Electrical Supply Isolation

crasy dash

Hi all hope somebody can answer me this question i got asked lately.I am a qualified electrician but not in the sector anymore moved on to another area.

Will try and keep the story and facts short.

Elderly friend of the parents asked me this one

Old house circa 1950's -60 late 1999 early 2000 house rewired by local company .Shower added possibly 8-9.0kw only a guess.

Roughly six months later shower being used cooker on smell of burning in the hall way where board is

Realised it was the old on-off isolator heating up and burning emergency call to esb networks.Esb Tech out replaced the tails to the board (bypassing isolation switch)powered back up and been working that way ever since.

Now no way to isolate the mains feed to the board unless the cut out fuse was to be pulled.

.Would he require a full rewire and testing etc to have an isloation switch installed beside the meter?

THanks for the replies

kirk.

Don't think it requires testing/rewiring

Was that the old black DP main isolator (pre-mcb days) . Should have been removed when reconnecting tails on rewire

crasy dash

Thanks for the reply Kirk appreciate it,yes would have been dp main isolator that was rated for 60a that melted

Antenna

Has a smart meter been installed at this premises? , if not it would seem a good time to get them install a ESB isolator when the smart meter is being installed?

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120865412#Comment_120865412

I was going to say but can't remember

Do they fit an isolator on a smart meter install?

I thought also esbn had a fixed charge for fitting an isolator can't remember one of the RECs would knwo

zg3409

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120865611#Comment_120865611

ESB networks refused to install an isolator when I was getting day night meter. May have been person on the day.

Does the old fuse board have a main fuse or fuse switch that can isolate all loads?

More importantly is the safety question, is the whole house up to the job as in is the fuse board old and worn, is the wiring old and worn, are the sockets ancient is there damp and corrosion? An isolator would be the least of my worries if there was a main fuse or switch on the board where the homeowner can cut all power if needed. Most houses dont have a separate isolator away from the fuse board.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120865633#Comment_120865633

Isolators have been fitted on new work for a long time now , many will have them

You're right in that it's not a major issue imo having/not having an isolator

horseman34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120865633#Comment_120865633

Same, would have saved a whole load of problems if they had just fitted the isolator as I'll ultimately have to get esb out again to move/reposition the meter when I get the tails done.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120866105#Comment_120866105

You're upgrading tails, is the meter is blocking the space for isolator ?

Is it car charging wired from main board in house ?

horseman34

Screenshot_20230719-131638_Gallery.jpg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120870362#Comment_120870362

The plan is a full board change with tails upgrade later this year maybe early next year once the schedule calms down, there is no ev/ev charging ATM

kirk.

Ya not so good in the cabinet ,.meter in a bad location

Esbn supplies vary a lot .If you're upgrading you can check it

ELM327

ESBN tend to put up a fight if you're trying to get them to put an isolator in. I had weeks back and forth with networks before I finally got mine in.

kirk.

The isolator was a means for a rec to connect tails

I don't think it had any other purpose, upgrading etc.

kirk.

And switching off for maintenance or alterations