Funky distribution wiring.

[paulca]

Was out the back of my exe's house for a smoke at Christmas and looked up above her back door to see two large, probably 25mm insulated tails running across her roof eves.

I followed said tails and they were clipped all the way along both semi-detached bungalows and then tension wired across to the next pair.

At her door there were two of those weather sealed taps that drive into the tails.  It was too hard to see if both tails went into the consumer unit, or only one.

Is this likely to be a small ring around the bungalow "close" to save putting it underground, or maybe retro fit?  That would make it Line/Live only and make the houses self earth referencing TTS?  Either that or it's L+N and the houses are just on a multi house spur.

What struck me as really odd though and why it stuck with me.  These are at around 7ft off the ground.  You can literally reach up and tug on them just above head height.  They are really, really trusting those tap things are sealed from rain, damp and accidental contact with people.  I would not want to be on the end of that shock.

[SmallCog]

7’ wouldn’t pass muster here

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/busind/techstdpubs/Specifications-and-drawings/Standard-Drawings-Roads/Electrical-and-ITS/SD1333.pdf?la=en] [url]https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/busind/techstdpubs/Specifications-and-drawings/Standard-Drawings-Roads/Electrical-and-ITS/SD1333.pdf?la=en[/url]

LV in that table being less than 1000VAC

[themadhippy]

Either that or it's L+N and the houses are just on a multi house spur.

just the same as if it was fed from an underground source,one large cable with the supplys T'd off.

I followed said tails and they were clipped all the way along both semi-detached bungalows and then tension wired across to the next pair.

this sort of thing?
https://youtu.be/bbJRK4Q8cik?t=641

[tom66]

Sounds similar to an arrangement on the old house I lived in.   It had a junction box which took the 3ph(?) cable from the ground and split it into the six houses nearby.  They just chose my house to mount the kit on.   

[paulca]

this sort of thing?
https://youtu.be/bbJRK4Q8cik?t=641

Yep, but as it's a bungalow they are clipped up under the roof eves and within arms reach.

[paulca]

Sounds similar to an arrangement on the old house I lived in.   It had a junction box which took the 3ph(?) cable from the ground and split it into the six houses nearby.  They just chose my house to mount the kit on.

Last apartment I was in had 1 incoming line, 3 meters and 4 consumer units.  It looked for all intents and purposes the common area of the apartments was running unmetered.

[paulca]

Got a photo of this.  Janky or what?

[Gyro]

Those outdoor IDC connectors are actually extremely reliable...

[paulca]

If my 4 yo gets tall enough, by current rate around 8 yo and grabs both those connector blocks, how toasty is she going to be?

[Gyro]

Well they are insulated, including the clamping bolts.

If you are concerned, then you should contact your DNO, who will respond very quickly to potential safety issues.