Supply to apartments

Planning · Sep 6, 2019

Hi all,

Seeking some general advice. I’m planning to split a property in 5 apartments with their own fuseboxes and supply meters.

However if i chose to revert the property back to run off one meter what would be the best way of doing this? I was thinking a main distribution box that supplies all 5 meters but for there to be a ‘splitter’ placed after the first meter so that if i needed to revert back to a single meter i can have the other 4 meters removed and the supply to the 4 fuseboxes plugged into the ‘splitter’ to run through the one meter.

I am not an electrician and of course would only use a professional to install. However i cannot get my mind around how this would work or if it is even possible. Any expert advice would be much appreciated.

Dave

Leesparkykent · Sep 6, 2019

For flats and metering you have to follow your DNO’s guidance as building network operator. This normally means a single point of isolation, a Ryefield board or similar, then the meters, from meter to a switch fuse and a SWA run to each flat.

Planning · Sep 6, 2019

Thankyou for the reply. If such a conversion was done with 5 separate fuse boxes and there was a need to revert to a single meter - what would be the best method to link the supply wires of the other 4 fuse boxes to a single meter? (Other than to remove all the fuse boxes and wire up to the one)?

I’m just exploring how to build in the flexibility early on so i’m able to tell an electrician how i want things. Thanks

Pete999 · Sep 6, 2019

Planning said:
Thankyou for the reply. If such a conversion was done with 5 separate fuse boxes and there was a need to revert to a single meter - what would be the best method to link the supply wires of the other 4 fuse boxes to a single meter? (Other than to remove all the fuse boxes and wire up to the one)?

I’m just exploring how to build in the flexibility early on so i’m able to tell an electrician how i want things. Thanks

Tell the electrician what you would like and leave it to someone who knows what they are doing to come up with a solution, rather than telling someone how to do a job you obviously know very little about.

Planning · Sep 6, 2019

Leesparkykent said:
For flats and metering you have to follow your DNO’s guidance as building network operator. This normally means a single point of isolation, a Ryefield board or similar, then the meters, from meter to a switch fuse and a SWA run to each flat.

I think 2 ryfield boxes would solve the problem.

Pete999 said:
Tell the electrician what you would like and leave it to someone who knows what they are doing to come up with a solution, rather than telling someone how to do a job you obviously know very little about.

i deal a lot with trades people on renovations. If i dont put my foot down with what i need to be done, corners get cut, the easy option is put in place and i’m left to sort it out. The good ones are great but i always try to learn enough to at least know the basics.

Anyway I appreciate you taking the time to point me in the right direction.

Leesparkykent · Sep 6, 2019

Why would you install 2? I think you would be best engaging the services of an electrician.

Spoon · Sep 6, 2019

Planning said:
i deal a lot with trades people on renovations. If i dont put my foot down with what i need to be done, corners get cut, the easy option is put in place and i’m left to sort it out. The good ones are great but i always try to learn enough to at least know the basics.

You could always discuss what you want with the electricians and then get them to do a detailed quote. That way you are covered if they try and cut corners.

dmxtothemax · Sep 7, 2019

use a small sub board,
say six breakers
One for each unit
easy as

Leesparkykent · Sep 7, 2019

Doesn’t sound any good to me. 6 flats running from a small board with 6 breakers. For one the board is probably going to be 100A and 2 how would you achieve selectivity and 3 how would you incorporate the meter tails to each flat from this board?

dmxtothemax · Sep 8, 2019

you have not yet mentioned the amp capacity of the units or the supply,
But if you dont use the buss in the panel, instead hard wiring,
this would allow greater amperage and the flexability to loop off for the meters.
Not sure what you mean "selectivity"