Coming up on this week's news, the authors of the wiring rags step into the debate over who can  remove the cutout fuse. Elon Musk's Tesla applies to sell electricity to householders in the UK and  the government proposes to ban the withholding of retention money. Welcome to Electrical News  Weekly. Whether you're listening in the van on site or down at the wholesale counter,  I'm Joe Robinson and I've been through the best of the electrical industry news to save you the  trouble. And this week, the recording studio is being powered by our friends over at Consumer  Unit World. With over 40 years of online selling experience, high stock levels of your favourite  consumer units, including BG, they offer free next working day delivery on orders over 150 quid,  and love hearing from customers. So, give them a call and speak to a real person. And this week's  challenge word competition is supported by the good people at Brother. If you need a label,  they've got a printer, and so much more. If you think you've spotted the two words that I've  been challenged to slip into this week's show, comment with them below for the chance to win  a prize. And while you're there, click the links to check out both consumer unit world and brother.  The authors of the wiring regs have stepped into the debate over who can remove the cutout fuse.  The IET is intervening because it says there are multiple perspectives on the issues in the trade.  That's a polite way of saying that electricians frustrated with delays and expense for their  customers sometimes take matters into their own hands. The organisation admits there's not much  guidance in the wiring regs about this issue. That's because the fuse is the property of the  DSO and not technically the domain of the regs. The 17th edition of the regs did allow for its  withdrawal for safe isolation if the DSO allowed it and the person doing so was authorised by them.  For instance, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks allows qualified installers to both  withdraw and reinstate the fuse. It requires them to wear visors and electrically insulated  gloves during the procedure. But the IET poses a philosophical question. Just because you can do  something, should you? The organisation says there are times when you shouldn't because  of the potential dangers. For instance, if there's any signs of interference with the  security seal or signs of damage or distress such as overheating, then the withdrawal should not go  ahead and instead the issue should be reported to the DNO. In particular, the IET warns that there  are issues with older black cutouts installed between 1967 and 1992. The type of plastic used  included a special phenol which allows the unit to become conductive and produce excessive heat. This  heat causes the material to break down over time and leaves an ash-like residue on the surface.  This can conduct when wet in a phenomenon known as tracking. Trekking can in turn lead to electric  shock, short circuits, and even fires. The guidance here is that you should first test using  a direct contact voltage indicator and then with a two-pole voltage indicator where a sustained  voltage is present. However, if you come across cutouts installed before 1937, you need to inform  the DNO immediately. It's under a legal obligation to remove them within a month because they have  fused neutrals which leave the line conductor energised when they rupture. You'll also need  to report any cutouts you find with asbestos components. These include flash guards inside  fuse carriers. Don't attempt any work yourself as you could disturb the cancer-causing fibres  and release them into the atmosphere. Finally, the IET warns about cutout fuses in flats. Often the  ground floor flat has two or more supplying the flats above and it's not always clearly  or correctly installed. And this isn't always a safety concern. Cutting off power can often  have financial consequences. The IET strongly recommends the use of safe isolation providers or  SIPs. These are organisations who are authorised to do things like withdraw the cutout fuse, change  the terminals and meter tails, and install an isolator switch if necessary. Contractors can in  theory become SIPs, but it's hugely bureaucratic and, you've guessed it, expensive. I've put a link  to the full advisory in the show notes. One of the people you might be asking for permission to pull  the service fees in the future is no lesser figure than Elon Musk. That's because the world's richest  man has applied to become a household electricity supplier in Britain. Tesla wants a license so it  can take on Octopus Energy and British Gas. The company already operates as an energy supplier in  Texas under the name Tesla Electric. It sees opportunities to combine its electric cars,  chargers, and Power Wall battery packs with supply to UK households. Currently, Tesla is partnering  with Octopus so that Power Wall owners can sell surplus power to the grid. The decision to grant  a license remains with the energy regulator and a decision is expected in the autumn. In other news,  the government is proposing to ban the practice of retention. This is when builders typically  withhold 5% of a contract value for 6 months, a year, or even longer. They say it's to cover  them so that defects get addressed, but it causes cash flow problems for subcontractors  such as electrical firms. Also, if the tier one company goes bust, they can lose their money.  