City Power......

I have bet with clients and my staff..... How many City Power people will have to come through before someone knows how to resolve the problem (unless its just switching on the breaker).

Usually we play for a case of beer or a six pack.

Recently the 8th person to come out to resolve the problem of there being no incoming earth from city power side (despite the property being backed onto the local mini sub and you could visibly see the earth wire).

We even have a game where if there is a "cash converters" sticker on the multimeter they bring, i get a bonus beer prize.

It amazes me how many properties have no incoming earth. In Jo'burg I'd say around 25% - 30% of the places we go to don't have a sufficient (or at all) incoming earth from municipality.

The last 3 month, properties we have worked on/in

Pent house flat in Killarny, whole block of flats - no incoming earth from municpality.

Commercial building bought for R50 million+ (with COC) - no incoming earth.

Large commercial property in a arty part of town - earth was provided by earth conductor wrapped around the overhead line pole, stuck down with some carpet tape - Earth fault current - 40 amps - on a 63 amp 3 phase supply.... supplying 4 shops and some staff quarters out back. 63amp breaker cooked, neutral loose and melted on municipality side. - with COC.