Week 34, Day 2

Week 34, Day 2:

  • The main event today was the switch-over of the electricity supply from the old overhead cable to the new underground cable, including the removal of the old poles and the renewal of the connections on the transformer pole though not the transformer itself
    • The new installation will support the 32A startup current from the Ground Source Heat Pump and also the 5.4 kWp generation capacity of the solar panels
    • With most of the cable now underground it’s rather less vulnerable to being damaged by weather or farm machinery, and with the poles and their wire stays removed life will be easier for the farm personnel when managing the crops and maintaining the hedges
    • I’m always impressed by the number and specification of the vehicles that Western Power Distribution bring to these sort of jobs – I reckon there were 8 at one point – though I realise these are all required to cater for peaks of work when there is storm or other damage that needs urgent attention and on a normal Tuesday in summer there’s nothing else they need to be working on
  • Alongside all the activity on the electricity supply, work continued as normal inside the house
    • More electrical first-fix, mostly in the open plan area on the ground floor which needs specific cabling for some of the kitchen appliances – notably the induction hob and the ovens
    • Lots more work on the ventilation system, positioning the Paul Novus 450 MVHR unit and starting to connect the ducts and silencers
    • More work on Bedroom 2 (immediately below the Plant Room), installing acoustic insulation in the ceiling and framing out a false wall to hide the ventilation ducts on their way to the Ground Floor
      • There will be acoustic insulation (Knauf Earthwool) in all of the ceiling voids to reduce sound transmission between rooms, but it’s particularly important below the Plant Room because the MVHR and GSHP units are located there
Week 34, Day 2

Week 34, Day 2

Some of the many, many vehicles used for the electric cable swap

Some of the many, many vehicles used for the electric cable swap

Live working on the 11,000 volt line installing new connection points for the transformer

Live working on the 11,000 volt line installing new connection points for the transformer

The completed installation on the transformer pole, much tidier than before

The completed installation on the transformer pole, much tidier than before

Underground cable joint, converting from the 48mm diameter cable to something more sensible for connection to the cut-out

Underground cable joint, converting from the 48mm diameter cable to something more sensible for connection to the cut-out

Paul Novus 450 MVHR unit and some of the duct-work in the Plant Room

Paul Novus 450 MVHR unit and some of the duct-work in the Plant Room

The above photo doesn’t really do the Plant Room justice – the floor area is 5.3m x 4.1m and while the sloping roof (30 degrees) reduces the head height down to zero at the south side there’s 20 square meters of floor space.

Acoustic insulation under the Plant Room floor

Acoustic insulation under the Plant Room floor