The trade hates it more than an Oompa Loompa hates Augustus Gloop and wants it banned. The government  is considering either a ban or introducing a form of protection so that the money is still available  in the case of main contractor insolvency. It's now launched a consultation on retention and the  whole issue of late payments. I've put a link to the consultation in the show notes. Now, welcome  to our electrical news weekly feature where we focus on a specific product area. This week, we're  going green with power, renewables, and solar. Big news here if you're in South Wales. That's because  HDM solar has opened its latest branch in Port Talbot. The 17,000 square foot premises is chocker  block with kit from big name brands including SolaX, SunSynk, Rolec, and GroWatt. They also  have experts if you need any technical advice on a project. HDM offers same day and next day delivery  using its own vans. There's a battery clinic designed to help you resolve specific issues and  a tech expert is available to support installers. The company also offers power purchase agreements  for electrical contractors via its sister firm HDM Energies. Under these schemes, your client pays no  upfront costs, but commits to buying the power from the PV install over time. There are other  branches in Hull, Sheffield, Bournemouth, and Basildon. Hit the link in the show notes for more  info. Iconic American toolmaker Klein has unveiled a dedicated tool kit for photovoltaic projects.  The KTS TK6 was designed in collaboration with solar installers and features kit ranging from MC4  connector wrenches to precision wire strippers as well as cutters, crimpers, and the socket  set. There's no fillers, says Klein. Everything has earned its place. The kit includes a shock  absorbing tool lanyard tested to international standards which helps prevent drop tools  protecting both the installer and those below. Unlike other kits that come in bulky hard cases,  Klein's features a rugged zipper pouch. It's compact, water resistant, and designed to stand  upright for easy access. The KTS TK6 is available at CEF. SAJ is showcasing its new HS3 home battery  pack. Hailed as the most compact 6-in1 residential energy storage system in its class. At just 17 cm  thick, the HS3 is designed to fit effortlessly into any space, including crowded garages,  compact indoor areas, or outdoor installations. Its sleek, timeless design complements a wide  variety of home interior styles, ensuring it enhances rather than disrupts the look of a living  space. The HS3 doesn't compromise on performance either. It offers a scalable capacity from 5 kW  hours up to 40 kW hours and supports a peak input current of 20 amps. A built-in DC optimiser allows  safe mixing of new and existing batteries, giving homeowners long-term flexibility. With  20 years of industry experience, SAJ continues to lead in residential energy storage, supported  by a knowledgeable local technical team in the UK. The HS3 is compact, powerful, and ready to  meet the demands of modern homes. Testing expert Fluke is this summer raising the importance of  appropriately rated kit for solar jobs. It says, Knowing which category and voltage ratings are  needed can make the difference between a safe project and one fraught with risk. CAT ratings  reflect a tool's ability to withstand transient high voltage spikes. For photovoltaic arrays,  industrial kit or three-phase jobs, you'll need a CAT 3 tester. A 600 volt cat 3 will suffice for  residential rooftop installs, but for commercial projects, you'll need the 1volt version. As you'd  imagine, Fluke has shedloads of options covering all the bases. For household jobs, there's the  117 multimeter, which is rated CAT 3 600 volts and ideal for troubleshooting lower voltage systems.  Complementing that in the CAT 3 600 volt format is the 325 clamp meter. Next up is the T6000 tester,  which as you've probably guessed is rated at 1,000 volts and so suitable for small commercial solar  inverter outputs. In the same rating is also a multi-function PV tester and performance analyser  and an insulation multimeter. Midsummer Energy is currently promoting its free software dubbed Easy  PV which is designed to help electricians move into solar. It can help you master the sometimes  complex process of project design as well as optimise your solar setup. It creates solar  array systems, generates comprehensive system specifications and manages documentation. You  can also evaluate the effect of any shading, calculate the array weight and wind loading,  and share project info with your team and your customer. And finally, thanks to a seamless  one-stop shop, you can get all the necessary kit. Solace, one of the most frequently installed solar  inverter brands in the UK, offers a single phase inverter for areas with no power network or that  suffer frequent outages. It's compatible with generators, so you can go fully off-grid. The  product supports parallel operation up to six units, and you can scale the system up to 30 kW.  It has a one-click fast charging mode, 10 seconds of 200% overload capability, and multiple battery  options. It integrates lashings of protections and there's fault monitoring to ensure the safety  of the batteries and it's pretty smart looking too. The link is in the show notes. The Smile  G3 from Alpha ESS is a powerful and seamless combined battery and inverter for residential  battery storage installation. The series provides fantastic choice in modular options,  all backed by Alpha ESS UK's customer care and dedicated installer technical support. There's  a single phase system ranging from 3.6 6 to 8 kW and three-phase options from 10 kW up to 20  kW. The battery is a high voltage from 4 kWh to 10 kWh and including expansion options up to 60 kWh.  The sleek modular design means you can install its building block style with the advantage of  plug-and-play connections to make it super easy. It has a 200% array oversizing and you can connect  a generator for dual power supply options. The Alpha ESS smart app makes it easy for the customer  to take advantage of dynamic tariffs and monitor control and optimise the energy system anytime,  anywhere. It's powerful, intuitive, and lifetime free for customers. Finally, the Smile G3 is rated  at IP65, so you can install it in outdoor and semi-outdoor locations according to the guidance.  