Your opinion please: New build/spec house/wires and cables mess

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Your opinion please: New build/spec house/wires and cables mess - who is responsible?

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#2595625 31-Oct-2020 20:50

Double check that the cable is actually connected at the pillarbox (it could feed a back section or something stupid). If so, take some pictures and send them to the lines company.

gregmcc

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#2595639 31-Oct-2020 21:01

SomeoneSomewhere:

I would disagree with some of your points:

There is no requirement to include test results. It's a suggestion from those who wrote the form but declaring that it passed the tests is entirely acceptable. Reg 67 (3) makes this pretty clear.
The checkbox is for all parts of the installation that this certificate applies to. This certificate doesn't cover the rest of the house so doesn't matter. All work covered by this certificate (the mains cable) was safe to liven - the lines company has to terminate the far end, but they aren't going to do that if you say the cable can't be livened. If the lines company left two meters hanging out of the box that's their problem and they should be notified.
The installation must have a correctly rated earthing system or you can't connect anything. Reg 73A.
I do agree that the COC could be filled out much better though.

The main earthing system should be covered as it's defined as mains work, requiring inspection.
The first box should specify which variety of work is high-risk from the categories in Reg 6A - mains work in an installation. Underground doesn't matter.
License number needs to be on the certificate even though the ESC section is struck out.
'Type of supply system' should be 230V MEN, too.

You can search the database yourself: https://portal.worksafe.govt.nz/search-highrisk/

Are you sure that's not the neighbour's mains cable? Generally they put the pillar box on the boundary and feed two properties from each.

I've seen the full COC, it was done by a line mechanic, who can do mains, but cannot do the earthing in an installation.

I know test results don't have to be included, but when things go wrong what proof do you have of the tests been done and that they comply with the test standards - All my CoC's and ROI's have full test results attached so there is no questions and no comebacks about compliance.

I'm sure that the person who put the mains in isn't certifying all of the installation (they can't they are a line mechanic) - the electricity act defines an installation:- "in relation to a property with a point of supply, all fittings beyond the point of supply that form part of a system that is used to convey electricity to a point of consumption, or used to generate or store electricity."

So I stand by my comment that part installation should be checked as only the mains were covered by this CoC.

cyril7

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#2595642 31-Oct-2020 21:12

So it was done by a line mechanic so most likely done by a lines company employee.

I would be taking a straight line for the senior engineer at the lines company and asking for them to sort it or your off to the ewb to lay legal action.

I am sure after that it will be sorted toot sweet.

Cyril

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#2595646 31-Oct-2020 21:16

cyril7: So it was done by a line mechanic so most likely done by a lines company employee.

I would be taking a straight line for the senior engineer at the lines company and asking for them to sort it or your off to the ewb to lay legal action.

I am sure after that it will be sorted toot sweet.

Cyril

Not necessarily, most lines companies won't touch installation work as they don't want the liability and prefer to stick to works where they make the rules for them selves.

More than likely done by a contractor that works for a lines company AND does other private work for building companies such as installing service mains.

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#2595690 31-Oct-2020 21:45

It's a part installation, but it's all the work listed on the COC, so 'all' is the correct box to check.

Bung

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#2595782 1-Nov-2020 03:41

Is the coiled neutral screen actually in the circuit still and not just the left over cable sitting there without the ends visible?

ageorge

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#2595788 1-Nov-2020 07:04

Bung: Is the coiled neutral screen actually in the circuit still and not just the left over cable sitting there without the ends visible?

Today or tomorrow Im going to get one of my meters, set on AC and make a coil of the test leads around each of the separate alkathines, one at a time. If it reads more than a few volts, very likely is dangerous, if 0v, very likely they are open circuit.

BTW, since these villas are a Body Corp, its highly likely that contact to the Power Company would need to be done via the Body Corp or not?

Also see below - can anyone advise how to check a title caveat - would it be held on Body Corp records or Council or?

Thank you. Al.

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gregmcc

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#2595806 1-Nov-2020 08:37

ageorge:

Bung: Is the coiled neutral screen actually in the circuit still and not just the left over cable sitting there without the ends visible?

Today or tomorrow Im going to get one of my meters, set on AC and make a coil of the test leads around each of the separate alkathines, one at a time. If it reads more than a few volts, very likely is dangerous, if 0v, very likely they are open circuit.

BTW, since these villas are a Body Corp, its highly likely that contact to the Power Company would need to be done via the Body Corp or not?

Also see below - can anyone advise how to check a title caveat - would it be held on Body Corp records or Council or?

Thank you. Al.

Probably an easement to the power company to access the network assets (Green pillar) that is located on your property.

ageorge

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#2595916 1-Nov-2020 16:52

Those cables next to green box are all disconnected, or have no live on them as expected.

Cheers, Al.

cyril7

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#2595924 1-Nov-2020 17:29

And so is it just excess left there or do they go into turf.

Cyril

ageorge

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#2595925 1-Nov-2020 17:34

cyril7: And so is it just excess left there or do they go into turf.

Cyril

Into the turf.

If the Bodycorp chairman is happy for me to talk to Powerco, I will ask Powerco tomorrow and also other details COC/ROC

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2595928 1-Nov-2020 17:51

The screen on a neutral screen acts as, well, as screen.

You won't pick up significant electric field as the earthed neutral is on the outside, and you won't pick up much magnetic field from flowing current as the phase and neutral cancel each other out.

ageorge

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#2595957 1-Nov-2020 18:40

SomeoneSomewhere:

The screen on a neutral screen acts as, well, as screen.

You won't pick up significant electric field as the earthed neutral is on the outside, and you won't pick up much magnetic field from flowing current as the phase and neutral cancel each other out.

Yea, but usually you do get some indication of volts and there were nil, not even mv. Not only, but also, I found that a sparkie who was doing a job next door checked them and said they were open.

Cbfd

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#2596436 2-Nov-2020 17:17

The loop of power cable wqs possibly installed when there was an open trench and was possibly going to be used as a street light or something similar

ageorge

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#2599728 8-Nov-2020 09:08

Another interesting exercise.

I tried to change over power companies. The way these 'villas' are set up via a one-way lane, is that the villas with the highest title number eg 12, have labelled their house as number 1.

As new villas have been introduced, each have followed the sequence, ending up with us and our neighbours who are actually 1 & 2 on titles being 11 & 12 on lane.

This has carried through to linesman wiring so that on the list, we are 11 & 12.

When I submitted my address as 2, Electric Kiwi could not do the transfer and asked me for the IPC number which I didnt have, so gave them meter image, which still confused them until I suggested we might be number 11. Finally all ducks in a row.

Im not sure if this errant house numbering methodology could legally effect owners, but the wrong numbering does physically make more sense.

Regards,

Al.

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