Fuseboard in external meter cupboard

dawsirn · Sep 18, 2013

I was doing a job for a landlord at his tenants house and was aked to have a look at the fuseboard whilst im there to as he wants it changing.
Asked the tenant where the board was and he said it was in the external meter cupboard. I thought he was a bit mistaken by what i meant but it actually was! (photo attached hopefully)

never seen it before, didn't even think it was allowed being DNO property. Where do think i stand when it comes to actually replacing it? am i allowed to change it or does it have to be moved?

that other 2 way DB is supplying to electric showers incase anyone is wondering.

snowhead · Sep 18, 2013

The meter cupboard belongs to the customer not the DNO.

telectrix · Sep 18, 2013

this was done on a lot of houses back in 70's-80's. i'd sat that the old wylex was original and the newlec has been added. i'd get all the cables up to the newlec CU and then replace that with a bigger unit.

itselectric · Sep 18, 2013

So what happened with inconvenience if a fuse/mcb tripped. A walk outside to reset it.
Would leaving it there comply.

dan86 · Sep 18, 2013

itselectric said:
So what happened with inconvenience if a fuse/mcb tripped. A walk outside to reset it.
Would leaving it there comply.

No reason a consumer unit can't be outside providing its adequately housed

Octopus · Sep 18, 2013

snowhead said:
The meter cupboard belongs to the customer not the DNO.

Are you sure. I was under the impression that whilst the cupboard may be "yours" the DNO can dictate what goes where!

SPARTYKUS · Sep 18, 2013

As above. JFDI. As is above in Tels post. Murdoch may be correct but the chance of anyone actually caring let alone doing something is 2/3rds of three eighths of FA.

dawsirn · Sep 18, 2013

Ah right, i always assumed it was all DNO property.

Seems like a crap place to have it.
If it is alright to fit a new board in there then i was going to get rid of that other 2way board and put the shower circuits into a new bigger one.

ChrisElectrical88 · Sep 18, 2013

I used to live in a rented propertie where the board was in the meter cupboard outside. Main RCD switch tripped on night. What a twt that was! I don't think it's against any regs to leave it where it is but my opinion would be to find where the cables go through and pull them back into the house and fit the board there, unless they come out in the shower!

ash_s3 · Sep 18, 2013

With any luck, all the cables go up the cavity so you could possibly fish them out the other side of the wall (inside) at bit higher up and site the new CU there, just extending the tails to suit.
At least you'll have plenty on the cables so no need for any crimps/wagos to join them out!

SPARTYKUS · Sep 18, 2013

Yep its a STOOPID place to site it. Best moved.

Guest55 · Sep 18, 2013

and yet its been in the cupboard for decades with no problems..........

so were going to move it because we dont like the look of it ?

pfft , leave it be.

7029 dave · Sep 18, 2013

The dno like only cutout metering and isolator in meter cupboard,if its in insitu which it is, not a problem,as stated best to move it. Just some advice cu's can be fitted outside provided they are put in additional Ip44 box adjacent meter box.