Solar PV - meter questions 23 October 2022 at 7:09PM in Green & ethical MoneySaving 16 replies 336 views

boots_babe

Hi,

We are pretty much decided on an installer and spec now, and ready to place an order, but just one nagging thing I thought I would canvas opinion for on here. When looking at our existing meter box, the installer said there wasn't enough room in there, and he would need to install a second meter box above the existing one, at an additional cost of £450.

I've no idea if this is needed, or a reasonable cost. It's a well-reviewed installer so can't imagine he's inflating things, but just seems a lot on the face of it, so thought I would ask.

I've attached a photo below of our current meter box, does it seem right that we can't fit what's needed in there?

And then second question, I've been on the wait list for about 3 months with Octopus, to get a smart meter installed. When this finally happens, is it likely to be a similar size? I'm thinking I'd hate to pay for a whole extra meter box, then find that the smart meter is much smaller and so one box would have sufficed!

Many thanks.

Exiled_Tyke

 


My Smart meter is top right. Look a little smaller than your current one.   My meter wasn't changed when I got the installation. The generation meter (to the left with the red light showing) should be part of the standard installation is this what the installer is saying there isn't room for?  If so why does it have to be put in this box?  If the inverter is inside the house put it next to there.  If the inverter is going outside can't the installer run a cable to somewhere inside (near the consumer unit for example) for the new meter? 

Krakkkers

My generation meter was put on the inside wall of my garage no where near my regular meter and no extra cost involved.

boots_babe

Exiled_Tyke said:

 


My Smart meter is top right. Look a little smaller than your current one.   My meter wasn't changed when I got the installation. The generation meter (to the left with the red light showing) should be part of the standard installation is this what the installer is saying there isn't room for?  If so why does it have to be put in this box?  If the inverter is inside the house put it next to there.  If the inverter is going outside can't the installer run a cable to somewhere inside (near the consumer unit for example) for the new meter? 

We're going to get the inverter and batteries put in our garage, via an armoured cable from the meter box. So we could have the bi-directional meter in there, it doesn't have to be right next to our main meter? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

QrizB

boots_babe said:

We're going to get the inverter and batteries put in our garage, via an armoured cable from the meter box. So we could have the bi-directional meter in there, it doesn't have to be right next to our main meter? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

No, it doesn't have to be anywhere near your main incoming meter.

There's at least one recent thread where the MSEer has their generation meter in their loft, next to their inverter.

Dolor

My generation meter is next to the solar inverter in my detached garage. With SEG, I am not sure why installers bother with generation meters when most solar inverters will provide all the required information.

paul991

think its a leftover requirement  from FIT days,i find it useful as inverters in the loft without  wifi so i can calculate self consumption

thevilla

In my experience with a solar edge inverter, it reports generated power before losses in converting to ac.  You'll be paid for what you export after these losses.  I don't know why you need an additional export meter when a smart meter will be used for seg?  I'm on FIT so may be ill informed.

boots_babe

Just to update, we've spoken to the installer and he's going to come for another look and a chat later this week. But he did say over the phone that he "needs to split the tails, right at the incomer above the main unit" which is why it's not possible to do within the existing meter box.

That means nothing to me, but obviously will ask for details when he visits in a couple of days. 

QrizB

boots_babe said:

... he "needs to split the tails, right at the incomer above the main unit" which is why it's not possible to do within the existing meter box. That means nothing to me, but obviously will ask for details when he visits in a couple of days. 

It means nothing to me either. I wouldn't expect him to be touching the tails, all the connections should be via your Consumer Unit.
Please let us know exactly what he is proposing to do, it may be educational.

paul991

there must be somewhere next to the consumer unit he can pull tails ont and fit a henley lock and isolator but without seeing your consumer unit and area around it, its hard to say