Non-Compliant wiring at Electric Meter

G4MHJ

We have just had a new consumer fitted and had a whole house safety check with a 5 year certificate by a NICEIC approved contractor. He made an observation that the Tails between the main fuse/meter and a junction box are non-compliant. He also doubted the insulation on thin cables that provide power to a Economy 7 timer. The supplier's contractor has just been and told me that he couldn't change the wiring as the dual dial meter is also old. He told me to contact the supplier and it would a free system service. According to the supplier it seems that I have to pay £88 for a meter change or £110 if I wanted to revert to a single dial meter. Is this correct that the suppler can charge these monies - all I needed was the tails and cables renewed due to non-compliance. The fact that the meter is old didn't come into the original assessment.

matelodave

The fact that it's "non compliant" doesn't mean that it's dangerous, just that it doesn't comply with the latest specifications or standards.

If we all had to maintain our places as compliant then we'd be rewiring our houses and doing all manner of jobs just to keep pace with them all. There's no requirement to apply new standards or regulations retrospectively

I'm guessing that if it was compliant when it was installed and nothing has changed except the specifications and standards then there's no real need to change them.

In which case then it's your choice to have it changed and therefore your cost.

Carrot007

However surely changing the consumer unit means the tails should be compliant as it is part of the change.


And the electrtician who changed the unit should have changed the tails to the consumer unit and everything after the meter is your responsibility.


Meter is old makes no sense. unless it is so old it requires changing, in which case it should be. However is tails would still be your responsibility, which is where the supploer charge is coming in if you ask me, a meter change becuase it is needed is always free.

G4MHJ

New Tails were added between the consumer unit and an existing terminal block. It's the tails between the main fuse and the meter as well as the meter to the terminal block that are thinner than the new ones. I also have a large black box that I have been told is a timer switch for Economy 7. This takes power direct from the main fuse and these 6mm? cables (red and white) have suspect insulation of butyl rubber?. My meter has two sets of readings. I have written to my supplier to get some clarification.

Ectophile

Electricity suppliers don't have to comply with BS7671 (The "IET Wiring Regulations"). Provided that there's no sign of overheating, they won't care if some electrician declares their cables to be "too small".

jk0

As long as nothing is getting hot, I'd take a chill pill.

Swipe

I agree with others. I still have the old cartridge fuses and they still work fine for me. I have no intention of replacing them unless they go wrong. They've worked just fine since 1970.

JC_Derby

How long have those cut out tails been there? had issues with them previously?
Nothing wrong with them at all - nothing to see here

AndyPK

providers have different rules than what is permitted after the meter.

post a picture if you can

Jonesya

Post a photo.

Most suppliers will happily replace a regular meter with a smart meter for free and would likely address any issues with the tails, assuming they are responsible for them.

If it's an issue with the cut out which has the main fuse, then that's the distribution network operator, DNO, who is responsible. Depending on its age and condition they may replace it if needed.

matelodave

AndyPK wrote: »

providers have different rules than what is permitted after the meter.

post a picture if you can

The OP dosent seem to have a problem with his supplier, It just sounds as though he's just had a comment from a keen electrician.

AS said above, there is no requirement to be compliant to the latest regulations although many tradesmen will try and put a case forward, frequently because it gives them some more business.