Smart meter ?

joesoap1264

Hi Guys, when they fit a new smart meter, do they take the existing electric meter out, and replace it with the new smart meter..?

Alter_ego

Yes..........

joesoap1264

Alter_ego said:

Yes..........

Thanks Ae.
the reason I ask is, having had some electrics done, it appears I have something going to earth, somewhere,? stopping leccy putting a new rcd between meter and fuse box, without going through whole house to try and locate it, if ever!
could take ages.
just wondered if new smart meter would be affected by this?

dcb2019

We switched to a smart meter a couple of years ago and they replaced old with the new one. I shouldn't think it would be affected as our earth was elsewhere but every case is different. 

Ectophile

A smart meter is just a meter with a radio transmitter fitted. Won't make any difference.

Of course, that's not really an excuse for not getting the electrical problem fixed.

Talldave

It doesn't take long to track down an RCD trip cause.  No more than a few minutes to work out which circuit it is on by killing circuits in the fusebox until you find the culprit.  Depending on the culprit circuit it may be a quick fix (e.g. immersion heater) or slightly harder to trace (e.g. ring main).  Either way it ought to be top of the priority list!

joesoap1264

Talldave said:

It doesn't take long to track down an RCD trip cause.  No more than a few minutes to work out which circuit it is on by killing circuits in the fusebox until you find the culprit.  Depending on the culprit circuit it may be a quick fix (e.g. immersion heater) or slightly harder to trace (e.g. ring main).  Either way it ought to be top of the priority list!

Hi Dave, 
When leccy came, we were having a new kitchen , he was on the job to put new spots on ceiling. Etc.
my board only had fuses in.
I said replace the box, but he said to do that  he would have to test every plug, lights switch etc in the house to give me a certificate!
he said replace the fuses with rcd’s
And he would install a separate rcd between the meter and box, and he could supply a certificate when done.
when he tried putting the new separate rcd in ,he claimed the rcd was tripping on both light and ring main, but not the ones in the box!
he had to take rcd out, and everything was and is working ok.
then the lockdown came, and luckily kitchen was complete.
he said he couldn’t come back to test whole house to find faults as it could take ages, even a rewire and may never find it, so that was how it was left.
as wife is shielded I haven’t been able to sort anything out, and Scottish Power want to fit the smart meter, as my new tariff insists it’s fitted.
i never wanted it in the first place without switching.
I’m not bothered if the new smart meter works or not, as long as it doesn’t cause me any electrical problems, 
cheers

Robin9

Your Smart meter won't cause you any installation problems.
You have a faulty installation - get another electrician in.

rp1974

I would let Scottish Power fit the meter and deal with any issues as and when they arise,unless they already say this must be sorted beforehand.Previous electrician caused this problem which they then couldnt or wouldnt fix,you accepted and paid for that?.Dont know when the work was done,is there not a trade body to assist you?.

joesoap1264

rp1974 said:

I would let Scottish Power fit the meter and deal with any issues as and when they arise,unless they already say this must be sorted beforehand.Previous electrician caused this problem which they then couldnt or wouldnt fix,you accepted and paid for that?.Dont know when the work was done,is there not a trade body to assist you?.

Thanks guys, as my wife is shielded, I have to put off SP installing meter, and try and sort earthing problem out when possible.
thanks for all your help
cheers

MeterMan

Robin9 said:

Your Smart meter won't cause you any installation problems.
You have a faulty installation - get another electrician in.

Thats not strictly true....