Query re Swift on board charger

[merl]

I had an interesting observation yesterday in the house when the electricity meter was replaced ....
In the process of replacing the meter, the main switch between the Meter and the Consumer Unit was replaced by a more up to date design (the 13 year old one is no longer appropriate!) and even though it is a dual-pole type switch, they only connect the Live through it and the Neutral went into a new connector block giving a permanent Neutral into the CU.
Seemed a bit strange where there was a switched connection just ready and waiting to be used, but apparently this is Scottish Powers standard? Doesn't really make a lot of sense to me as the first place the Neutral cable goes to into the CU is another dual-pole Master Switch which DOES disconnect the Live AND Neutral and then to RCDs which disconnect both Live AND Neutrals, so a bit of a strange standard?

I don't know about north of the border but we just connect the meter straight to the CU. I dont know if the 'live' isolator they swapped/included is standard practice or not in Scotland but seems a handy accessory to have in the case a CU swap as there'd be no need to pull the main 100A fuse.
Being 'pre meter' I guess that live only switch has company seald to prevent tampering? It's an ideal place to bleed off free leccy and if it's installation is standard practice then I'd suspect quite a lot of let's say 'amateur wiring' going on.

 

[wildebus]

I don't know about north of the border but we just connect the meter straight to the CU. I dont know if the 'live' isolator they swapped/included is standard practice or not in Scotland but seems a handy accessory to have in the case a CU swap as there'd be no need to pull the main 100A fuse.
Being 'pre meter' I guess that live only switch has company seald to prevent tampering? It's an ideal place to bleed off free leccy and if it's installation is standard practice then I'd suspect quite a lot of let's say 'amateur wiring' going on.

Nah, the switch is POST Meter.
It is useful to have as, as you say, you (or rather your certified electrician ) can service the CU fully and safely without having the Supplier remove the main fuse PRE Meter (which of course has the tamper seals). I assume it is a standard and expected fitment as the chap had a replacement of the newer design (with improved cable security) ready and explained why they swapped them out (of slight interest as well, maybe, the new switch levers were Brown and Blue rather than the Red that is usually seen - maybe another Regulation change?).
I just nipped out to have a look and the Switch is tamper sealed as well in fact. Fair enough as it is the boards property and not mine.


Just had a thought ... if there was an Switch PRE Meter, it really would be incredibly easy to tap into the supply to feed off unmetered electric with or without tamper seals, so doubt if there would ever be any legitimate setups with a switch in that position?

 

[JonSue]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. I have (I THINK ) found the problem. The extension lead I use to supply the current to the EHU lead hasn't got an earth on it s0 I am "assuming "that is the problem?? Once again thanks to you all

 

[merl]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. I have (I THINK ) found the problem. The extension lead I use to supply the current to the EHU lead hasn't got an earth on it s0 I am "assuming "that is the problem?? Once again thanks to you all

Yes, that'll do it! As suspected it reports 'no earth' exactly the same as reversed L+N. Out of interest how did you find the issue?

 

[JonSue]

After reading all the advice etc. I just unscrewed the lead to check if the earth wire had come loose and it just wasn't there!
So I crossed my fingers and now hope that's solved Yippee

 

[merl]

After reading all the advice etc. I just unscrewed the lead to check if the earth wire had come loose and it just wasn't there!
So I crossed my fingers and now hope that's solved Yippee

It's amazing how the UK safety standards for electrical installation and electrical items is so strict BUT you can go to B&Q and unwittingly buy an extension lead that doesn't have an earth core. I know that if your appliance is double insulated then it doesn't matter but extension leads are purchased and then kick around for years getting used for many applications many of which require an effective earth to remain safe. People just pick up the old extension lead and innocently use it without any indication at all that it doesn't have an earth core! Bonkers.

 

[wildebus]

It's amazing how the UK safety standards for electrical installation and electrical items is so strict BUT you can go to B&Q and unwittingly buy an extension lead that doesn't have an earth core. I know that if your appliance is double insulated then it doesn't matter but extension leads are purchased and then kick around for years getting used for many applications many of which require an effective earth to remain safe. People just pick up the old extension lead and innocently use it without any indication at all that it doesn't have an earth core! Bonkers.

I remember moving into a brand new flat in 1995. It was the first place I lived which had the modern home electric standards i.e. MCBs and an RCD. The power kept tripping for some reason and I found the reason was an extension lead that from my recollection when opening up had the Live and Neutral swapped, but it might have had an earth connection issue as well? I can't recall exactly.
It was very frustrating at the time as, as is typical with rooms, the sockets are never where you want them and so I just used the same extension lead that had worked perfectly in my house that I moved from of course!