Earth strap

[Mark 5]

Disconnect and remove the cable, fit the gland, refit and terminate the cable.

Although it looks like the top of a shroud is visible at the bottom of the picture so it may well have a gland fitted already just missing the earth connection.

That makes more sense because from the photo it appears to be a hard shroud fixed solid in place, not the soft flexible kind and couldn't figure out how @Bravheart was going to attach the new SWA gland.

As you write hopefully it will be as simple as disconnecting, removing the SWA, refit a gland and connect back up although as you say under the existing shroud there be a gland already, just requires an Earth lead.

 

[Robotstar5]

Could have been worse and used a Jubilee clip, I've seen it done but can't find the pic.

 

[Mark 5]

Could have been worse and used a Jubilee clip, I've seen it done but can't find the pic.

Oh yeah, I've seen that too.

 

[Dave-sparks]

On leaded sheath cable where such a sweated connection is broken, what would a DNO replace it with?

Normally they use either a connection that looks like a large buckle clip that clamps a braid to the lead and is tensioned with a special tool, I think it's known as a Hepworth clamp, or else they use a constant force spring to attach a braid.

It's rare for them to sweat a new connection these days but I think one or two of them will still do it.

The problems with using pipe earthing clamps on lead cable included them cutting into the lead and damaging it, cold creep of the lead under pressure loosening the connection and the fact that those clamps just aren't designed to handle fault currents

 

[Mark 5]

Normally they use either a connection that looks like a large buckle clip that clamps a braid to the lead and is tensioned with a special tool, I think it's known as a Hepworth clamp, or else they use a constant force spring to attach a braid.

It's rare for them to sweat a new connection these days but I think one or two of them will still do it.

The problems with using pipe earthing clamps on lead cable included them cutting into the lead and damaging it, cold creep of the lead under pressure loosening the connection and the fact that those clamps just aren't designed to handle fault currents

Thanks, I know about CFSs because I'm in a similar situation and started to read up.

I have a ropey looking sweated joint on the DNO leaded side of the incoming cable to my property.

No issues I thought, I'll speak to my DNO and ask them to sort it, what I wasn't expecting was their insistence I have a smart meter installed.

I was really surprised as DNOs have nothing to do with the installation of SMs to the best of my knowledge, it wasn't a great conversation and the lady I was speaking to was insistant and pushy.

I refuse to have a SM installed, ( until such time they are much more reliable ), and do my own meter readings.

I know the incoming is DNO property but if they are not going to help then the responsibility is mine to make my home safe.

A previous owner has used a Tenby type clamp on the incoming as the sweated connection is in poor condition.

I'm aware these clamps are not designed to handle fault currents so was/am looking for a better solution and came across CFSs but couldn't figure out how to attach one.

 

[Dave-sparks]

I have a ropey looking sweated joint on the DNO leaded side of the incoming cable to my property.

A picture would help as 'ropey looking' could mean anything.

No issues I thought, I'll speak to my DNO and ask them to sort it, what I wasn't expecting was their insistence I have a smart meter installed.

Which DNO is it? You're right that they are separate from your energy supplier and no longer responsible for supplying or maintaining the meter.

A previous owner has used a Tenby type clamp on the incoming as the sweated connection is in poor condition.
I'm aware these clamps are not designed to handle fault currents so was/am looking for a better solution and came across CFSs but couldn't figure out how to attach one.

Don't attempt to remove the earth clamp from the lead cable, leave it in place, even once it is disconnected.

It really needs to be sorted by the DNO, tell them that it has been identified as being in poor condition with an excessively high Ze (earth fault loop impedance)

 

[Mark 5]

Before purchasing the property I knew the wiring would have to be tidied up so did check meter, CU, that type of thing, this got pass me.

I did take a photo after moving in can't find it, basically there was a corroded earth braid strap spread under the Tenby, the other end of this braid strap had been squashed to connect in to an earth block, from the block an earth cable went to the CU.

Further inspection I discovered behind the Tenby this sweated joint on the incoming, nothing connected to it.

I spoke to my DNO and asked them to have a look and this lady insisted before any upgrade/inspection a smart meter had to be fitted and I don't want a smart meter, I just wanted assurance things were safe.

This sweated joint looks ropey to me, however my thinking was if they won't inspect I have to make sure as best as I could things are safe and anything has to be better then the use of a Tenby wrapped around the leaded incoming.

What I did was remove the braid, ( actually it fell apart ) and connected an earth lead from the sweated joint to the earth block and another lead from the block to the CU.

