Help please with possible 5 wire meter system (Economy 7)

happyhero

Hi my meter is faulty, its actually completely stopped, so I can’t take any regular readings. It’s the typical wheel meter type (wheel stopped moving now) the only difference is it has a LOW and NORMAL readings feature with a little arrow that moves to show which one we are on.

Next to it is a big black box labeled Radio Teleswitch Series 2D. I think this has something to do with making the meter switch between LOW and NORMAL rate.

We have never had Storage radiators but got economy 7 because we worked out it was cheaper to run our machines in the cheap rate at night, so that’s what we do. I’ve tried comparing the usage with a normal non economy 7 tariff and it does seem to be better for us over the year to be on Economy 7.

Anyway I asked my energy company since they were offering the SMETS 2 Smart meters that can do Economy 7, if we could one fitted to solve the problem of our broken meter. They said yes but to send them a photo so they could see what system we have. They said it looks like a 5 wire system which they cannot fit a SMETS 2 meter to and so if we don’t have storage radiators to get an electrician in to just remove it.

I’ve checked my wiring and I have a normal system primarily but with the Teleswitch added, ie I have Live & Neutral from the head to the meter, then Live & Neutral from the meter to the consumer unit.

The additional bit is as follows in smaller cables, probably 6mm or 10mm all going to the Teleswitch. The are 3 wires to the Teleswitch, the first red wire seems to piggy back the Live IN of the meter, then there is a black which comes all the way from the head Neutral and finally there is another red which goes into the meter beside the Live out but has its own separate small connection by the looks of things.

Is this a 5 wire system (I mean there is actually 6 wires going into the meter although one seems paired up with the Live IN)?

How can an electrician remove the 5th wire and keep everything working, surely it’s there for a reason?

Would I still have to keep the Teleswitch if I had a new SMETS 2 Smart meter?

I have an electrical background but not as a domestic electrician but retired now and I don’t really know anything about this 5 wire system business. Any help appreciated.

bob_a_builder

Go on....  show us the photo too ...

EssexExile

If the meter is faulty why don't you get the company that owns the meter to replace it?

happyhero

EssexExile said:

If the meter is faulty why don't you get the company that owns the meter to replace it?

I am that's who I contacted and got that reply from, my energy company is saying they will replace it but if its a 5 wire system that needs to be dealt with first so the energy company can fit the SMETS 2 meter.

Ectophile

SMETS2 5-wire economy 7 meters are in short supply at the moment.  That's why they want to switch you to a single-rate meter.  They have plenty of those.