Smart Metre

TheDirector

Struggling to find info online but does a smart gas metre fit in one of the recessed built in metal gas boxes that you get on the side of houses?  

Verdigris

Yes. They're either the same form-factor as a G4 meter or smaller.

TheDirector

Ah ok great. Couldnt find much apart online apart from a few people few years back indicating they had some issues.  Also seemed to be some inference that there were problems with the fact these type of existing recessed boxes are metal in terms of sending the data...

MWT

TheDirector said:

Also seemed to be some inference that there were problems with the fact these type of existing recessed boxes are metal in terms of sending the data...

How far away is the electricity meter, and are there any obstructions between them like walls?

Verdigris

TheDirector said:

Ah ok great. Couldnt find much apart online apart from a few people few years back indicating they had some issues.  Also seemed to be some inference that there were problems with the fact these type of existing recessed boxes are metal in terms of sending the data...

That might have been with the old S-type (cu ft) meters, rather than the G4 (cu metre) type, because they are a bit smaller. However the inlet and outlet connections are the same with all meter types.

TheDirector

MWT said:

TheDirector said:

Also seemed to be some inference that there were problems with the fact these type of existing recessed boxes are metal in terms of sending the data...

How far away is the electricity meter, and are there any obstructions between them like walls?

The electricity metre is a couple of metres away I guess, but yes there are walls in between in that the gas metre is in a recessed metal box at the side of the house and then a bit further down the side of house there are some doors to the understairs coal shed, where electric metre is. So yep there are some obstructions; metal box, some walls / doors.  Is that a problem? Is the metal box in itself an obstruction?

jbuchanangb

The reason the location of the electricity meter in relation to the gas meter is important is that a smart gas meter needs to be near enough to the smart electricity meter for wireless communication between the two. This is because the communications hub which sends readings from BOTH meters to the suppliers is attached to the smart electricity meter. You will only discover whether the location of your meters is a problem when someone comes to install smart meters.

MWT

TheDirector said:

 Is that a problem? Is the metal box in itself an obstruction?

Potentially, yes.

The gas meter is battery powered and has a relatively weak signal, if the enclosure is entirely metal then it is certainly not going to help.

Worst case the gas meter may not be able to reliably connect to the comms hub which is mounted on the electricity meter.

TheDirector

MWT said:

TheDirector said:

 Is that a problem? Is the metal box in itself an obstruction?

Potentially, yes.

The gas meter is battery powered and has a relatively weak signal, if the enclosure is entirely metal then it is certainly not going to help.

Worst case the gas meter may not be able to reliably connect to the comms hub which is mounted on the electricity meter.

And so what happens in that situation?

Verdigris

This may say like a daft question. Although some meter boxes are metal, most are glass fibre, so is yours definitely metal?

If it is, it could possibly be changed for glass fibre, but they tend to charge rather a lot for that sort of thing.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

why depend on smart meter/ IHD, take a weekly/monthly actual meter reading, set up a wee spreadsheet, keep an eye on usage and payments.