What's the solution to long meter tails

[LankyWill]

Is this really the best advice you could give? Do you think this is good practice?

The installation is by no means compromised by a long run of tails, as long as its installed correctly its poses no threat. The dno provide means of safe connection through dual pole isolator. Therefore there is no point in connecting a kmf to then loop into dno isloator. This only causes more cost to customer and unnecessary switch gear. The tails are still protected by the 100 or 80a cut out fuse. If using 16te then a 60a fused down via kmf is needed. On an existing installation im not prepared to ring the dno to come out and connect tails that an electrician is perfectly capable of connecting. Some people just over think it.

 

[Leesparkykent]

......

 

[richy3333]

The installation is by no means compromised by a long run of tails, as long as its installed correctly its poses no threat. The dno provide means of safe connection through dual pole isolator. Therefore there is no point in connecting a kmf to then loop into dno isloator. This only causes more cost to customer and unnecessary switch gear. The tails are still protected by the 100 or 80a cut out fuse. If using 16te then a 60a fused down via kmf is needed. On an existing installation im not prepared to ring the dno to come out and connect tails that an electrician is perfectly capable of connecting. Some people just over think it.

Really, glad you're not doing work for me!


I assume the 3m limit is an ESQCR Reg, hence stipulation/enforcement by the DNO

 

[derbylad]

The installation is by no means compromised by a long run of tails, as long as its installed correctly its poses no threat. The dno provide means of safe connection through dual pole isolator. Therefore there is no point in connecting a kmf to then loop into dno isloator. This only causes more cost to customer and unnecessary switch gear. The tails are still protected by the 100 or 80a cut out fuse. If using 16te then a 60a fused down via kmf is needed. On an existing installation im not prepared to ring the dno to come out and connect tails that an electrician is perfectly capable of connecting. Some people just over think it.

Some people dont think it through enough,tails are kept as short as possible for many reasons and you seem to think you know better than the regulations? You must be on a wind up I hope you are!

 

[davesparks]

The installation is by no means compromised by a long run of tails, as long as its installed correctly its poses no threat. The dno provide means of safe connection through dual pole isolator. Therefore there is no point in connecting a kmf to then loop into dno isloator. This only causes more cost to customer and unnecessary switch gear. The tails are still protected by the 100 or 80a cut out fuse. If using 16te then a 60a fused down via kmf is needed. On an existing installation im not prepared to ring the dno to come out and connect tails that an electrician is perfectly capable of connecting. Some people just over think it.

Just when you thought this forum couldn't get any worse!

The DNO stipulate a maximum length of the tails, for ukpn it is 4m but others will have different specs, most are 3m.

 

[LankyWill]

Just when you thought this forum couldn't get any worse!

The DNO stipulate a maximum length of the tails, for ukpn it is 4m but others will have different specs, most are 3m.

okay dave picture this, you go to wire in an new build property. The customer and architect have specified where they want the consumer unit to be. To your bewildered surprise they want it more than 3m away from meter box oh no! you scream. You have spoken to the architect and he stipulates then consumer unit must go there. You run the tails to the meter box and leave the fix. Upon 2nd fix and power up your see that a cutout and meter(with isolator) has already been installed. You connect in to it and live happily ever after. Forget the regs for a moment and just think is it necessary to install a kmf- what does this actually achieve? ive had situations where there is no space in the meter box to install a kmf due to eons- trilliant system.

 

[LankyWill]

Some people dont think it through enough,tails are kept as short as possible for many reasons and you seem to think you know better than the regulations? You must be on a wind up I hope you are!

name a reason why they have to be short.

 

[7029 dave]

This is the trouble with self connect meters. You just can not police it, have seen 25mm tails& earth in copex on outside wall in meter box, running out at least 20 meters to cu. Saw this over an year later when fitted meter year previous.

