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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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#1
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Meter Tails
There are 16 mmsq tails from supply to meter - from meter to Henley
block - from block to fuse boxes. What is the rating of the main supply fuse? What is the total length of tails from the meter to the consumer unit, via the block? What sort of earthing do you have? What size are the earthing conductors? Christian. |
#2
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Peter Ramm wrote:
I'm replacing two fuse boxes by one CU. There are 16 mmsq tails from supply to meter - from meter to Henley block - from block to fuse boxes. Do I really have to use 25mmsq tails from Henley block to my new CU? It depends (a) on the assessed maximum demand via your new CU and (b) on the size of the distributors main fuse. (a) For 6181Y single-sheathed tails in free air the rating is 87 A for 16 mm^2 and 114 A for 25 mm^2. (b) If you use 16 mm^2 tails and the main fuse is 100 A you will need to show by calculation (using the adiabatic equation) that the tails are protected by the fuse in the event of a s/c fault in your CU. To avoid the need for calculation use 25 mm^2 tails. If the main fuse is 60 or 80 A this does not apply. HTH -- Andy |
#3
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100Amp
About 18 inches Earth from incoming cable shield 16mmsq Personally, I would replace the tails with 25mm. It would take 2 minutes. I did so with mine and I only have a 60A fuse. Christian. |
#4
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Peter Ramm wrote:
Yes - thanks - but my point is that any current which passes from my new CU to Henley block in a failure is already passing through 16mmsq so anything I use of greater area and less resistance in series cannot improve the situation. What am I still missing here? Sorry, I read your first post in a hurry and didn't take that in - just assumed is was 25mm^2 from the meter to the service connector block. Nevertheless, new work should comply with current regulations and that means using 25mm^2 tails throughout unless the assessed MD is 87 A or less and there's no diversity applied at the CU (i.e. sum of MCB ratings in the CU is also 87 A, which is unlikely). In all probability you might well get away with 16 mm^2, but if the main fuse really is 100 A then the installation does not comply with BS 7671 and there is a risk of the wiring overheating under overload conditions. Why not install 25 tails now and then get the distributor or meter operator company round to upgrade the bit twixt meter and block at a later date? What final circuits and loads are connected to the CU? -- Andy |
#5
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In message , Andy Wade
writes Peter Ramm wrote: Yes - thanks - but my point is that any current which passes from my new CU to Henley block in a failure is already passing through 16mmsq so anything I use of greater area and less resistance in series cannot improve the situation. What am I still missing here? Sorry, I read your first post in a hurry and didn't take that in - just assumed is was 25mm^2 from the meter to the service connector block. Nevertheless, new work should comply with current regulations and that means using 25mm^2 tails throughout unless the assessed MD is 87 A or less and there's no diversity applied at the CU (i.e. sum of MCB ratings in the CU is also 87 A, which is unlikely). In all probability you might well get away with 16 mm^2, but if the main fuse really is 100 A then the installation does not comply with BS 7671 and there is a risk of the wiring overheating under overload conditions. Why not install 25 tails now and then get the distributor or meter operator company round to upgrade the bit twixt meter and block at a later date? Yep that's basically the approach I've taken, I could seen no reason to not replace 'my' tails with 25mm^2 when I replaced the CU, I may try and get the Dist co. to replace theirs as well. -- Chris French, Leeds |
#6
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"Andy Wade" wrote in message ... Peter Ramm wrote: Yes - thanks - but my point is that any current which passes from my new CU to Henley block in a failure is already passing through 16mmsq so anything I use of greater area and less resistance in series cannot improve the situation. What am I still missing here? Sorry, I read your first post in a hurry and didn't take that in - just assumed is was 25mm^2 from the meter to the service connector block. Nevertheless, new work should comply with current regulations and that means using 25mm^2 tails throughout unless the assessed MD is 87 A or less and there's no diversity applied at the CU (i.e. sum of MCB ratings in the CU is also 87 A, which is unlikely). In all probability you might well get away with 16 mm^2, but if the main fuse really is 100 A then the installation does not comply with BS 7671 and there is a risk of the wiring overheating under overload conditions. Why not install 25 tails now and then get the distributor or meter operator company round to upgrade the bit twixt meter and block at a later date? What final circuits and loads are connected to the CU? Andy I'd upgrade the tails to the new CU and call the Leccy Co. to come and upgrade their bit as well. With the new requirements now, they shouldn't have a problem doing that for you, and for nowt'. |
#7
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Peter Ramm wrote:
