Removing fuse from consumer unit

[Calgoo]

Hi, I've just had an electrician in to permanently disconnect an oven and kitchen extractor fan.

I've a new oven that didn't need a 40amp switch so had asked for the oven switch to be removed , particularly as the switch was directly behind the hob. The extractor was just to be removed as it was extremely drafty. In both cases the have their own dedicated switch in the consumer unit.

I've filled both the holes left behind once they were removed, and looking at the consumer unit, the fuses are still there. Should the fuses be removed as I'm worried I may accidentally switch them back on and it causes a fire / short circuit due to the switch boxes bring filled in with the cables still present

 

[Echo the husky]

If the electrician was any good he would have disconnected the cables from the fuses inside the consumer unit!

 

[PBC_1966]

If the electrician was any good he would have disconnected the cables from the fuses inside the consumer unit!

^^^ This!

You could remove the cover and check.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

As above you would expect a competent electrician to disconnect the cables associated to these circuits, leave them terminated safely and leave the fuses in place or replace them with blanks, to prevent any accidental contact with live parts.
So I assume that is what has been done!

 

[Calgoo]

Cheers guys, that was quick.

As expected, checked the fuse box and both are still connected up. Not surprised really given a couple of other issues I had to get him to fix (under cabinet lights too long for the cabinet, surface mounted cable when I'd asked it to be chased, chase filling poor), won't be using him again

I'm fairly competent with electrics, but is disconnecting these fuses something that should be left to the pros?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Are you saying that this "electrician" removed accessories and appliances, but just left the cables buried in the walls, still connected at the CU?

Where did you find him? Is he a member of NICEIC/NAPIT/ELECSA etc?

Have a look at this: [wiki]electrics%3Awalls[/wiki] and see if the cables are still in OK places, or if removing what they were attached to has removed the zones which made it OK for them to be concealed. If that is what has happened then he committed a criminal offence.

 

[Echo the husky]

I would expect at least a written warning if I did that at work.

What sort of consumer unit do you have? Any photos?

 

[securespark]

I would expect at least a written warning if I did that at work.

Have you already done it?

You'd get a verbal first, surely?

I suppose if it was viewed as GM, you could go straight to a written.

 

[Echo the husky]

I'm well behaved!

 

[Calgoo]

Outside of CU

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• Calgoo
• 16 Dec 2015

Cooker fuse (next to main fuse) 40a

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• Calgoo
• 16 Dec 2015

Extractor fuse (5a)

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• Calgoo
• 16 Dec 2015

Further view of CU internals

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• Calgoo
• 16 Dec 2015

Filled in (by me) cooker switch

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• Calgoo
• 16 Dec 2015

Cooker feed within kitchen unit (under hob)

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• Calgoo
• 16 Dec 2015

I've had a look at the link ban all sheds provided and from what I understand, everything seems ok, it's mainly having a live fuse in the cu for two permenantly removed appliances I.m worried about.

He came recommended by a friend, I can't remember the qualification his card gave, as I've lost the card, but remember confirming it was one of the main ones

 

[johnny_t]

Sorry to ask a question that you may well have already answered, but are you saying that when you filled in those boxes, the wires were still in them ?

 

[Calgoo]

Yes, that's right. I should add I'd cut a bit of plastic to cover them before filling in

 

[bhm1712]

How were they terminated behind your plastic????

 

[OwainDIYer]

Leaving bare live wires still connected at the consumer unit is a gross failure in his duty of care.

Have you already paid him?

The circuit breakers need not be removed (unless there are blanking plates they must not be removed) but the cables should be disconnected from the circuit breaker (live) and neutral bars, and ideally commoned together on the earth bar.

Get a competent electrician to do the work and then send the bill to the original 'electrician' as this is what he should have done when he did the original job.

You could disconnect the wires yourself but WARNING the exposed bus bar along the top of the circuit breakers is LIVE unless BOTH main switches are off. (Dual tariff board - storage heaters at one time?)

 

[Calgoo]

The were screwed into end connectors with electric tape wrapped around the end connector.

I think I'll take your advice owaindiyer - I'd have used my usual guy if he hadn't retired.

I'll feel a but happier knowing the cables aren't connected to the CU