What's the solution to long meter tails

[Chector]

I'm recently qualified but I have a problem that wasn't covered in my course. My customer wants his consumer unit mounted some distance from the meter, which would require 11 meter tails. I haven't asked my DNO yet but expect them to say this is a not allowed. If they say 3 meters max, do I need to insert a number of fuses in between the CU and the meter or is there another solution.

Thank Chris

 

[Octopus]

Hum..... Switched fuse and SWA cable

 

[Richard Burns]

The easiest solution where the tails extend over 3m is to provide your own protection to those tails by means of fusing within 3m of the service head.
Remember not to route the tails such that they need RCD protection as you would then need an upfront RCD which will cause problems with a minor fault taking out the entire supply.

 

[trev]

Normally on a single phase supply there are only 2 meter tails, live and neutral.
The solution as per your title is to keep the CU close to the service head and meter. Why do you think you'd have to install multiple fuses?
If you have a 20 metre extension lead do you need multiple fuses in that?

 

[Chector]

Thanks for the quick replies most helpful

 

[Chector]

Why do you think you'd have to install multiple fuses?
If you have a 20 metre extension lead do you need multiple fuses in that?

Thanks Trev that was a stupid comment by me.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Keep it simple and do it as Murdoch has said in #2.

 

[Chector]

The easiest solution where the tails extend over 3m is to provide your own protection to those tails by means of fusing within 3m of the service head.
Remember not to route the tails such that they need RCD protection as you would then need an upfront RCD which will cause problems with a minor fault taking out the entire supply.

Thanks Richard, I think there is a fuse already in place so problem maybe solved. I got a brief glance at it through the builders rubble, (kind of them to pile all their plasterboard off cuts all over it). From what I saw it looked a bit beaten up so may need replacing

 

[trev]

Thanks Trev that was a stupid comment by me.

Glad it made you think mate, now what about that silly amount of meter tails?

 

[Octopus]

And pray its not EDF doing the connection as they won't allow it!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Glad it made you think mate, now what about that silly amount of meter tails?

and were they Meter tails or Metre tails???

Hands up anyone who knows the difference!
(not you Trev - we already know you know )

 

[Plonker 3]

Also dont forget that if you use SWA, depending on where you run your bonding cables back too you might have to run a supplementary earth in alongside it.

 

[derbylad]

Thanks Richard, I think there is a fuse already in place so problem maybe solved. I got a brief glance at it through the builders rubble, (kind of them to pile all their plasterboard off cuts all over it). From what I saw it looked a bit beaten up so may need replacing

You should have told the builders to move the rubble as it is a potential risk and preventing you from even seeing the mains,cut out etc.

 

[LankyWill]

this is strange ive ran tails across the length of a house 20m or so and have just connected the tails in to the dual pole isolator provided by the dno. Never had an issue and its none of their business what my installation requirements are. On cobbles i just cut the seals and get on with it.

 

[Hawk81]

this is strange ive ran tails across the length of a house 20m or so and have just connected the tails in to the dual pole isolator provided by the dno. Never had an issue and its none of their business what my installation requirements are. On cobbles i just cut the seals and get on with it.

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