"Jimmy" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 02:17:47 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote:

snipped

A separate electricity meter must be fitted by the Leccy company
contractors
of course, but you can run a 25 mm Two Core SWA (Steel Wire Armoured)
Cable
yourself from the existing head end to where you want the new meter to
be
sited in the new flat.

Can you take a look at this photo of the thing. Yes, it's a bit of a
pig's breakfast, but two of the switch boxes will be superfluous when
I do the work. So they can be removed, restoring the setup to how it
was whn originally installed by the 'lectric co.

Onto the photo, I have drawn labels A,, B, & C for easy reference.

C is the head end, I take it. But A, B, and C all have lead+wire
seals on the cover screws, presumably meaning I'm not supposed to
break the seals. Yes? After looking at the photo, do you still think
I can run a SWA cable from the head end to the place where I want a
new meter in the other flat?

What's happens if the Leccy Co comes along and finds a seal or two
broken?

Cheers,

J



A and B are commonly called Henley Blocks, after the name of the makers, as
in Hoover, and they have already been used to separate the original supply
cables from the meter into two separate distribution devices you have
installed. The two devices being the white consumer unit at the top of the
picture, and the bottom larger grey MEM single fused isolator switch. I
also see that a further tapping has been taken from the larger isolator in
to the smaller one to further split the supply to something else.

If you install a 2 core X 25 mm csa' SWA cable in to the area around which
is shown in your picture, and also install a 100 Amps Rated, Double Pole
Isolator Switch where the two Henley Blocks are currently positioned, then
connect the SWA to the isolator switch, properly, and allow two tails of the
same csa' (cross sectional area) as the SWA conductors (25 mm csa') so the
whole installation can be ready for connection by the leccy co. to their
head end. Then I think you'll have broken the back of creating a sub mains
supply for the new flat.

In the new flat you'll need to install a head of some sort, but the leccy
co. might actually do this part for you, so ask them first. Now you'll need
to rewire the whole flat from its own totally separate consumer unit,
leaving the same sized tails from it as the SWA cable. Then the leccy co.
can install their new meter and connect the newly rewired and fully safe and
secure flat to it. Remember that they will fully test it before they make
the supply live, so make sure it is all up to scratch.

With a SWA cable of the correct rating already in place between the two
supply positions, the leccy co. will be able to connect directly to the main
fuse on the existing head end from your 100 Amps isolator switch with the
cable tails already attached for them. From the 100 Amps isolator to the
new head end in the new flat. From the new head end in the new flat to the
new meter. From the new meter to the new consumer unit sitting beside,
below, above the new meter.

By doing all this by yourself, and making sure it is done properly by
yourself, you are taking the bulk of the work away from the Leccy co's.
contractors. So it does help in keeping the full bill from them down a bit.
If you find a good supplier of good quality materials at reasonable prices,
then you could work out to have saved a good few pints worth of money.