electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

Hi all,

I'm hoping some of the electricty regs gurus can help with advice on
meter tails.

Shortly I will be beginning an extension which forces a move of
electricity meter. I have all of the info about getting the meter
moved and where it can be located, but I cannot find any information
about the meter tails. What I need to know is the maximum length
allowed and what is / isn't acceptable for the routing of them.

My ideal position of the meter is not accepatable due to water pipes
on the other side of the wall within 30cms of the meter so I have to
go to plan B. Is it acceptable to run the tails vertically through the
cavity into the ceiling void, horizontally for approximately 2 meters
and then out of the ceiling void into the consumer unit?

Regards,

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

I'm hoping some of the electricty regs gurus can help with advice on
meter tails.
Shortly I will be beginning an extension which forces a move of
electricity meter. I have all of the info about getting the meter
moved and where it can be located, but I cannot find any information
about the meter tails. What I need to know is the maximum length
allowed and what is / isn't acceptable for the routing of them.

Usually within 6 foot of the cutout on the same wall in my experience.
That does not include the meter being on the "other" side of the wall.

Is it acceptable to run the tails vertically through the cavity into
the ceiling void, horizontally for approximately 2 meters and then
out of the ceiling void into the consumer unit?

You might get away with it, but for that sort of run you might be
better using a switched fused isolator to provide a little more
protection (you`ll have to sort that out, RECs normally only supply a
straight on/off switch).

--
--- Please add "newsgroup" in the subject of any personal replies ---
--- My anti-spam address has "ngspamtrap" & @btinternet.com in it ---

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

In message , Grov
writes
Hi all,

I'm hoping some of the electricty regs gurus can help with advice on
meter tails.

Shortly I will be beginning an extension which forces a move of
electricity meter. I have all of the info about getting the meter
moved and where it can be located, but I cannot find any information
about the meter tails. What I need to know is the maximum length
allowed and what is / isn't acceptable for the routing of them.

The maximum length that can be protected by the supplier fuse is their
decision - it varies , but something like 2-3 m is the norm it would
seem. Longer than what they allow, and you should protect it with your
own switch fuse somewhere near the incoming supply.

You need to talk to someone at the company that maintains your local
network (the company that was your old local elec.board), which of
course may not be your supplier - though I think you need to go via
them. when I enquired about this a few years back, trying to get to talk
to someone who knew what I was on about took a little while.
--
Chris French

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 08:50:05 +0100 someone who may be chris French
wrote this:-

The maximum length that can be protected by the supplier fuse is their
decision - it varies , but something like 2-3 m is the norm it would
seem. Longer than what they allow, and you should protect it with your
own switch fuse somewhere near the incoming supply.

How would this help? The customer's fuse would need to be able to
discriminate with the "electricity board" fuse to be of much use.
However, it would also need to be able to cope with the maximum
demand. That would be fine if the "electricity board" fitted say
150A plus fuses and customers fitted say 80 or 100A fuses.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

How would this help?

It helps because as far as the supplier is concerned, your switchfuse is the
consumer unit, so they no longer care where your actual consumer unit is.

The customer's fuse would need to be able to discriminate with the
"electricity board"
fuse to be of much use.

There is no need for discrimination. Quite frankly who cares if it is the
switchfuse or the supplier's fuse that blows.

Christian.

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

"David Hansen" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 08:50:05 +0100 someone who may be chris French
wrote this:-

The maximum length that can be protected by the supplier fuse is their
decision - it varies , but something like 2-3 m is the norm it would
seem. Longer than what they allow, and you should protect it with your
own switch fuse somewhere near the incoming supply.

How would this help? The customer's fuse would need to be able to
discriminate with the "electricity board" fuse to be of much use.
However, it would also need to be able to cope with the maximum
demand. That would be fine if the "electricity board" fitted say
150A plus fuses and customers fitted say 80 or 100A fuses.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

You should contact your supplier, 2-3 metre length is ok where the CU or F/B
is easily seen from the supplier's incomer fuse position, longer lengths are
permissible; but this cable run (not meter tails), would require to be
installed by yourself.and terminated near the meter position using a DP
isolating CB. Discrimination with the supplier's fuse must be taken into
account. This would be Part P notifiable.
Jaymack

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 09:38:19 +0100 someone who may be "Christian
McArdle" wrote this:-

It helps because as far as the supplier is concerned, your switchfuse is the
consumer unit, so they no longer care where your actual consumer unit is.

So, no real reason then.

There is no need for discrimination.

