Need an opinion on this meter set up.

DNS1 · Apr 20, 2014

Hi chaps, been a while, hope I've not missed much!

Did a preliminary visual check today on an installation so I could quote for a board upgrade.

House is a 1900s semi with a cellar and was re-wired about 20 years ago so all cabling is sound, but it's a bit of a mess of 15th/16th edition equipment. It's TN-S and the head seems to serve the house next door(cable disappears through the party wall).

Odd thing is, as you'll see from the pics below, the neutral to the main isolator seems to bypass the (newish) meter.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Need an opinion on this meter set up.

The line and neutral from the head go into the meter (the neutral goes via a block which splits to next-door as well as the isolator) but coming out are only the line to the isolator, and a neutral which feeds a small fuse box which covers the cellar circuits.

Anyone got any suggestions as to how to tackle this one?!

Problem for the supplier as they're not providing a decent set of tails from the meter to the isolator (and are also apparently supplying next door with a supply neutral which goes via an insecure, taped up terminal block?!)

Knobhead · Apr 20, 2014

And what have the DNO said about it?

It's not your problem.

Pete999 · Apr 20, 2014

Tony said:
And what have the DNO said about it?

It's not your problem.

Yep not your worry.

Richard Burns · Apr 20, 2014

If you are doing a board change then you can feed your new supply from the outgoing side of the meter and let the DNO deal with the rest (if they are interested).

yellowvanman · Apr 20, 2014

It's my understanding that the meter only neeeds a neutral to work (like any other electrical equipment), it can work out the power consumed from the line voltage and current!

7029 dave · Apr 20, 2014

Is the E7 still required?, looking at that teli switch, there is no switched load, ie not feeding any storage heating etc. Maybe worth getting the energy supplier to remove E7, and changing to general domestic, and while their at it put in an self connect meter or dp isolator for you.

DNS1 · Apr 20, 2014

Tony said:
And what have the DNO said about it?

It's not your problem.

Not asked DNO yet, but will do before I start the work.

Even though it's not really my business, I don't like the idea of feeding the tails to my new board while knowing the run before the isolator looks a bit ropey!

I'll see what the customer thinks about just getting DNO out to remove the old teleswitch and point out the other stuff when they're there. I'd hope that they wouldn't leave without spending two minutes sorting out the neutral, but you never know...

davesparks · Apr 20, 2014

Wtf? Phone the DNO and report their equipment as being in poor condition.
You are in a position of responsibility now as you know it isn't right and have yet to do anything about it.