Just what I was thinking.
They have about 4 standard common keys. Often they are welded to the retaining chain to prevent people stealing the padlock.
Consumer Unit Replacement
- Thread starter Gazzer23
- Start date
Just what I was thinking.
They have about 4 standard common keys. Often they are welded to the retaining chain to prevent people stealing the padlock.
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The way I saw it (not that I am considering doing it live now as I will make more effort to get the key) was that the only live wires would be from the meter and when the terminal screw holding them in the meter is unscrewed then they won't be live any more once they are out of the terminal so there is no chance of any live wire dangling and touching anything else.
when putting the wire back into the meter the other end will obviously already have been wired in the isolator while disconnected and now have the cover on so fully insulated so again no dangling live wires.
I was looking at electricians gloves the other night, I didn't realise they were so expensive (more than I thought anyway) but then I guess its because they have to be tested fully to ensure they are safe.
Surely thats standard practise to all blocks of flats, though more often its in a room out of site
Not wise promoting unsafe and illlegal practise
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I took a photo of it when unlocked and partially open but can't find the photo now, if I find it I will post it.
So maybe the British Gas Electrician might have a key to it after all, which is good news. ?I will mention it to them tomorrow and see assuming the person on the other end of the phone will know of course.
You guys are really very helpful.
Sorry i missed that bit, whats the BG electrician coming to do, as for FB keys they will likely only bring them if they have checked there records and its listed as they need it,
Fb is not so in fashion now as the keys are so easy to get and its unlikely they would issue the keys to all BG employees, ones who do a lot of council work may have there own for convenience,
Just to put you guys minds at rest I have been put off from the live approach which I was never very keen on in the first place.
I will re-tackle the council if British Gas aren't able to do it for me.
I am not in a rush to get this done any more so I can wait for proper access to be given to do it safely
I will re-tackle the council if British Gas aren't able to do it for me.
I am not in a rush to get this done any more so I can wait for proper access to be given to do it safely
I was going to get him to put an isolator switch in between the meter and my CU so work can be done on the CU safely.
May be wise to EDIT your post about tampering with the meter tails
This is likely whats inside
May be wise to EDIT your post about tampering with the meter tails
This is likely whats inside
Yes it looked like that from what I remember.
Thank you for that reminder - I was just about to observe that a decent prybar would almost certainly pull the hasp out of the wall - lucky escape.
Well, if you think about it it is only right and proper that they exercise control over who can fiddle with the electrics. You've seen what can happen when an idiot is let loose, imagine that sort of person doing things with a building-wide scope.
BG Electrician booked for this friday to fit isolation switch and its only £49 which includes the parts, so very cheap I am surprised.
I will now book access to the key from the council, hopefully they will reply in time.
I will now book access to the key from the council, hopefully they will reply in time.
Had the British Gas Electrician come round today and install the isolation switch.
He was very professional in the way he went about his job and was a joy to watch.
I am very happy with his work and he had the keys to access the fusebox, so all good.
He had a fuse detector so he could find the fuse easily and it was one of the two I thought it would be but hard to tell as the layout isn't so logical
He was very professional in the way he went about his job and was a joy to watch.
I am very happy with his work and he had the keys to access the fusebox, so all good.
He had a fuse detector so he could find the fuse easily and it was one of the two I thought it would be but hard to tell as the layout isn't so logical
Glad that it went well.
Judging by the appearance of the sleeving over them, I imagine that the tails coming out of the isolator must be fairly thin?
In passing, it's quite a long time since I last saw one of those electro-mechanical meters in service (we last had one 20+ years ago) - I'm rather surprised it has not been 'updated'.
Kind Regards, John
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