Yes - thanks - but my point is that any current which passes from my new CU to Henley block in a failure is already passing through 16mmsq so anything I use of greater area and less resistance in series cannot improve the situation. What am I still missing here? Well, by having a length of 25mmsq at the end rather than the existing 16mmsq you'll be reducing the total impedance of the path from supply mainfuse to a hypothetical short between the tails near your CU and back to the supply point, thereby increasing the fault current and (hopefully) reducing the time for the supply fuse to blow. Yes, it's a marginal effect, but vaguely beneficial - equivalent to shortening the 16mmsq tails, as it were. That's in addition to the general "25mmsq is the worry-free size to use, and might even encourage the supply co. to upgrade next time one of their finest is Doing Stuff by your meter"... Stefek |
#8
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Peter Ramm wrote:
On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 08:04:29 +0000, Peter Ramm wrote: I'm replacing two fuse boxes by one CU. There are 16 mmsq tails from supply to meter - from meter to Henley block - from block to fuse boxes. I'm going to go ahead with 25mmsq and will then get supply company to upgrade their bits when I've finished everything. Many thanks to all for explanations/suggestions much appreciated. If you were to pull the seals and run the tails all the way back to the meter yourself you probably wouldn't be the first person to do so. -- Dave S (The return email address is a dummy) |
#9
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I'm going to go ahead with 25mmsq and will then get supply company to
upgrade their bits when I've finished everything. The bit between the meter and the Henley block is all yours, too. You don't need to call the electricity company in to replace that part. Christian. |
#10
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In message , Christian
McArdle writes I'm going to go ahead with 25mmsq and will then get supply company to upgrade their bits when I've finished everything. The bit between the meter and the Henley block is all yours, too. You don't need to call the electricity company in to replace that part. Yes,so I wonder why they seal the cover on that? I replaced mine all the way to the meter, the ones twixt Henely block and meter were much older than all the rest, a bit of economising here at some point. Thee insulation was sound but seemed to be some sort of rubber, covered with a cloth/fabric cover of some sort. -- Chris French, Leeds |
#11
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In article ,
"Christian McArdle" writes: I'm going to go ahead with 25mmsq and will then get supply company to upgrade their bits when I've finished everything. The bit between the meter and the Henley block is all yours, too. You don't need to call the electricity company in to replace that part. Yes it's yours, but you can only replace it if your meter has a separate cover over those terminals, and older meters don't. (Breaking any seals that gain access to the meter inlet and voltage coil terminals could get you into serious trouble.) -- Andrew Gabriel |
#12
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Yes it's yours, but you can only replace it if your meter
has a separate cover over those terminals, and older meters don't. Are such meters still in service, though? I'd have thought they'd all been replaced by now. Christian. |
#13
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In article ,
"Christian McArdle" writes: Yes it's yours, but you can only replace it if your meter has a separate cover over those terminals, and older meters don't. Are such meters still in service, though? I'd have thought they'd all been replaced by now. Of the various premises I have anything to do with, or any of my relations live in, they're all this type. I very rarely see the split terminal cover type. Actually, two relatively new houses up the road from me (couple of years old) had the meter type fitted with only a single connection cover, so use of the split type is not universal in new meters. -- Andrew Gabriel |
#14
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Are such meters still in service, though? I'd have thought they'd all
been replaced by now. Of the various premises I have anything to do with, or any of my relations live in, they're all this type. I very rarely see the split terminal cover type. Actually, I misread. I thought you meant meters without a separate terminal cover at all (so you have to break the main meter seal to make connections), not ones without separate seals for inlet and outlet. Christian. |
#15
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Yes it's yours, but you can only replace it if your meter
has a separate cover over those terminals, and older meters don't. Are such meters still in service, though? I'd have thought they'd all been replaced by now. Christian. Our meter still has one cover over all the terminals. I broke that seal anyway as the elec company had already said to break the fuse seals when changing the CU, and you can just as easily steal electricity from there as at the meter so I dont see it matters too much ;o) (apparently our meter was changed 20 years ago and isnt due for replacement for another 15 years I think they said!?) |
#16
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On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:19:09 UTC, "Christian McArdle"
wrote: Yes it's yours, but you can only replace it if your meter has a separate cover over those terminals, and older meters don't. Are such meters still in service, though? I'd have thought they'd all been replaced by now. I just had a brand new meter (electronic) fitted, and there's a single (sealed) cover over both sets of terminals. But at least the man resealed the main fuse for me, after I took it out to fit a 100A isolator... -- Bob Eager begin a new life...dump Windows! |
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