2 electricity meters

Phones4Chris

Mickey666 said:

Phones4Chris said:

Mickey666 said:

Phones4Chris said:

Mickey666 said:

Melainew said:

Mickey666 said:

Melainew said:

They are too far apart. 

What do you mean by 'too far apart'?
It's unlikely in a technical sense.  My meter is in an outbuilding and the cable to the consumer unit in the house is about 40m long.

About 100 meters, we did consult an electrician.

Yes, 100m is a fair distance, though a lot will depend on what power requirements you have in the outbuilding.  You mentioned a consumption of only 15-20 units/month but is this from low power things such as lights or from occasional use of high powered things such as machinery? 

The basic issue will be volts-drop along such a length of cable and the peak power requirement.  From this the required cable size required to meet the regs can be calculated.  For my 40m run the cable is about 50mm in diameter (25mm2 cores I think), but that's to supply a whole house.   

I'm a little surprised an electrician said it couldn't be done and it would be interesting to know why.  I can imagine that a more suitable supply tariff might be more cost effective though.

So you think it makes sense to go to the expense of digging a 100m of trench (with all the potential problems en-route and installing 100m of armoured cable, or even install poles and 100m of overhead (never mind new switch gear) - THAT IS the basic issue, not volts drop

I was referring to the technical issues of whether it was possible or not.  But I think you knew that.

I didn't say it made sense.  In fact if you read my post properly you'll see that I EXPLICITLY stated that just changing the existing tariff might be more cost-effective.

I DID read your post properly thanks. So you might have remarked about changing the existing tariff, but having been told it was 100m, you still started your response by going on about voltage drop & etc. rather than the other way around. Even then, the last part of your post that you've highlighted in your reply to me says "I'm a little surprised an electrician said it couldn't be done and it would be interesting to know why"     Completely bonkers!

Why is it bonkers to want to know why 100m couldn't be achieved?   
It might not be the right solution in this case but it might be in another case.  

The order in which you considered the options having been told it was 100m when you consider the potential costs involved, that's why I said your response was bonkers 

Mickey666

I guess my idea of the 'potential costs' of burying a 100m cable is probably different to yours because I tend towards DIY for such things.  £250 will hire a mini digger for a week, which is probably twice as long as needed to dig a suitable trench, so not exactly big money.

Phones4Chris

It may not be to you, it will be to some, especially if they can't do such a job themselves  

Mickey666

Exactly right, which is why it's always best to discuss ALL the options because we cannot know the exact feelings/capabilities/inclinations of the person asking the questions.

macman

If previously used for work then the shed meter may be on an expensive business tariff. Easily spotted, as the VAT rate will be 20% not 5%.