Hi all,
I am being irritated by EDF at present. Last week I phoned them and asked them if they would be supplying a double pole isolator into the meter box between the meter and the consumer unit. They said in my area, Plymouth, it was our responsibility to fit a double pole isolator for the meter engineer to connect his tails to. It was also said that it was expected of us to do this, although I'm aware some actually provide it? So I installed a Wylex dual supply switch
Dual Supply REC Switch
and connected the tails from the consumer unit to the top. I've installed two sets of tails in total, one set for the consumer unit and one set for a future PV installation. Now, seeing as it was expected of us to supply and fit an isolator. I thought it best to fit the Wylex dual supply switch as I have only installed a standard dual rcd consumer unit, not a fancy wylex pv ready board etc. So that at a later date the PV could be added. The meter engineer turned up and threw his toys out the pram saying that the switch was not allowed in the meter box because it was our property. Well that's loverly but they told me to supply and fit a double pole isolator, where else was I supposed to put it.
So having been refused a meter on a brand new build house because the meter engineer didnt like the look of the switch installed. I have been on the phone and email to the EDF technical department. I got a response today saying this
"Most meter operators ask for a means of isolation on the load side of a meter, especially when the meter is installed in an external box, or cupboard. The advantage for the customer is the ability to de-energise there supply, making it safe to work on the consumer unit. Also as double insulated tails are being used, the switch provides a point of responsibility between the supplier and the customer. Looking at the photo, the only thing I noticed is that the isolating device is three phase. Normally the device would be a single phase switch.?"
I've attached the photo. It might look like a three phase switch but Im pretty sure it's not. It's voltage rating is 230v.
I am being irritated by EDF at present. Last week I phoned them and asked them if they would be supplying a double pole isolator into the meter box between the meter and the consumer unit. They said in my area, Plymouth, it was our responsibility to fit a double pole isolator for the meter engineer to connect his tails to. It was also said that it was expected of us to do this, although I'm aware some actually provide it? So I installed a Wylex dual supply switch
Dual Supply REC Switch
and connected the tails from the consumer unit to the top. I've installed two sets of tails in total, one set for the consumer unit and one set for a future PV installation. Now, seeing as it was expected of us to supply and fit an isolator. I thought it best to fit the Wylex dual supply switch as I have only installed a standard dual rcd consumer unit, not a fancy wylex pv ready board etc. So that at a later date the PV could be added. The meter engineer turned up and threw his toys out the pram saying that the switch was not allowed in the meter box because it was our property. Well that's loverly but they told me to supply and fit a double pole isolator, where else was I supposed to put it.
So having been refused a meter on a brand new build house because the meter engineer didnt like the look of the switch installed. I have been on the phone and email to the EDF technical department. I got a response today saying this
"Most meter operators ask for a means of isolation on the load side of a meter, especially when the meter is installed in an external box, or cupboard. The advantage for the customer is the ability to de-energise there supply, making it safe to work on the consumer unit. Also as double insulated tails are being used, the switch provides a point of responsibility between the supplier and the customer. Looking at the photo, the only thing I noticed is that the isolating device is three phase. Normally the device would be a single phase switch.?"
I've attached the photo. It might look like a three phase switch but Im pretty sure it's not. It's voltage rating is 230v.