Smart meter install failed

[jcs8215248]

I had arranged for a Smart Meter to be installed today. It would not fit due to the size of the isolation switch currently fitted. See photo of the inside of the meter box located outside.

Is it necessary to fit such a large fused isolation switch? The SWA cable at the bottom runs to a consumer unit in the house.

How much should it cost to change the switch to a smaller model?

The DNO fuse was changed from 60 amp to 100 amp last year when I realised my new induction hob could overload the incoming supply.

 

[Andy78]

I doubt you would have overloaded the 60A fuse due to getting a new hob. What size fuse is in the fused isolator ?
You could probably get a slightly smaller fused isolator fitted if you really really wanted a smart meter, but there doesn't look to be much wrong with your current one.

 

[telectrix]

difficult t o see but is the IP rating round those tails IP44 and sufficient cable restraint? looks like they're loose in a bush.

 

[snowhead]

I see 2 solutions.

1, Get a Smarter Meter installer.
2, Have the grey tails plus earth, moved so they come out of the bottom of the isolator. And blank the old hole off.
Also possibly drop the isolator down slightly if it will go.

The problem would appear to be not enough room to turn the Isolator tails up into the new Smart Meter.

 

[jcs8215248]

I doubt you would have overloaded the 60A fuse due to getting a new hob. What size fuse is in the fused isolator ?
You could probably get a slightly smaller fused isolator fitted if you really really wanted a smart meter, but there doesn't look to be much wrong with your current one.

The Isolator is rated at 100 amp. I have not taken the fuse out to see what is fitted.

There is nothing wrong with the isolator but it prevents the smart meter from being fitted as it is much bigger than the existing meter. The isolator box is 31cm high and 18.5 cm wide which seems excessive.

It is just possible that this box was fitted when the previous occupant had an electric vehicle charging point added. I have not worked out how the charging point is wired. It is just possible that this isolation switch only feeds the charging point and not the main consumer unit. I have not had the opportunity of looking into the main consumer unit.

There is a 4 way consumer unit in the garage that I believe is fed from a 30 amp breaker in the main consumer unit in the house. This feeds the central heating and lighting and two power sockets in the garage. There is a car charging switch/RCD immediately below this consumer unit.

I have not used the car charging point and it has been switched off since we moved in 3 years ago. The previous owners did have an electric car.

I had the supply fuse changed free of charge by the DNO. It was more of a precaution than a demonstrated need but with two ovens, induction hob, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble drier as well as standard domestic services I thought that, even with diversity it was getting close to the limit.
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I see 2 solutions.

1, Get a Smarter Meter installer.
2, Have the grey tails plus earth, moved so they come out of the bottom of the isolator. And blank the old hole off.
Also possibly drop the isolator down slightly if it will go.

The problem would appear to be not enough room to turn the Isolator tails up into the new Smart Meter.

The Smart Meter installer arrived this afternoon and immediately said it would not fit. He showed me and it was too large overlapping the isolation switch by at least 5 cm. Moving the tails does not give nearly enough space.

The space at the bottom of the isolation switch is about 1 cm to the meter box so no chance of moving it sown.

 

[telectrix]

from that description, i would think that the SWA coming out of that isolator feeds your house CU, probably> 3m run. and then house CU feeds garage CU. it also would appear that the EV charger is fed from the garage CU, which, being itself fed from a 30A MCB, does not seem ideal. however, bear in ming that above is guestimate based on you post/s and may be way off the mark. I'd be inclined to get a local electrician to advise on the situation. smaller isolators are available .

Click DB701 80A Fused Main Switch (KMF)

Scolmore DB701 80A SP Lockable Switch Fuse

www.etcelectrical.co.uk

bear in mind that you'd need a to add some 2" x 2" trunking below that to make off the SWA.

 

[PEG]

I would consider it a near miss,like when you miss your train....and it then de-rails?

I know many,many people,who are now stuck with contracts,issues and limited options for change or additions,who would have paid handsomely for insufficient room in their box...

