Meter Tails, recessed box

[dward49]

Hi all,

Waiting for a bashing here, but it's something I haven't had to do until now so looking for advice on the best way to approach this.

I've been asked to replace a consumer unit for a customer but the existing meter box is recessed in the exterior wall - not uncommon I know, but not something I've yet crossed.

What is the best way to get the new tails through the box and into the building - without ripping the box out of the wall to fish them up.

I'm concerned it's not a direct run, they drop down through the box then go across about a meter and pop out inside. I'm concerned about damaging the new tails on the rough walls if I was to use the existing ones to pull through with.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Dave

 

[James]

Create a good size entry hole in to the cavity
Slide a piece of flexible conduit down the length of one existing tail until it reaches the meter box.

If the tails have been taped together, you will have to slide it over all the cores.

You can then use the original cable to pull through a draw wire or new tails directly without the possibility of damage due to sharp bricks etc.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Create a good size entry hole in to the cavity
Slide a piece of flexible conduit down the length of one existing tail until it reaches the meter box.

If the tails have been taped together, you will have to slide it over all the cores.

You can then use the original cable to pull through a draw wire or new tails directly without the possibility of damage due to sharp bricks etc.

That’s a great tip. ?

 

[telectrix]

any reason not to re-use the existing tails?

 

[Wilko]

Hi - have you been able to eyeball the existing run? If possible I’d have a close look, both to review condition as per @telectrix thought and also they may not go where you first think. Many are installed all the way through the wall, sharply bent and travel on the inside wall in plaster / dot dab. This usually makes the circuit non compliant with less than 50mm, no mechanical protection and no RCD at source.

 

[dward49]

Create a good size entry hole in to the cavity
Slide a piece of flexible conduit down the length of one existing tail until it reaches the meter box.

If the tails have been taped together, you will have to slide it over all the cores.

You can then use the original cable to pull through a draw wire or new tails directly without the possibility of damage due to sharp bricks etc.

@James That's a great idea and definitely wouldn't have thought about that. I'll give it a try!

@telectrix it's an old council house and the tails are undersized unfortunately

@Wilko , it's an old build, meter box recessed in cavity, they definitely run within it then pop out through the clinker block and skim, so.will.be more than 50mm, but the wall is crumbling everywhere!

Thanks guys

 

[buzzlightyear]

@telectrix it's an old council house and the tails are undersized unfortunately

What size are they now.

 

[dward49]

What size are they now.

Hi @buzzlightyear they're 16mm tails on a tncs, but the cutout fuse is 100a (I have confirmed the cutout size), if it was a 60 or 80, I would have consider reusing.

 

[buzzlightyear]

they're 16mm tails on a tncs, but the cutout fuse is 100a (I have confirmed the cutout size), if it was a 60 or 80, I would have consider reusing.

On 16mm are good for 87 amps.

 

[Ian1981]

Will the existing load exceed the ccc of the existing tails?
If not and as long as the tails have adequate fault protection then they are fine.
Your council tho may specify 25mm 2 tails so I’d check with them, if they do then fair enough, replace them.

 

[Strima]

If RCD protection is not required then it might be easier to fuse down the tails to 63 amp.

 

[dward49]

Thanks for your responses all, I'm going to go ahead with increasing the tail size as I know the customer wants to get himself an electric car at some point and the if they're upgraded now, it will save any hassle down the line.

On another note, just while I've got you, what the hell is going on here (this is a different property, TT):

Without opening the covers, I'm presuming the neutral has been joined to the outed core of the line cable?

 

[James]

I think a call to the dno is in order there.
Shoddy at best.