Dual Rate Meter (E7)

bobbych · Mar 16, 2019

An Elderly friend has had an Economy 7 tariff for many years which was to charge the Old Night Storage heaters which have no gone. The Elec supplier has switched the tariff to a single rate for day and night. the problem is the property has 2 Consumer Units one has power 24/4 and one has no power to it during the day, so I guess it is only powered during the night hours.

He wants the all electrical services to be live 24/7.

The Meter has 2 outputs one to each CU.

So what are the best options?

1.Have the meter replaced for a single output and replace the 2 CUs with one?

2. Have the meter replaced for a single output and share 24/7 live supply via Henley Blocks to provide power to both CUs?

3. Leave the meter as it is and share the 24/7 live supply via Henley Blocks to provide power to both CUs? and disconnect the timed tails from the meter?

I have attached a picture of the meter and a diagram of the wiring.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Dual Rate Meter (E7)

TJ Anderson · Mar 16, 2019

1. This would be the best but most expensive option. Might be really worthwhile if it adds additional protection too.

2. This would be the cheapest but still an effective option.

3. This would not be a good option as:
a) you would not be allowed as you would be cutting the meter seals to remove off peak tails...
b) would leave the off peak meter in place and I assume the tariff which would be detrimental now as they can not benefit from it

bobbych · Mar 16, 2019

TJ Anderson said:
1. This would be the best but most expensive option.

2. This would be the cheapest but still an effective option.

3. This would not be a good option as:
a) you would not be allowed as you would be cutting the meter seals to remove off peak tails...
b) would leave the off peak meter in place and I assume the tariff which would be detrimental now as they can not benefit from it

Thank for the Swift reply. regarding Option 3, the tariff has now been changed. The night rate and day rate are the same so that would not be an issue. Option 3 is still not the best I guess. How about rather than disconnecting the tails from the meter they are just terminated near the CU in a Henley Block. As I said the gent is quite elderly and the property will likely be demolished when he sadly passes. we are trying to look for the cheapest but effective and legal option.

TJ Anderson · Mar 16, 2019

Fair enough, I like that you are keeping costs down for an elderly person.

The meter may not have seals on it.....right? Lol

Would be neater and easier to Henley them together by the meter.

Is it 16mm tails?

TJ Anderson · Mar 16, 2019

Sorry, I can see they are 16mm in your photo

bobbych · Mar 16, 2019

TJ Anderson said:
Fair enough, I like that you are keeping costs down for an elderly person.

The meter may not have seals on it.....right? Lol

Would be neater and easier to Henley them together by the meter.

Is it 16mm tails? Do you know the rating of fuse in the cut out?

yes 16mm tails. The seal is not there to the meter connections.

I dont know the fuse rating.

If the 27/7 live tails near the meter are connected (Via Henley) to both CUs that would work.

snowhead · Mar 16, 2019

If the Off peak supply was for, now redundant, Storage heaters, what's connected to that supply that needs to be On?

bobbych · Mar 16, 2019

snowhead said:
If the Off peak supply was for, now redundant, Storage heaters, what's connected to that supply that needs to be On?

He wants to use the electrical outlets to power wall mounted lamps. ther eis not other electrical outlets nearby.

TJ Anderson · Mar 16, 2019

Yeah, that is pretty common to use old storage heater radials for socket outlets. Will need to ensure 30ma RCD protection in place if not already. Easy though and a few options for that.

Tony Reidy · Apr 29, 2019

bobbych said:
An Elderly friend has had an Economy 7 tariff for many years which was to charge the Old Night Storage heaters which have no gone. The Elec supplier has switched the tariff to a single rate for day and night. the problem is the property has 2 Consumer Units one has power 24/4 and one has no power to it during the day, so I guess it is only powered during the night hours.

He wants the all electrical services to be live 24/7.

The Meter has 2 outputs one to each CU.

So what are the best options?

1.Have the meter replaced for a single output and replace the 2 CUs with one?

2. Have the meter replaced for a single output and share 24/7 live supply via Henley Blocks to provide power to both CUs?

3. Leave the meter as it is and share the 24/7 live supply via Henley Blocks to provide power to both CUs? and disconnect the timed tails from the meter?

I have attached a picture of the meter and a diagram of the wiring.

Thanks for your help in advance.

View attachment 48348

View attachment 48349

Option 3 for me but don't mess with meter put Henley block on tails to night time tariff to isolate them