Tail lengths ?

[jonthesparks]

Ive got a job to move the CU from above the sink , yep its above the sink of all places , only cos the meter cupboard (external) is outside the kitchen .any way , my options are limited to adaptable box and then fishing 4 circuits across the ceiling to the opposite side of the kitchen , what about the tails , I'm uncertain as to the most correct way of extending them .at the moment there are 16mm tails fromthe 80A cutout to the meter then from the meter in conduit through the wall to the wylex CU above the sink . from the CU to the proposed new location is about 4-5 metres across the kitchen ceiling . any suggestions ?

 

[Dan23584]

Can you not pull in new 25mm2 tails from the meter to the CU.

 

[jonthesparks]

that could be an option but what about long tails needing overcurrent protection ?is there a limit to the length of tails? , taking into account the resistance per metre there is an ultimate limit

 

[Dan23584]

Install a switch fuse in the meter cupboard.

 

[johnboy6083]

Tails can be 3m before they need overcurrent protection. This also applies to tails in switchgear from the main busbar.

 

[JamesBrownLive]

Install a switch fuse in the meter cupboard.

The DNO is not gonna like that one little bit. I hear they get real tetchy about stuff being put in meter cupboards.

 

[Dan23584]

The DNO is not gonna like that one little bit. I hear they get real tetchy about stuff being put in meter cupboards.

I have never had a problem with that in my area?

Although here there are a lot of consumer units in meter cupboards too.......original installs in the 70s< though. I have moved a few and installed a switch fuse where the cu was, maybe because there was switch gear in there before they don't mind so much.

I suppose you could just install it as close to the meter cupboard as possible if its going to be a problem.