access to electricity meter cabinets - key required

johninghamdavies · 15 January 2010 at 6:34PM

Having searched the Green and Ethical forum I can find no reference to this problem but I'm sure some forum users have met it before.
We have an electricity consumption monitor and, like all of them, it requires access to the leads out of the meter
Sadly our house was built with meters in a box outside to which we don't have a key
The simple square and triangular keys which many cabintets use don't work. This is a small key abou the size and shape of a large suitcase key
The key is clearly not "high security" but we don't want to damage the meter box or its simple lock
Our supplier reads the meter through a window and can't help with keys
Web search has been fruitless
Any ideas?

MrF_2 · 16 January 2010 at 1:33AM

I have a utilities fob which has a key on one side which is round with 2 flat pieces running off at opposite sides ( http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tradecounterdirect.com/prodimages/ms134-sm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tradecounterdirect.com/listproducts.php%3Fcid%3D304&usg=__sXMtnYemIiciXp3IwSOOkrqL6B8=&h=150&w=150&sz=4&hl=en&start=10&um=1&tbnid=0zfgq1bJMHBUJM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcircular%2Butilities%2Bkey%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1 ) like the key on the lower left of that image?

johninghamdavies · 16 January 2010 at 1:19PM

Yes, I have one of those. Thanks for the image. The key I need is more like this -

Google "keys"
Look for image labelled "keys800 x 523 - 36k - jpg
[something MSExpert doeasn't like][dot]com"
[Sorry about awkward quote of URL, MSexpert zapped my pure link to picture!]

Maybe smaller than this image, like a large-ish suitcase key

thescouselander · 16 January 2010 at 1:55PM

There's nothing special about the mechanism. If you have a pair of needle nosed pliars you can just grab the bit that turns round and twist - it should come right open.

johninghamdavies · 16 January 2010 at 5:03PM

Thanks. Worth a try so I tried but no luck. It needs a real key, however primitive. I might be able to shift it with a screwdriver in the key slot and a lot of leverage but this would probably break the lock and the door would never fasten again so I'd end up with rain in the meter.
So, still looking for ideas. Is there anyone out there with meter servicing experience? It must be necessary to open the cabinets sometimes.

cyberbob · 16 January 2010 at 7:52PM

Have you spoken to your electricity supplier? Or spoke to one of your neighbours to see if they know where to get the keys from

johninghamdavies · 17 January 2010 at 10:26AM

Yes, both of the above. The suppliers aren't interested in helping and the neighbours don't have keys either. They are probably thinking "I'd like to fit a monitor too" so we may have five customers for those keys!

MrF_2 · 17 January 2010 at 12:56PM

Try the ultimate handyman site, someone there should be able to help you if you explain the situation and post a photo of what the lock looks like.
Hope that helps, though I will warn you a few of them think the consumption monitors are pointless for what they are.

jamesb1239 · 17 January 2010 at 6:07PM

Have you tried getting a small screwdriver into the lock and turning it?

johninghamdavies · 18 January 2010 at 12:24PM

Thanks MrF I will try the ultimate handyman
Thanks jamesb1239 I have you tried screwdrivers and pliers - but gently since I don't want to damage the lock. No luck

johninghamdavies · 19 January 2010 at 5:56PM

The screwdriver in the key slot with a spanner on it worked (Water pump pliers* in fact). Thanks to Dave.M on ultimatehandyman who finally convinced me with his picture of the lock. Others had suggested it but in the end it was "brute force or give up!"
I now have a frightening display of the kW I am using!
* e.g. Which I recommend for everyone's toolbox. See my posting in ultimatehandyman for a link to a picture - ultimatehandyman are not so picky about links as MSExpert!.

access to electricity meter cabinets - key required

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