On 07/10/17 11:27, Dave W wrote:
"Robin" wrote in message
...
On 06/10/2017 16:50, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:


I have no gas, and my smart electric meter does not have the capability
of being switched off, as judged by its spec found online, and by the
assurance from the electricity provider on the phone when I agreed to
have it installed.

Aren't they a bit small to contain something capable of switching 100
amps?

The technical spec for smart meters has required a load switch for a along
time now - eg to disable supply if the meter detects tampering. I don't
see that it's hard to do that inside the meter given this is not a means
of isolation or emergency switching: it's usually just a single pole job.

Some lobbied for all smart meters to incorporate double pole isolation so
as to avoid the need for people to pull the supply fuse, work live or call
out the operator where there's no isolator )and possibly no room to fit
one). Apparently unsuccessfully.

Where is this technical spec for smart meters?


Several I suspect.

It seems that the various suppliers fit different ones and, if you
change supplier, the 'old' smart meter is likely to be incompatible with
the new company. Therefore it is switched to a 'dumb' mode, even as I
understand it the 'remote display' can stop functioning.

There seems to be a lot of negative propaganda re smart meters but the
incompatibility issue seems to be genuine.

Of all of the basic functions the various designs should surely include
is a basic 'smart mode' which is allows all companies to use them- at
least for remote reading and maintaining the remote display operation.
But, of course, the smart meter idea was a knee jerk reaction to 'a
problem' (real or not), rushed into implementation.