Then I'm not sure that the two fuses are providing any more
protection than one.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 08:50:05 +0100, chris French
wrote:

You need to talk to someone at the company that maintains your local
network (the company that was your old local elec.board), which of
course may not be your supplier - though I think you need to go via
them. when I enquired about this a few years back, trying to get to talk
to someone who knew what I was on about took a little while.

Yes, I've tried that route. They have sent me their information pack
and i have to supply drawings. Problem is I cannot do that until I
know where I can mount the meter. They only response I get is to fill
in the form and when the provision team contact me to arrange the work
they will be able to answer any questions. Trouble is it will be a
little too late then as it is my responsibilty to provide the trench,
ducting and meter box.... Catch22 me thinks.

Thanks for your advice.

Regards,
Paul

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 09:35:47 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
wrote:


My ideal position of the meter is not accepatable due to water pipes
on the other side of the wall within 30cms of the meter

Surely something can be done to make this acceptable. Mounting on some sort
of waterproof sheet or something. I really can't think why 18mm ply
protecting it from any leaks wouldn't be acceptable.

Thats what I thought - would need a hell of a lot of water to go
through 9" engineering brick plus the meter box and board, but when I
questioned it I was told that if that is what it states in the
guidelines they sent me then it is not acceptable and they will refuse
connection...

They also state it cannot go directly below a window (this was another
option for me), but I *think* I've seen this done before on new
builds. Perhaps the rules vary form area to area?

Regards,
Paul

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 10:23:10 +0100, "John McLean"
wrote:

You should contact your supplier, 2-3 metre length is ok where the CU or F/B
is easily seen from the supplier's incomer fuse position, longer lengths are
permissible; but this cable run (not meter tails), would require to be
installed by yourself.and terminated near the meter position using a DP
isolating CB. Discrimination with the supplier's fuse must be taken into
account. This would be Part P notifiable.

Looks like it will be the circuit breaker in the box then as I can't
see any other possibility. They have already advised that they will
not reconnect the meter tails regardless of length so no great issue
there.

Thanks for the part p heads up - it's already covered on my building
regs application, but was planning to use an electrician for this part
as it also involves a CU move - not happy that I could do it not
knowing all of the regs.

Regards,
Paul

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Sun, 2 Apr 2006 20:18:40 +0100, Colin Wilson
wrote:

Is it acceptable to run the tails vertically through the cavity into
the ceiling void, horizontally for approximately 2 meters and then
out of the ceiling void into the consumer unit?

You might get away with it, but for that sort of run you might be
better using a switched fused isolator to provide a little more
protection (you`ll have to sort that out, RECs normally only supply a
straight on/off switch).

Thanks for the advice Colin. Looks like a seperate isolator will be
needed. At least I know it is possible so can submit the application
to the 'leccy company.

Regards,
paul

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

On Mon, 3 Apr 2006 17:12:45 +0100, "Christian McArdle"
wrote:

Thats what I thought - would need a hell of a lot of water to go
through 9" engineering brick plus the meter box and board, but when I
questioned it I was told that if that is what it states in the
guidelines they sent me then it is not acceptable and they will refuse
connection...

Do you have space in front? If they want 30cm from the pipe and you've
already got a 15cm thick wall, then will a 15cm thick stud framework mounted
on the wall get past this bureaucratic buffoonery?

Mmmmm thats a thought. Would prefer a flush mounted box as its facing
the patio area, but if I cant find an alternative this may be a way
around it.

I guess the other way around it would be to change the order of the
works so there are no pipes present when they come to do the move :-)

Regards,
Paul

electricity meter tails - length and routing
 

David Hansen wrote:

How would this help? The customer's fuse would need to be able to
discriminate with the "electricity board" fuse to be of much use.
However, it would also need to be able to cope with the maximum
demand. That would be fine if the "electricity board" fitted say
150A plus fuses and customers fitted say 80 or 100A fuses.

This is as much about demarcation of design responsibility as anything
else. The distribution network operator's (DNO's) fuse is provided to
protect _their_ equipment, not the consumer's installation. It is
accepted that the DNO's fuse may be relied upon to provide overload and
s/c fault protection to _short_ consumer's meter tails of up to 2 or 3
metres length, as in a normal domestic consumer unit type of installation.

Where a consumer unit is to be located at a distance from the supply
intake the consumer is expected to provide 'main switchgear' (i.e. a
switch-fuse, etc.) to protect the distribution circuit(s) between the
meter and the consumer unit(s) and to satisfy the isolation requirements
of BS 7671. It's the installation designer's responsibility to ensure
that such distribution circuits/sub-mains are properly protected,
regardless of the DNO's fuse. As others have pointed out it's not
necessarily practical to obtain discrimination between the fuses in this
situation.

--
Andy