New Supply: Meter Box, Isolator, Dimensions and regs

[mcflute]

Hi,

I'm new here. I am project managing a new build house in SE London. We dont have room to install a recessed or surface mounted meter box.

I am wanting to know the size of the parts that will likely go in the meter box and if I can install a normal surface mount Mitras box then after all the connections have been made, cut away the front, sides and top and make a new hinged cabinet that is slimmer.

Strange request.

I basically need to know the overall depth of the installed equipment to know if it will indeed fit in the space we have!

Any help much appreciated.

Alastair

 

[Octopus]

I think your best course of action would be to the supplier to see what THEY will accept.

We can merely speculate.

EDIT: Where is the suppliers main fuse and how is that mounted?

Edit again:

take a look at this:

http://www.eon-uk.com/installation_of_domestic_meters.pdf

But be warned each supplier has slightly different rules!

 

[davesparks]

Make more space available to fit the meter and cutout in properly, or else go without electricity!
If the architect or whoever can't make room for the essential services then they'll just have to live without them.

 

[7029 dave]

So where is your supply coming in .?

 

[mcflute]

New Supply hasn't been bought in yet. The meter and the main fuse, cutout etc will be located outside the property entrance at the main entrance, however the entrance is very narrow, thus no space for a full depth meter box. there are no shallow (max 150mm) surface mounted boxes on the market, so far as I can see???

Trying to get any technical info from suppliers is proving very very difficult. Thats why i turned to here, as this is where the installers and technical minds will be. Not the architects or the salesmen!

The hunt continues!

 

[Octopus]

So have you looked at the link I added? This gives you must of what you need, but it does worry me that you haven't got the main incomer planned yet

 

[mcflute]

Hi Mate,

Sorry, thanks, I had seen this document previuosly, but it doesn't really provide the detail I need. I know the box has to be IP rated to start with for UKPN and the Supplier to do their connections with no questions. And I know that boxes come in a standard size.

We do have the plan in place and UKPN have done their survey. We will provide them with a standard box and hockey stick and location etc, however after the installation has been complete and the meter installed. I want to cut away all of the box apart from the bottom and back and reduce the depth to exactly what is needed. All the gear inside will be fully accessible by a door and no doubt the new bespoke cabinet will be better built than the standard ones!!

So far as I can see there should be no issue with this as we are going to make the alterations after all the connections have been done. They key information I need is the depth of all that gear.

Anyway, appreciate all the help so far.

Any recommended electrical contractors to install a temporary site supply from an existing property and also do the wiring for a 3 bed new build? Based SE London? Nice winter job!!

 

[Octopus]

Hi Mate,

Sorry, thanks, I had seen this document previuosly, but it doesn't really provide the detail I need. I know the box has to be IP rated to start with for UKPN and the Supplier to do their connections with no questions. And I know that boxes come in a standard size.

We do have the plan in place and UKPN have done their survey. We will provide them with a standard box and hockey stick and location etc, however after the installation has been complete and the meter installed. I want to cut away all of the box apart from the bottom and back and reduce the depth to exactly what is needed. All the gear inside will be fully accessible by a door and no doubt the new bespoke cabinet will be better built than the standard ones!!

So far as I can see there should be no issue with this as we are going to make the alterations after all the connections have been done. They key information I need is the depth of all that gear.

Anyway, appreciate all the help so far.

Any recommended electrical contractors to install a temporary site supply from an existing property and also do the wiring for a 3 bed new build? Based SE London? Nice winter job!!

Just stick in a sunken one and leave it as is. Thats what everybody else does!

 

[mache]

If the architect or whoever can't make room for the essential services then they'll just have to live without them.

Agreed, new build, surely architect should have known requirements for incoming services ??
OP what is the construction Timber Framed, Cavity Wall, Cast Concrete ?? Why no available space or is it more clients desire for less obtrusive asthetics ??

 

[mcflute]

So many extenuating circumstances, I think I have my answer, Thanks for all the help, and all the questions raised are ones we've looked at already!

I think we'll just install a regular one and then cut away once the install is complete and not tell anyone.

 

[driverman]

You can't just cut down afterwards.....The suppliers will argue all about ambient temperature, air space around their equipment etc. There are slim line OMB's whereby the cut out hole is one brick wide but ALL OMB's are a standard depth now. DNO's used to do a non cavity OMB but they have been stopped now due to temperature / air space etc.

OMb I was talking about is .........No. 2 on above link......Check re fixings heights though, as each DNO have different requirements

 

[Octopus]

You can't just cut down afterwards.....The suppliers will argue all about ambient temperature, air space around their equipment etc. There are slim line OMB's whereby the cut out hole is one brick wide but ALL OMB's are a standard depth now. DNO's used to do a non cavity OMB but they have been stopped now due to temperature / air space etc.

I was going to point this out but judging by the OP's input and responses I didn't think it was worth it! lol

 

[aesmith]

Off topic a little, but why don't they like the meter box on the rear of a house? Always wondered why ours is at the front even though the transformer is behind the house.

 

[Octopus]

Off topic a little, but why don't they like the meter box on the rear of a house? Always wondered why ours is at the front even though the transformer is behind the house.

I think it's all about access to read meters

 

[aesmith]

I think it's all about access to read meters

I wondered that, but in our case the back of the house is the first part you come to if you call. It may be some other random reason of course, now lost in time.

 

[driverman]

I wondered that, but in our case the back of the house is the first part you come to if you call. It may be some other random reason of course, now lost in time.

Generally OMB's to front of properties as stated above for easy safe access whilst owners are out. The main cable from the t/former may go past your house to get to the street, then services to each house come off it. Assuming u/g and not O/H

 

[aesmith]

Generally OMB's to front of properties as stated above for easy safe access whilst owners are out. The main cable from the t/former may go past your house to get to the street, then services to each house come off it. Assuming u/g and not O/H

In our case the supply is 11kV overhead to a transformer pole at the back of our yard (on the property) serving only our house via u/g concentric cable. It's about a 15m longer run to put the meter box at the front rather than the back, but I suppose there might have been something else in the way when it way put in. Just academic interest really at this stage, it's not going to move.