Releasing company fuse from mounting board and cooker cable size?

Even if you remove the fuse, one end of the fuse holder is still going to be live.

Cooker is usually 32amp. (6mm cable.)

If you don't know this, best leave mains incomer alone. Illegal to mess with it anyway. You would have to remove elect. company seals. And as the poster says, other end of fuse will remain alive.

Be wary. If you have an old paper insulated supply cable, these really do not like being moved (brittle with age as the oil drains down the cable).

Can you not cut it in situ with a Fein type tool or a hand saw running almost flat?

Try this - and feel free to ask if not sure afterwards:

Yes, I wouldn't fancy poking a screwdriver in there to release the fuse-holder from the board!

NT

Some photos of ones I have taken partly to bits are here.

Not being a fan of showers, the power consumption of electrically heated showers is not a subject that interest me.

It is a pity that MK don't sell a RCBO populated CU that has 3 32A units.

Indeed, but if the cables from the meter to a new CU are to short I am going to have to break the seals anyway. I suspect the meter is due for a change.

The property was built in the 70s

I suppose I could do what I need with a chisel, but it will be obvious and not such a neat job!

Yes, that helps, thank you. Looks like can't use a 40A RCBO

Do you actually need to remove it, or could you cut it where it is? (Multimaster, jigsaw, reciprocating saw etc)

Possibly, but it depends on the type of fuse, of which there are many types. You would need to assume you will be working live if doing this, and on the unfused side of the supply as well. So only do this if you are comfortable with what you need to do and how to operate safely.

Also see the comments here about old metal clad incomers:

Again, really depends on the type of holder.

See examples in:

Chapter and verse:

I'd buy a Fein type tool (there are other cheaper versions) for a job like this long before I'd consider interfering with the service head.

I thought the whole idea was to stop tampering and indeed keep the user safe. I think if one has to ask such questions like how thick the wire needs to be, you will in the end need a proper electrician to do whatever it is you are doing. Most of us are OK on wiring up some lights or sockets, but even when I could see I treated stuff at this end of the supply with a wide berth.

I think its only Canherbis growers who attempt such work themselves. Brian

Not *safely*, no. You will be working live and should have the appropriate arc-resistant PPE.

Details for removing cutouts are handily enough given here

Owain

It is hard to understand that tool from looking at the pictures on their website, but after watching the U-Tube videos I can see why I might buy one! Thank you.

In message , Tim Watts writes

I have found a huge difference in performance between blue (good) and green (poor) versions from Bosch.

Overshort cables between the meter and the consumer board can be overcome using service connector blocks. (Henley etc.)

Seriously, this is a job for a competent person.

Rather than hacking it off freehand, I'd screw a strip of wood onto the bit you're cutting off, and use that as a guide for the blade, or it'll wander ...

Yes, nicking the main incomer cable could be a trifle inconvenient.

Owain

I think like others here that there is sufficient information given for the advise of getting a qualified person to undertake this is justified.

The OP isn't aware that the fuse holder will remain live; doesn't know about Henley blocks doesn't know what the Fein type multi-tool is when they've been on the market for 30+ years.

Dabbling in the meter box is something that near enough all of us here would do with a degree of extreme wariness.

Well, essentially, as you may have seen in the vids, it's really good at plunge cutting with finesse. It'll not be quick work if you have to take a strip off a 2' wide board, but it won't be too bad and it will not disturb the equipment like hitting a chisel would.

I suspect it depends on age. My old Bosch green tools are still running 40 years on, with only a couple of new parts between them. They've built 4 extensions so far.