Can you install a sub main in a meter box

[tom79bmth]

Just a quick question as title says are you aloud to install a sub main for a house inside the outside meter box, they are meant to be waterproof ??

Thanks

 

[Engineer54]

First off, ....what do you mean by ''Sub-Main'' ??

 

[tom79bmth]

A metal clad box with 100amp double pole switch, with 80 amp fuse which will be in meter box and run to the main consumer unit in swa which is more than a 3 meter run of tails it's about 10 meters away. Hope that makes sense

 

[GLENNSPARK]

rite....so what your really in about is a KMF...as the length of run if the tails is more than 3 meters...

as long as the KMF is accessable then i would say it was OK.....

whats the earthing arrangements and will this `sub` be passing through any insulation...or though any stud walls/buried?

 

[Engineer54]

OK understandy now, lol!!

If you have enough room in the external meter cabinet, there shouldn't be a problem, though you'll need the DNO to connect the switch fuse to their supply.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

OK understandy now, lol!!

If you have enough room in the external meter cabinet, there shouldn't be a problem, though you'll need the DNO to connect the switch fuse to their supply.

nien nien sir!!...

the energy supplier to their metering equipment...

 

[tom79bmth]

Hi thanks for your reply just that DNO guy said your not allowed but what do they know, I have done it a few times in the past when I was apprentice with my old company and couldn't see a problem with it but the dno guy told the customer and the dno I always right in there eyes

It,s a tncs system all earthing is correct

it's not going to be concealed cable but I prefer to run in swa just because of the load rather than use t&e and separate earth

Thanks for your help

 

[Engineer54]

nien nien sir!!...

the energy supplier to their metering equipment...

OK, whoever then!!

I get totally confused with who's responsible for what, since the disappearance of the Regional Electricity Boards, in favour of the private companies... I would have thought the switchfuse was installed ''After'' the meter equipment rather than before??

Besides, a switchfuse should have been provided by the energy supplier if it is/was known at the design stage, that the tails are going to be over 3 metres in length, after all it's their rule. (for want of a better word!!)

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi thanks for your reply just that DNO guy said your not allowed but what do they know, I have done it a few times in the past when I was apprentice with my old company and couldn't see a problem with it but the dno guy told the customer and the dno I always right in there eyes

It,s a tncs system all earthing is correct

it's not going to be concealed cable but I prefer to run in swa just because of the load rather than use t&e and separate earth

Thanks for your help

would you say this was a true statement?

do you think that an SWA negates the use of RCD if the cable was buried within walls etc?

 

[Knobhead]

This is something that baffles me.
The householder pays for the box and the DNO/supply companies think they can dictate what is installed in the box.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

OK, whoever then!!

I get totally confused with who's responsible for what, since the disappearance of the Regional Electricity Boards, in favour of the private companies... I would have thought the switchfuse was installed ''After'' the meter equipment rather than before??

Besides, a switchfuse should have been provided by the energy supplier if it is/was known at the design stage, that the tails are going to be over 3 metres in length, after all it's their rule. (for want of a better word!!)

sorry eng...i couldn`t help it...lol...

to the OP:

just who owns the meter box?...the DNO?

- - - Updated - - -

This is something that baffles me.
The householder pays for the box and the DNO/supply companies think they can dictate what is installed in the box.

exactly....its a farce...

 

[Des 56]

The last one I did,the DNO or meter company or whoever it is in these complicated days
The man installing the gubbins asked me politely if it would be ok for him to move my Kmf a little

I said yes if you must,there's a good lad he was

 

[tom79bmth]

would you say this was a true statement?

do you think that an SWA negates the use of RCD if the cable was buried within walls etc?

Yes if is in the correct zones and is a sub main, or am wrong and why ???

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Yes if is in the correct zones and is a sub main, or am wrong and why ???

lol....the point i was making was that generally an SWA should be the cable of choice..

i was being sarky....

 

[mechelec]

Be warned the meter fitters will look for any excuse not to fit a meter. If you can be on site when they are coming I would be.

 

[tom79bmth]

lol....the point i was making was that generally an SWA should be the cable of choice..

i was being sarky....

Wasn't sure I was just waiting for people to get there guns out shoot me down lol
and it doesn't need to be in zone but good practise I think but thought I would get that in before

 

[7029 dave]

External meter boxes are meant for DNO and metering equipment only, but with micro generation filling up the cabnets with all their bloody stuff get in first, oh and as long as I have space to fit my meter and isolator (if required) supply will be connected.

 

[Des 56]

External meter boxes are meant for DNO and metering equipment only, but with micro generation filling up the cabnets with all their bloody stuff get in first, oh and as long as I have space to fit my meter and isolator (if required) supply will be connected.

Good man,glad to know that there are tradesmen with reason and common sense still wandering the supply network

 

[Rockingit]

Just be nice and pleasant to the meter man, courteous as to how/where you mount it and you won't have a problem.

 

[Guest111]

Years ago the board used to have markings on it for position of cut out,meter etc.

 

[Octopus]

I got this back from EDF a while ago regarding a "tight" internal cupboard:

"I have rang UK power networks to ask what size should be left to locate the meter and there recommendation is that a slot of 35cm high by 30 cm wide which is the size of there standard meter board this will then leave you the extra 20 cm to fit your double pole isolator"

 

[Guest111]

This is something that baffles me.
The householder pays for the box and the DNO/supply companies think they can dictate what is installed in the box.

I think it's a condition of supply that you provide somewhere to house their equipment IIRC it used to state something like "the customer to provide at a mutually agreed location a place for our equipment".

 

[Buckfast]

I have been advised by the DNO on several occasions that the reason for only their equipment in box is this scenario. DNO's main fuse burns out causing damage to meter cupboard and enclosed equipment, or your equipment burns out causing damage to metering equipment. There then could be a chicken and egg situation with no party accepting responsibility ?. By keeping both parts of system separate this cannot happen ?.

 

[Knobhead]

Mutually agreed is reasonable. It just galls me that they think they can dictate what goes where in the householder’s property.

I’ve been caught out twice moving meters and service heads. First time by the meter reader and the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] by a senior engineer. Both times new seals fitted and nothing said.

 

[Buckfast]

About 25 years ago i was working in an old empty property and needed to move meter to allow installation of DB in internal meter cupboard. Removed meter and made dead on saturday night and went back sunday morning to complete. In the mean time someone stole the meter ?. I was F----d up and down dale by DNO but thankfully no further action. Talking to a meter changer a couple of years later and he told me the best one he went to was when some idiot took meter off and it was stolen ?. Had to ask him what sort of an idiot would do that ????.

 

[applemac]

Went to look at a job other day, new granny annexe build in large garden next to six year old new build. The original spark put a kmf in the o/S meter box as the cu was about 10 meters from service head " poor design" dno said rip that out my box! So there's tails run into the building any old how!

 

[mechelec]

If you are concerned about space in existing meterbox why not fit another next to the existing one. You can run tails through to new box and fit your switch fuse isolator and anything else you need for the submain. May not be great if in a particularly visible place but could get you out of trouble.