New supply

[jonA]

Dear experts !

I'd appreciate some advice

I am converting an agricultural shed to a small studio-type home. The building is about 50m away from the overhead supply.

I have built a blockwork wall about half way into the site into which I have fitted a flush meter box. This is a permanent structure and not a TBS. EdF have [finally] agreed to connect to it and will be doing so on Friday. I have run their cable to the meter box through a trench duct. They will connect one end to the overhead supply and terminate the other end at a 100Amp cut out in the meter box.

The meter is scheduled to be fitted on Monday and I must have the wiring complete and certified by then.

My wish was to put a 2 way consumer unit in the meterbox. One of them would be used straightaway to feed a waterproof surface mounted 13 Amp power socket via a 16Amp RCBO. The spare will eventually be used to feed a sub-main to a CU in the house.

I have discussed this with a number of electricians and am a bit confused as to what is required and what I can realistically expect the supplier to connect their meter to.

I'd be grateful for advice as follows:

1. Will the 100Amp main shut off have an isolating switch that would allow me to shut off the supply? If not the consumer unit will be permanently live so I won't be able to fiddle 'downstream'.

2. I'm told the electricity supplier won't allow me to fit a consumer unit and possible isolating switch in my meter box. Is this really the case? Trouble is there is nowhere else to put it.

3. The supply is 'PME' whatever that means. My electrician says that the supplier won't provide an earth and that an earth rod is required until the house is finally connected. He thinks all I want is a TBS which is really not the case - it could be that all I ever connect is this one damn 13 Amp power socket!

4. What sort of budget should I allow for my electrician to basically just supply and fit the consumer unit, meter tails, earth rod and a 13Amp waterproof socket?

Once again I'd be very grateful for some expert advice.

Thankyou

JonA

 

[Andyfm]

1. In most cases for new builds now they will fit a main switch ( or they do round here)
2. Use a waterproof consumer unit outside their meter box, which may need protection from extreme weather or fit an additional meter box and fit a normal consumer unit in there
3. They will not normally provide an earth connection until installation is complete, so yes you do have to fit a rod at present
4. Materials will cost about £60 plus his labour

 

[jonA]

Many thanks for your quick reply !

1. 'They' being the electricity supplier? Would they fit it after the meter? If so, I can move the CU around without calling them back which is what I want to be able to do.

2. Yes, I can see how that would work but I want to keep everything neat and tidy and compact - its a new instalation! If they fit the isolator switch then I guess I can always move things around after they've gone

3. The thing is, it could be that I get no further with the house and all that is connected is the one 13Amp socket. What do you think? - might they provide an earth on this basis?

4. Thanks - that seems fair enough and I've been quoted in the £180-250+VAT range.



Why couln't you be in Kent ??!!

Cheers

JonA

 

[jonA]

Also, is there any need for the electrician to come back to test the power circuit once the connection is made and the circuit can be powered up?

 

[High Tower]

Also, is there any need for the electrician to come back to test the power circuit once the connection is made and the circuit can be powered up?

Without Doubt, he will be the one that has to commision and energise any new circuits and test readings recorded for the purposes of the EIC

 

[jonA]

Thanks High Tower

The electricity supplier will not fit the meter without seeing an EIC first so somehow the circuit must be tested and certified without being energised.

 

[High Tower]

Dead tests only mate, DNO's will sometimes accept the tails to CU being IR tested but whatevr happens the dead tests for the connection certificate and then complete live tests while commisioning circuits once DNO have energised Cut out