All of this and it looks really sharp. In fact, the styling is echoed across the battery and the  single phase Smile G3 EV charge point as well to give you a great looking combo installation. The  Smile G3 feels designed and engineered for how we use energy today and ready for the future.  To find out more about Alpha ESS UK and the Smile G3 along with connecting with them to  become an authorised installer partner, click the links in the show notes. Longi's Eco Life  series redefines premium residential solar with industry leading efficiency delivering up to 510  watts from just over 2 m squared. An exceptional 250 watts per square meter and a record 27% cell  efficiency and 25% module efficiency. Built on hetro junction and back contact technology,  which moves the electrical contacts to the back of the panel, removing areas that would  previously block sunlight. That's great news for installs with limited roof space. While its sleek  all black design integrates seamlessly into modern rooftops. Engineered for longevity, it withstands  up to 4 meters of snow, hurricane level winds, and carries a class A fire rating. Backed by a  30-year power and materials warranty. This isn't just next generation, it's game changing. You know  where to find the link. That's our electrical news weekly roundup of products or people that  we think deserve some attention. Next time, we're taking care of safety. Now, it's that great moment  where we get to celebrate the sterling work being done by the next generation. Our learner of the  week this week is Sam Ford. Sam's mom, Ronnie, works for Marshall Tufflex. She came to one of  our College Connections road shows hosted by Gary. It must have struck a chord because Sam  did many of the things that Gaz suggested. He's joined LinkedIn and started to showcase the hard  work he's been putting in at East Sussex College Group. Sam highlights some of his practical work  from the college workshop and he's been picking up extra CPD certificates through eFIXX too,  all of which are now proudly featured on his profile. If you think you have any apprenticeship  openings for SAM, especially in the Hastings, Battle, and BexHill areas, please get in touch  with us via the show notes. On EIX News this week, our live stream show eFIXX TV is back with a bang,  and this time we're playing host to Ajax, who are going to be talking about all things fire and  security. They're quietly just changing the game for fire alarm systems, so that's definitely worth  tuning into. We're also hoping that they support their namesake football team from Amsterdam. This  worked so much better as a segue on paper, Ajax. That's because the new football season kicked off  this weekend and with it our new fantasy football league supported by the good folks at TIS Marshall  Tufflex and EV blocks. Our very own SkinEd and Big Deal will be updating us on the first game week as  part of the live stream. If you haven't already signed up, you'll find links in the show notes.  And it's worth being involved as Knipex are giving away a free tool every game week and the ultimate  prize of a fully loaded tool backpack for the season winner. So, if you think you can take on  my team, the mighty Test Leads United, and to be honest, you probably can, then click the link and  let the banter begin. And just before we get to your favourite bit of the show where I reveal last  week's challenge words and winners, we want to thank our premium partners. We couldn't make the  news without you. First up, they're the people who've created the Swiss Army knife of solar  inverters along with all weather batteries. Very much the boy scouts of the solar industry. It's  Sunsynk. Up next, for all your circuit protection needs, they're like having an Italian Star Striker  in your premiership team. It's Lewden Palazzoli with their new award-winning Lumo consumer unit  and offering complete product support from their highly trained team. It's CPN Cudis. And with  over 5,000 product lines from heating, lighting, ventilation to wiring accessories, if you need it,  they've got it. It's electrical distributor CED Group. And the best thing to come out of Yorkshire  since stainless steel, the home of EV Ultra and other groundbreaking and quality products,  it's Doncaster Cables. Click the links in the show notes to find out more about these great brands.  If you think you know the words that I've smuggled into this week's show, pop your guess into the  comments. We'll take all the correct guesses and select one at random to be the winner of an eFIXX  goodie bag prize. Answers submitted after about lunchtime on the Thursday after release will not  be entered into the draw. Now, let's reveal the winners of last week's challenge word competition  as sponsored by Brother. Remember, if you need a label, they've got a printer and so much more.  Click the link in the description to view their incredible range, including this rather lovely  and upgraded E560. Last week's words were cuckoo and Couloir. And as far as I can see, only one  person across all platforms actually got it right, and that was Roy Cadge. The spelling on YouTube's  closed captions was painfully off, but not to worry, Roy. You literally stand alone this week.  Excellent work. Click the get involved link in the show notes to claim your prize. This week, the  recording studio has been powered by our friends over at Consumer Unit World with their 40 years  of online selling experience, high stock levels of great brands like BG, free next working day  delivery on orders over 150 quid, and exceptional customer support. They're worth checking out at  the link in the show notes. Thanks for listening to this episode of Electrical News Weekly. Make  sure you subscribe to receive the next update. Thanks for listening and until next time, have  a great week. Stay safe out there and remember there's no such thing as a torque calibrated arm.