Moving Generation Meters From Loft

[DaveTidy]

I am looking to move a major amount of generation meters fitted on boards in the roofspace which are difficult for the meter reader to read.

First off I guess I would appreciate some help as regards what is entailed in moving the meter to a position alongside the consumer unit and how to make good it's original position.

Can one qualified person carry this out? What quals would I need to search for and are any test certs required after.

This may be a national project so who would be best to go to that already carry this out?

Enough for now I'm sure but I would appreciate some steer on this as I will also need to cost an average cost as a ball park figure (although I know it would be SOR) but it would give us a steer.

Can't say how many we have to move but it is a very large project if we go ahead and possibly one company if National (if we don't split it).

 

[Meggerman]

You need a qualified electrician familiar with PV installations. Unfortunatly, lots of this went on in the PV boom with TG meters ending up in lofts with a Sub DB next to it. You will need to remove SUB and Meter from loft and just have a single rotary isolator up there near inverter. You need to ensure it is a dedicated radial and not on a shared RCD way. It goes DB -TG Meter - MAIN AC ISO - LOCAL INV AC ISO - INV.

 

[shanky887614]

im suprised they put meter in loft, the supply goes to the main ccu anyway so why not place meter there

 

[Worcester]

And don't forget that the meter goes in the "wrong" way round

 

[Meggerman]

im suprised they put meter in loft, the supply goes to the main ccu anyway so why not place meter there

It is because there is sometimes not room for Meter and Rotary AC Isolator to go next to main CU and easier to take sub circuit to elsewhere.

 

[shanky887614]

It is because there is sometimes not room for Meter and Rotary AC Isolator to go next to main CU and easier to take sub circuit to elsewhere.

rotary isolator up in loft before inverter and no need next to ccu as there is means to safely lock off and isolate there

 

[DaveTidy]

Thanks for the replies gents.

I'm told it was easier to get a seperate company to make the boards up with cheaper labour then get them installed in one go.

Although MCS guidance states that:

4. Position of meter
The meter shall be fitted to a vertical surface and be placed in a position so that the
register can easily be read by the customer without requiring the use of any
equipment such as tools, ladders or a torch. Ideally the meter should be positioned
adjacent to the consumer unit.

This doesn't seem to have been followed but never the less it's there.

I've been told that it also contravenes building regs but I've yet to find the info.

As most of the houses have 10 inches of lagging it's now a health and safety issue to read them!!

 

[DaveTidy]

im suprised they put meter in loft, the supply goes to the main ccu anyway so why not place meter there

I thought it wasn't allowed in the loft according to MCS guidance:

4. Position of meter
The meter shall be fitted to a vertical surface and be placed in a position so that the
register can easily be read by the customer without requiring the use of any
equipment such as tools, ladders or a torch. Ideally the meter should be positioned
adjacent to the consumer unit.

I was also told it was contrary to building regs although I haven't found the passage yet?

 

[Meggerman]

rotary isolator up in loft before inverter and no need next to ccu as there is means to safely lock off and isolate there

Nope Im afraid. You must have lockable AC isolator by a distribution board hence why they put sub CU's in the lofts to comply with that rule.

 

[shanky887614]

Nope Im afraid. You must have lockable AC isolator by a distribution board hence why they put sub CU's in the lofts to comply with that rule.

lock off kit for mcb, surely that is acceptable.

 

[Meggerman]

lock off kit for mcb, surely that is acceptable.

Double Pole Isolation

 

[Worcester]

rotary isolator up in loft before inverter and no need next to ccu as there is means to safely lock off and isolate there

No need for a rotary isolator next to ccu since the "new" PV Guide, unless DNO want one. (actually there never was, it was just how the old "guide" interpreted G83/1)

One is needed next to inverter in any case.

 

[shanky887614]

Double Pole Isolation

can be satisfied with a dp mcb/rcbo

 

[Gavin A]

the majority will also be wired in 2.5mm2 when it should be 6mm2 to keep the volt drop acceptable (max 1%). Worth offering to replace that at the same time or at least recommending it gets done to the customer.

 

[Gavin A]

can be satisfied with a dp mcb/rcbo

or RCD. Most of ours have been done with garage units, with the rcd as the double pole isolator from the tails.

 

[The Solar King]

Yep. Wording was changed in new edition of MCS/ECA guide to securable off from lockable off, so you can use a DIN rail mounted device as long as it has a pin slot across the front of it. Note, if RCBO, most be dual pole.