Any advice for how to get Eskom to check the cables outside? Any key-words I should be using?
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Main Box in Street Keeps Tripping
- Thread starter Adrian15
- Start date
I live in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. I don't see how Eskom could think the cable is the "farmer's problem" when the cable is physically inaccesible to anyone but them
One of the Eskom electricians mentioned that it could be that but they ever performed any further testing
TheChamp
Honorary Master
What I have noticed is that it seems repeat faults are not tracked at Eskom, because if you reported it many times enough it was supposed to escalate and get the necessary attention, it is after all a waste of resources to keep on going out for the same fault multiple times.
Once they've restored power their job is done regardless of it being a more major problem
I've lost track of how many times I've logged this fault, I've even escalated it to the Eskom Senior and General Manager to no avail My local ward councillor is also not doing enough.
TheChamp
Honorary Master
You have no choice but to try again maybe you will get a tech who can hear what you are saying, just hear what seems to be the difficult part about testing the cable and offer some assistance where you can, even if it means getting a guy from Builders to come and dig the cable out and pay him, of course as soon as they have identified the route, you could find that they could be amenable to this.
Yes I understand it's Eskom's job just in case someone wants to jump on back but if you are the one who has to live with the inconvenience then it's totally worth it.
soulie
Expert Member
nope .ask them if they can do an insulation resistance test for you .if the cable is clean then its something else.are you single phase or 3 phase
Thanks! How would I check if I was either single or 3 phase?
soulie
Expert Member
Does your earth leakage have more than 2 levers if 4 then its 3 phase, then its a totaly different problem.. I dont think they will be able to do an insulation test its not really there line, but ask them. The cable could be bad inside, enough for random trips but only a test will reveal that. Your sparkie will be able to do it though if he has access to the outside box.
My earth leakage only has 2 levers
Mystic Twilight
Expert Member
Just an fyi, it's called a thumper. Had one come out to our place, was permanently mounted and installed inside a van.
TheChamp
Honorary Master
What happens to your house while the thumper is busy thumping, do they disconnect it?
soulie
Expert Member
they will only need to do a test with the bigger machine if the meter shows a fault .the bigger machines are usually only needed once a fault is verified and the cable is damaged it induces a dc voltage into the cable so they can see where the break is and dig it up. if the insulation resistance with a megaohm meter is fine then its usually not the cable .any sparkie can do the test i gather you are not on a farm so shouldnt be too much of a hassle .the wires going into the house must be disconnected because the voltage induced is from 500v dc upwards .just ask your sparkie to megger the cable before you do anything else .it will take 5 minutes as long as he can isolate the incoming supply .youre not running an 11kv line so nothing special has to be done .if i was in cpt i would do it for you .
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soulie
Expert Member
the biggest problem will be getting access to the breaker in the box .eskom doesnt like just doing things (like isolating your supply for testing )also upto where the cable comes into your house and meter /circuit breaker box is Eskoms property .only from the consumers circuit breaker is it yours .if the consumer breaker is a higher capacity to Eskoms breaker outside then that is also a problem .next time it happens ask them just to check that as well .
ps in 40 years i have never seen a supply cable with damage unless someone put a spike through it .
ps in 40 years i have never seen a supply cable with damage unless someone put a spike through it .
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wingnut771
Honorary Master
Yes that’s the one, impressive kit.
wingnut771
Honorary Master
Yes it’s disconnected at the meter.
Mystic Twilight
Expert Member
Yes they disconnect your mains either at the municipal meter or the house db depending where you testing for, otherwise you will be buying new appliances assuming your house isn't burning down from an electrical fire.
UPDATE
I've contracted an electrician to do fault finding and he suggested I just replace all the wiring in my house since it's not up to compliance. The job should be done by Saturday which should rule out my house as the fault.
I also installed a new DB board 5 months ago with a main breaker rated at 63A and an earth leakage also rated at 63A. My neighbours have their mains at 60A and their earth leakage significantly lower at 20A. I'm now thinking that my mains and earth leakage may be rated too high? The electrician suggest I leave the earth leakage as is and swap out the 63A mains for a 50A.
What do you guys think?
I've contracted an electrician to do fault finding and he suggested I just replace all the wiring in my house since it's not up to compliance. The job should be done by Saturday which should rule out my house as the fault.
I also installed a new DB board 5 months ago with a main breaker rated at 63A and an earth leakage also rated at 63A. My neighbours have their mains at 60A and their earth leakage significantly lower at 20A. I'm now thinking that my mains and earth leakage may be rated too high? The electrician suggest I leave the earth leakage as is and swap out the 63A mains for a 50A.
What do you guys think?
soulie
Expert Member
find out what size breaker is outside first . it doesn't help to put a 50 inside and eskoms box has a 45 in it .then you will still be running after them to resett it .the earth leakage at 63A is fine as it doesnt trip on load and that is a current carrying capacity only .you can fit a 100amp earth leakage if you want it will still trip on 30ma .if the supply breaker is 60 amp and your cable is a 6mm then a 50 amp inside is fine although it is a bit low so 60 would be better. it all depends on the cable size,the length of cable and what eskom put on their side for your supply .