 

[telectrix]

agree with Peg. why do you want a spy in the box?

 

[jcs8215248]

Update:

After discussing this with NPower they have agreed to visit again (in two weeks) to replace the isolation switch with a smaller one free of charge. Why the smart meter installer could not have done it on this visit I don't know, he had one on his van and showed it to me.

Once this has been changed I then have to book another appointment to have the smart meter installed. The further interesting factor is that my current tariff comes to an end on 30 November so I will be looking for the best supplier. Eon is a lot cheaper (best buy when I looked two days ago) than NPower (and is better than most of the other suppliers) so I will be initiating a switch quite soon!
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from that description, i would think that the SWA coming out of that isolator feeds your house CU, probably> 3m run. and then house CU feeds garage CU. it also would appear that the EV charger is fed from the garage CU, which, being itself fed from a 30A MCB, does not seem ideal. however, bear in ming that above is guestimate based on you post/s and may be way off the mark. I'd be inclined to get a local electrician to advise on the situation. smaller isolators are available .

Click DB701 80A Fused Main Switch (KMF)

Scolmore DB701 80A SP Lockable Switch Fuse

www.etcelectrical.co.uk

bear in mind that you'd need a to add some 2" x 2" trunking below that to make off the SWA.

The SWA comes down the outside wall and enters the meter box and then straight into the isolation switch - no trunking. I have said in another reply that NPower are coming to replace the isolation switch in two weeks free of charge.

I have been trying (not too actively) to get an EICR done on the property. I have had two electricians in for other work but they avoided quoting me for this task. I have yet another one coming in a month and will try again. I have found a few things I was not happy about (e.g. metal switch plates in the kitchen without earth wires, now rectified) but there may be more. I do have all of the certificates but I now suspect that the previous owner did a few changes himself.

 

[snowhead]

I have a friend who moved into a house with a version 1 smart meter fitted by EON.

He's changed suppliers a few times and has had 2 version 2 Smart meters fitted, as not all suppliers can read all Smart meters, despite what was said.
Along the way he's also had to do manula readings rather then the supplier change the meter.

 

[telectrix]

The SWA comes down the outside wall and enters the meter box and then straight into the isolation switch - no trunking.

that's because you can gland SWA into the existing isolator. you can't do that with a KMF.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

That Wylex unit is rather a nice isolator, many suppliers nowadays will fit you a £5 plastic Proteus device and charge you several hundred pounds for the privilege.

 

[ipf]

from that description, i would think that the SWA coming out of that isolator feeds your house CU, probably> 3m run.

First thing I thought, tel...….how far to the DB, swa replacing tails, fused switch as a result. If that's the case it's needed.....and why change to a fart meter?

 

[shaun1]

The device you have is a fused isolator, and is likely required to protect the SWA to the CU. It is almost certainly not the reeponsibilty of either the DNO or supplier, and so you may find that they charge you to replace it if they are even able to do so.

The supplier may supply and fit an isolator as part of their remit, but this probably is not a suitable replacement as therr will be no protection for the cable.

 

[jcs8215248]

The device you have is a fused isolator, and is likely required to protect the SWA to the CU. It is almost certainly not the reeponsibilty of either the DNO or supplier, and so you may find that they charge you to replace it if they are even able to do so.

The supplier may supply and fit an isolator as part of their remit, but this probably is not a suitable replacement as therr will be no protection for the cable.

NPower have arranged a date to replace the isolator free of charge.

I note the comments about the fuse protecting the cable. Is this required by the regulations?

The SWA leaves the meter box at the bottom and then runs up the outside wall to the ceiling level (it is a bungalow) and through the loft to the consumer unit located in the hall cupboard in the centre of the property. This distance is well over 3 metres, probably nearer 10-15 metres. The meter box probably dates to 1981 when the property was built. The isolator was probably fitted when an extension was added about 6-7 years ago and the consumer unit fitted.