Regarding Electric Meter Bypass

ajbeacon01

Hi please, I need help. Here is my friend flat and his bill has been rediculous so I asked him to sent me the picture of his meter just to see how things look like. However, during the lockdown, his main switch was switched off and his meter was still reading around 20-40kw a week. So please could you advise a friend if this right or he needs to get in touch with his energy provider.

Robin9

The "box" market RYB is the incoming cable from the distribution network - in this case it splits very messily and one goes to a similar grey box under the meter immediately above. Don't know what the little box at the end of your red line is.

What was the main switch you say was  ?

PS The meter read kWh not kW

Mouldymeat3

The little white box top left looks like an old bell transformer.

Was this an old commercial building?

Robin9

What are mates trainers doing there ?

molerat

The box marked RYB is the main 3 phase incomer to the property.  Blue phase is tapped off to their meter, red and yellow go off to other meters, nothing untoward there and they will have no effect on the meter.  Which "main switch" did he switch off ?  If the one shown in the picture, marked HE, then that will switch off all power from the meter so nothing should work and if the meter is still running up then that suggests a faulty meter.  If a "switch" inside the fuse box it could have been just for one side of the box leaving some circuits still operating or maybe just one of the CBs.  A picture of inside the fuse box would help.  That box at the top left is a bell transformer, exactly the same as the one in my house.

Mouldymeat3

Having zoomed the image, for what it's worth the 4 security crimps seem to be there, the yellow phase is tidy enough but that messy orange feed looks like it's straight off to the weed farm.

The inspection label on the consumer unit says 2016, next due 2021.

Robin9

The orange cable looks to be a bit of pyro - not unusual when the supply is rising to a flat above.

Mouldymeat3

Robin9 good call on the Pyro, the image is too fuzzy to see if they used a gland kit. It's a pity they were in such a hurry.

Intrigued to know what's behind the right hand door.

Mister_G

Orange cable unlikely to be Pyro as it would definitely need a gland kit.

Also the two SWAs really ought to be glanded off properly.

This installation would certainly NOT pass a landlords EICR!

JC_Derby

Messy.

Arent meters supposed to be within 2 metres of the incoming cut out? if that is the incoming supply (3q) why is there a second 1q cut out immediately after it (i could understand if it was a BNO supply or solid links and the meter was on a different floor
Why does the isolator only isolate the live tail from the meter?

Im suspicious of the set up there - its not helped by not being able to save the pic into a format where i can zoom in

Doesnt look like the single phase cut out is sealed to me..

JC_Derby

addendum
If they are steel wire armoured - they shouldnt be terminated into the DNO cut out. definately sus imho