to pull there's. However other dnos are a bit funny about it However you need to put a temporary seal back on in which they give you the seals it has numbers on them in order to get the seals you need to prove you are part of a CPS. Eg napit nic etc However how many times have you been to a property and seen the main fuse with no seal on it your not gonna report it. Because they will think it's you that broke the seal I do think the SSE have the right idea if your a registered Electrician you can pull the fuse as long as you have taken the right precautions and feel confident to pull it and have the means to reseal the fuse
Yes, you can pull it without permission from DNO you cut the tag off
@@pauldavies1693 look This is along standing conversation. People will pull it anyway if they need to however it's interesting to what Dave. Said about smart meters could be a game changer if there is no signal form a certain meter for a certain amount of time
Every DNO seems to have different opinions. Thanks for the input.