I know the block is not correct or the earth lead to the block, not the type DNOs use for such connections but I refuse to have a smart meter.

I left the Tenby in place.

 

[sparkysy]

That is the safest arrangement that you could have achieved without your DNO assistance!
The 951 clamp is definitely best left alone.
I remember years ago on a council estate upgrade program, a Pilc with a 951 that a spark tried to remove.
In doing so he crushed the lead too much resulting in a big flash and bang as the paper no longer insulated the cores!

 

[Dave-sparks]

Before purchasing the property I knew the wiring would have to be tidied up so did check meter, CU, that type of thing, this got pass me.

I did take a photo after moving in can't find it, basically there was a corroded earth braid strap spread under the Tenby, the other end of this braid strap had been squashed to connect in to an earth block, from the block an earth cable went to the CU.

Further inspection I discovered behind the Tenby this sweated joint on the incoming, nothing connected to it.

I spoke to my DNO and asked them to have a look and this lady insisted before any upgrade/inspection a smart meter had to be fitted and I don't want a smart meter, I just wanted assurance things were safe.

This sweated joint looks ropey to me, however my thinking was if they won't inspect I have to make sure as best as I could things are safe and anything has to be better then the use of a Tenby wrapped around the leaded incoming.

What I did was remove the braid, ( actually it fell apart ) and connected an earth lead from the sweated joint to the earth block and another lead from the block to the CU.

I know the block is not correct or the earth lead to the block, not the type DNOs use for such connections but I refuse to have a smart meter.

I left the Tenby in place.

Ignore the earth clamp and leave it as it is.

Which DNO is it that refused to attend without a smart meter being fitted?

That's not a traditional sweated connection, that is a copper bar which has been bent around the PILC and soldered to the lead, this was commonly done for larger supplies with higher fault currents. As long as the bolt is tight and the crimp lug properly fitted to the cable then it isn't ropey at all and will be perfectly fine (as long as it passes testing of course and there isn't a fault somewhere else)

That earth block is correct for the application, the green/yellow conductor is correct assuming it is the right size (assume it should be 16mm until proven otherwise, smaller sizes may be ok if proven by testing and calculations)
The only thing missing is a 'safety electrical connection, so not remove' label

 

[Mark 5]

That is the safest arrangement that you could have achieved without your DNO assistance!
The 951 clamp is definitely best left alone.
I remember years ago on a council estate upgrade program, a Pilc with a 951 that a spark tried to remove.
In doing so he crushed the lead too much resulting in a big flash and bang as the paper no longer insulated the cores!

That's good to know thanks.

 

[Mark 5]

Ignore the earth clamp and leave it as it is.

Which DNO is it that refused to attend without a smart meter being fitted?

That's not a traditional sweated connection, that is a copper bar which has been bent around the PILC and soldered to the lead, this was commonly done for larger supplies with higher fault currents. As long as the bolt is tight and the crimp lug properly fitted to the cable then it isn't ropey at all and will be perfectly fine (as long as it passes testing of course and there isn't a fault somewhere else)

That earth block is correct for the application, the green/yellow conductor is correct assuming it is the right size (assume it should be 16mm until proven otherwise, smaller sizes may be ok if proven by testing and calculations)
The only thing missing is a 'safety electrical connection, so not remove' label

I have left it well alone, there it will remain, I won't be removing it.

Oh it's copper and solder, it looked lead to me.

You jogged my memory of a couple of conversation I had with neighbours and power outages.

A couple of years before I purchased my property the surrounding properties and presumably mine were constantly suffering them, it was to do with a mini substation not to far away.

Then the supply board did an upgrade to the sub-station and since then, things got a whole lot better, we still have the odd outage, for me the last one was a year or so ago.

I'm not sure what type of supply I have but I remember mentioned that although my supply looked like one type, due to the work undertaken at the sub-station it is now in fact another type.

I have been told most of the properties that surround me are 60amp heads/supplies, mine is 100amp.

The connection bolt is tight and earth lugs are firmly fixed and I'm pretty sure I used 16mm cable.

Happy but surprised the earth block is correct as I was given to understand DNOs use a single horizontal, in and out earth block, not multiple connection type if that make sense.

I will speak to my DNO again and ask for an inspection----shan't have a bloody SM however.

 

[aesmith]

I'm not sure what type of supply I have but I remember mentioned that although my supply looked like one type, due to the work undertaken at the sub-station it is now in fact another type.

Could be converted to PME earthing.

 

[Mark 5]

Could be converted to PME earthing.

Thanks.

So if that's the case how did that/does affect the DNO earth set up in my property?

What type of supply do I have?