 

[richy3333]

okay dave picture this, you go to wire in an new build property. The customer and architect have specified where they want the consumer unit to be. To your bewildered surprise they want it more than 3m away from meter box oh no! you scream. You have spoken to the architect and he stipulates then consumer unit must go there. You run the tails to the meter box and leave the fix. Upon 2nd fix and power up your see that a cutout and meter(with isolator) has already been installed. You connect in to it and live happily ever after. Forget the regs for a moment and just think is it necessary to install a kmf- what does this actually achieve? ive had situations where there is no space in the meter box to install a kmf due to eons- trilliant system.

Since when did architects have the right to dictate electrical Regs. If they want the CU more than 3m from the cut out, fine but do the job properly else not at all! If they tried to force your scenario on me I'd walk away. Some of us have pride in our work and like to sleep soundly a night.

 

[LankyWill]

Since when did architects have the right to dictate electrical Regs. If they want the CU more than 3m from the cut out, fine but do the job properly else not at all! If they tried to force your scenario on me I'd walk away. Some of us have pride in our work and like to sleep soundly a night.

I sleep very well at night thanks like a baby due to the fact i done dither and fret about minor things. plus im not in the position to refuse work over minor design issues. Were electricians and should be able to adapt to small issues regarding meter tails length. You seem to think the rest of my install would be terrible due to long meter tails? I'll have you know i have won awards for pride in the job by the NHBC. Sometimes you just have to overlook and interpret some regs in order to get the job done. A simple risk calc covers this.

 

[richy3333]

I sleep very well at night thanks like a baby due to the fact i done dither and fret about minor things. plus im not in the position to refuse work over minor design issues. Were electricians and should be able to adapt to small issues regarding meter tails length. You seem to think the rest of my install would be terrible due to long meter tails? I'll have you know i have won awards for pride in the job by the NHBC. Sometimes you just have to overlook and interpret some regs in order to get the job done. A simple risk calc covers this.

Sometimes when you're in the minority with your views it has to tell you something? Possibly that you ain't right and are in the minority? I have no idea of the quality of you installs (I've never seen one) but, if you can't get the basics right it, it does raise doubts about the rest of your work. If, (and I'd need to check) the meter tails length is stipulated in ESQCR then there is no 'wriggle room'. It's a SI and you have to follow it. It's not BS7671.

Congratulations on the NHBC award, although I'm not sure how pride is linked to quality of workmanship and/or safety? Anyone can polish a turd and as the saying goes, pride normally comes before a fall. Incidentally I have my infants school 10 lengths swimming badge but don't harp on about that. I very much doubt in a court you could use that as an argument for not protecting long tails? - 'Yes your honour I know that the DNO specified protection for meter tails over 3m, but hey, I thought better. I do have an NHBC pride award you know'!

I learnt long ago not to argue with a fool. That's me done on this thread. Perhaps you should consider jogging on also?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Sometimes when you're in the minority with your views it has to tell you something? Possibly that you ain't right and are in the minority? I have no idea of the quality of you installs (I've never seen one) but, if you can't get the basics right it, it does raise doubts about the rest of your work. If, (and I'd need to check) the meter tails length is stipulated in ESQCR then there is no 'wriggle room'. It's a SI and you have to follow it. It's not BS7671.

Congratulations on the NHBC award, although I'm not sure how pride is linked to quality of workmanship and/or safety? Anyone can polish a turd and as the saying goes, pride normally comes before a fall. Incidentally I have my infants school 10 lengths swimming badge but don't harp on about that. I very much doubt in a court you could use that as an argument for not protecting long tails? - 'Yes your honour I know that the DNO specified protection for meter tails over 3m, but hey, I thought better. I do have an NHBC pride award you know'!

I learnt long ago not to argue with a fool. That's me done on this thread. Perhaps you should consider jogging on also?

You can't polish a turd but you can smother it in glitter! Lol

 

[derbylad]

name a reason why they have to be short.

2 good reasons....
1. The DNO stipulate a limit and if they wanted to they could remove the supply so you can blank the regs all you like it wont matter what you think...
2. Volt drop.

 

[Dave OCD]

Well although I'm fully in agreement with the majority here I can't see how the installation of a switch fuse will have any bearing on volt drop.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Could you interpret 433.2.2 as having any bearing on the length of meter tails from the cutout to the CCU?