The two photos reproduced here describe more vividly than a thousand words the damage which can be caused to an electrical connection by loose contact screws.
In both these cases the damage is on the Customer’s side of the Meter, and therefore the problem was caused by the electrical contractor’s failure to properly tighten the terminal screws.
To date we are not aware of whether ESB actually charge the Customer for a replacement meter, but it is unlikely that they will continue to tolerate this sort of damage without compensation from somebody. The obvious person to recover from is the customer, and the customer in turn will probably seek to recover from the contractor who made the connection.
Quite apart from the financial aspects, there is the inconvenience of being without supply until a replacement meter is fitted, and also the possibility of fire or damage to electrical and electronic equipment in the house.
These meter connections are robust but the particular type of screw fitted cannot be properly tightened without the use of a screwdriver specifically designed for these screw types. Neither the traditional Philips, nor a flat screwdriver, can exert sufficient torque to ensure a good connection. The proper screwdriver is an SL/PZ2 X100 which should be available from most electrical wholesalers and hardware stores.
These screwdrivers are also the correct type to use on RCD’s, RCBO’s, and most modern MCB’s.
