Converting 2 houses into 1 - which supply to retain?

[SJD]

I have a customer who has 2 supplies, due to the property (4-bedroom house) originally having been 2 separate houses (1-bed, 3-bed), now joined with internal doorway downstairs. Both properties have old Wylex fuse boards (5 ways in use in each), intent is to replace both of these with one modern consumer unit at one location from one supply. Once that is complete, the customer wants to have the unused supply disconnected.

One supply (the 3-bed) is outside the property at the front, accessible via an external meter cupboard. The Wylex DB is inside the rather cramped meter cupboard. It is not so convenient to retain.

The other supply (the 1-bed) is inside the house, mid-way on the wall adjoining the other house, and a lot more convenient to use both because there is lots of space for a new CU, and easier to get to from the other house.

Both supplies are TN-S, with 60A fuses. There are no electric showers, a gas hob, but an electric oven. Probably 60A will be sufficient for the combined property.

If the customer asks the DNO (SSE) to disconnect one supply, will they care that they are disconnecting the one with outside access, and leaving the one with internal meter access only? Do they have any say in these things, or can the customer just specify which one to keep?

 

[ImpededLoop]

I can't see any reason why the customer can't specify which MPAN they want disconnecting.

 

[Prat P]

I have a customer who has 2 supplies, due to the property (4-bedroom house) originally having been 2 separate houses (1-bed, 3-bed), now joined with internal doorway downstairs. Both properties have old Wylex fuse boards (5 ways in use in each), intent is to replace both of these with one modern consumer unit at one location from one supply. Once that is complete, the customer wants to have the unused supply disconnected.



One supply (the 3-bed) is outside the property at the front, accessible via an external meter cupboard. The Wylex DB is inside the rather cramped meter cupboard. It is not so convenient to retain.

The other supply (the 1-bed) is inside the house, mid-way on the wall adjoining the other house, and a lot more convenient to use both because there is lots of space for a new CU, and easier to get to from the other house.

Both supplies are TN-S, with 60A fuses. There are no electric showers, a gas hob, but an electric oven. Probably 60A will be sufficient for the combined property.

If the customer asks the DNO (SSE) to disconnect one supply, will they care that they are disconnecting the one with outside access, and leaving the one with internal meter access only? Do they have any say in these things, or can the customer just specify which one to keep?

looks like you answered your own question..
The other supply (the 1-bed) is inside the house, mid-way on the wall adjoining the other house, and a lot more convenient to use both because there is lots of space for a new CU, and easier to get to from the other house.

ps
..how can see specify which meter to use? You are telling them which meter you don't need and there is nothing to debate if both fuses and earthing arrangements are identical.

 

[SJD]

Yes, I know which supply I'd rather use, I just want to be sure there is no way the DNO can have some differing opinion.

I guess if the customer just asks to disconnect one supply, there is no need to discuss the other supply with them.

 

[Prat P]

Yes, I know which supply I'd rather use, I just want to be sure there is no way the DNO can have some differing opinion.

I guess if the customer just asks to disconnect one supply, there is no need to discuss the other supply with them.

that's what I was thinking too,if you ask them to remove a meter,I cant see why they would want to move your neighbors meter..same applies here.

 

[Knobhead]

Just tell them you want supply “A” removing, there’s no need to even mention “B”. Don’t be surprised if they just remove the meter and leave the head in place.

 

[driverman]

I would tend to leave the outside OMB in position and get the internal supply removed. That way, you have removed a main DNO service cable from with in the fabric of the property, making it much safer and neater. DNO's cables should not be buried under plaster.
How is the existing internal mains cable installed in the house. clipped surface, buried? As it is existing it can be left there and the OMB one can be removed.

 

[SJD]

I would tend to leave the outside OMB in position and get the internal supply removed. That way, you have removed a main DNO service cable from with in the fabric of the property, making it much safer and neater. DNO's cables should not be buried under plaster.
How is the existing internal mains cable installed in the house. clipped surface, buried? As it is existing it can be left there and the OMB one can be removed.

The internal mains supply is buried, comes up through a concrete floor into a cupboard. Should it ever need replacing, that would be quite a nuisance, but it really is in a much more convenient position, hence wishing to retain this one.

 

[driverman]

The internal mains supply is buried, comes up through a concrete floor into a cupboard. Should it ever need replacing, that would be quite a nuisance, but it really is in a much more convenient position, hence wishing to retain this one.

Well its out of the way then, so no problem there. Is it big enough for the new load ie both houses plus what ever you intend to add? You mention both 60amp. It's not always the case of the DNO upgrading the fuse from 60A to 80/100A if existing cable not large enough. What about sub-main from OMD area?

 

[SJD]

I'm not really adding anything - well OK, I'm adding around a dozen sockets, but that is because it was built with only 1 or 2 sockets per room, to get rid of various extension leads.

A present, 60A will be enough, but I'll mention to the owner that if they ever want to install electric showers, electric hob, etc, then needing a bigger supply might be a consideration.

I could install a sub-main from the front - something similar was done with the gas, with a yellow plastic pipe from a T after the meter to the smaller house. But it will add to the costs, so I was trying to avoid proposing that.

 

[guest119]

80/100a sub main from outside meter position with a switch/fuse to a suitable position inside and new db.
Future upgrades would be external only.
Any other way may end in tears.

Boydy

 

[SJD]

After a couple of discussions with the customer, we've decided after all to retain the outside meter position, and run a sub-main to a new location for the consumer unit. Upon further investigation, it is not so difficult to do, and as mentioned, less likely to "end in tears".

 

[guest119]

Good man and thanks for completing the thread.