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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Moving electricity meter, cutout and consumer unit
Hello,
I would like to move my consumer unit and replace it with a more modern version. This would involve moving the whole lot nearer the front door, but higher up the wall, ie no walls / floorboards to go through, but a longer length of cable required at some point in the chain (preferably between the main elec board supply and the cutout). I have two options - to move just the consumer unit, or to move the whole lot. My understanding from previous newsgroup conversations is that if I just wanted to move my consumer unit, it is legal for me to replace the tails between the meter and the consumer unit with longer ones, using an appropriate master current limiting device between them? This would be a pretty safe procedure as last year the elec board fitted a brand new meter which has the ability to complete isolate the elec supply to the house from the meter itself. I have some questions though ... (1) The new meter is small and the top half of the board on which it is mounted is empty. Is it legal for me to remove the upper half of this board, without removing the meter from it, to gain a bit more space above? (2) I guess the best route is to move the whole lot to the new location - can I contact a local firm about this, leaving them to liaise with the elec supplier moving the cutout, or do I need to do the whole lot through the supplier? If the supplier, is that who I pay my bill to, or the "local" elec company. (3) My lighting circuit is PVC but with no earth - can the elec supplier refuse to reconnect the supply to this? Can I, as I've seen suggested on previous threads, install the new consumer unit first with one "perfectly working" circuit and ask them to connect this up to the supply, leaving the others till later? (4) Are there any other potential pitfalls I should be aware of which may result in the supplier refusing to reconnect the supply to my system? I don't mind fixing genuine problems, so long as they are the kind of problems which don't require me to dig out walls etc and redecorate. Any idea on what kind of money I should be looking to pay for this in Greater London? Thanks, Richard |
#2
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Moving electricity meter, cutout and consumer unit
"nospam" wrote
| I would like to move my consumer unit and replace it with a more | modern version. This would involve moving the whole lot nearer | the front door, but higher up the wall, ie no walls / floorboards | to go through, but a longer length of cable required at some point | in the chain (preferably between the main elec board supply and the | cutout). That may be *expensive*. A lot depends on the exact details of the physical form your supply takes. A modern supply would normally have armoured or concentric cable direct into the service cutout. | I have two options - to move just the consumer unit, or to move the | whole lot. | My understanding from previous newsgroup conversations is that if I | just wanted to move my consumer unit, it is legal for me to replace | the tails between the meter and the consumer unit with longer ones, | using an appropriate master current limiting device between them? | This would be a pretty safe procedure as last year the elec board | fitted a brand new meter which has the ability to complete isolate | the elec supply to the house from the meter itself. Unless that meter/isolator provides access to the meter tail terminals, you should reuse the existing tails from meter to switchfuse. You should not break meter seals to get to the terminals. There is a limit on how long tails can be from meter to CU without fusing. You are probably best to fit a new switchfuse as close to the meter as practicable and then take your own supply from there. | I have some questions though ... | (1) The new meter is small and the top half of the board on which it | is mounted is empty. Is it legal for me to remove the upper half of | this board, without removing the meter from it, to gain a bit more | space above? It depends if it's their board or yours. You will probably get away with doing it. Obviously, be very careful how you remove it. Using sharp tools in areas with high current electric cables permits the possibility of fairly spectacular fireworks. | (2) I guess the best route is to move the whole lot to the new location - | can I contact a local firm about this, leaving them to liaise with the elec | supplier moving the cutout, or do I need to do the whole lot through the | supplier? If the supplier, is that who I pay my bill to, or the "local" elec | company. Probably the 'local' elect company. | (3) My lighting circuit is PVC but with no earth - can the elec supplier | refuse to reconnect the supply to this? Almost certainly yes. | Can I, as I've seen suggested on previous threads, install the new consumer | unit first with one "perfectly working" circuit and ask them to connect this | up to the supply, leaving the others till later? You can. | (4) Are there any other potential pitfalls I should be aware of which may | result in the supplier refusing to reconnect the supply to my system? You will need to bring your earthing and earth bonding up to current standards. Also, in Greater London, because of the density of the electricity supply network, the maximum prospective short-circuit current at the origin of the installation may be exceptionally high. This must be taken into consideration when carrying out circuit calculations and selecting breakers. Owain |
#3
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Moving electricity meter, cutout and consumer unit
Thanks for a really comprehensive answer. I've now decided it's not worth
the hassle / risk of complications, I only wanted to move it so I could have somewhere to store all our shoes, as there is no other space available!!! Thanks again, Rich "Owain" wrote in message ... "nospam" wrote | I would like to move my consumer unit and replace it with a more | modern version. This would involve moving the whole lot nearer | the front door, but higher up the wall, ie no walls / floorboards | to go through, but a longer length of cable required at some point | in the chain (preferably between the main elec board supply and the | cutout). That may be *expensive*. A lot depends on the exact details of the physical form your supply takes. A modern supply would normally have armoured or concentric cable direct into the service cutout. | I have two options - to move just the consumer unit, or to move the | whole lot. | My understanding from previous newsgroup conversations is that if I | just wanted to move my consumer unit, it is legal for me to replace | the tails between the meter and the consumer unit with longer ones, | using an appropriate master current limiting device between them? | This would be a pretty safe procedure as last year the elec board | fitted a brand new meter which has the ability to complete isolate | the elec supply to the house from the meter itself. Unless that meter/isolator provides access to the meter tail terminals, you should reuse the existing tails from meter to switchfuse. You should not break meter seals to get to the terminals. There is a limit on how long tails can be from meter to CU without fusing. You are probably best to fit a new switchfuse as close to the meter as practicable and then take your own supply from there. | I have some questions though ... | (1) The new meter is small and the top half of the board on which it | is mounted is empty. Is it legal for me to remove the upper half of | this board, without removing the meter from it, to gain a bit more | space above? It depends if it's their board or yours. You will probably get away with doing it. Obviously, be very careful how you remove it. Using sharp tools in areas with high current electric cables permits the possibility of fairly spectacular fireworks. | (2) I guess the best route is to move the whole lot to the new location - | can I contact a local firm about this, leaving them to liaise with the elec | supplier moving the cutout, or do I need to do the whole lot through the | supplier? If the supplier, is that who I pay my bill to, or the "local" elec | company. Probably the 'local' elect company. | (3) My lighting circuit is PVC but with no earth - can the elec supplier | refuse to reconnect the supply to this? Almost certainly yes. | Can I, as I've seen suggested on previous threads, install the new consumer | unit first with one "perfectly working" circuit and ask them to connect this | up to the supply, leaving the others till later? You can. | (4) Are there any other potential pitfalls I should be aware of which may | result in the supplier refusing to reconnect the supply to my system? You will need to bring your earthing and earth bonding up to current standards. Also, in Greater London, because of the density of the electricity supply network, the maximum prospective short-circuit current at the origin of the installation may be exceptionally high. This must be taken into consideration when carrying out circuit calculations and selecting breakers. Owain |
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