Anybody had problem of no isolation switch from SMETs to Fuse Box? Charges?

macman

With Octopus, do you need to request the isolator beforehand, or do they have them 'on the van' and fit them by default if not already there?
My installer is SMS, not Octopus themselves.

GreenCustomer

I have this switch inside my fuse box. Is this the same as an isolator switch? 

PennyForThem_2

I need my old fuse box replaced (really for my own peace of mind tbh) thus the need for isolator switch.

Yes, Octopus do installation of isolator switch for free - all confirmed but not yet booked - will do this mid Dec for mid Jan.  I havebeen told but not confirmed that Western Distribution charge £250 and other utility companies may or may not charge.

Glad the post generated questions and debate - this is a good use of the forum IMO.

molerat

GreenCustomer said:

I have this switch inside my fuse box. Is this the same as an isolator switch?

No, that is purely your main switch for the fuse box.

This is the isolator switch, top right, that isolates your fuse box from the main supply so you can carry out work without pulling the main fuse, bottom left, which can cause the smart meter to log errors.

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MWT

GreenCustomer said:

I have this switch inside my fuse box. Is this the same as an isolator switch?

No, that just cuts the power to the other circuits in your 'fuse box'.

The purpose of the isolator switch is to cut the power right after the meter so your electrician can do work like replacing your 'fuse box' or splitting the incoming supply to other devices.

Mister_G

molerat said:

GreenCustomer said:

I have this switch inside my fuse box. Is this the same as an isolator switch?

No, that is purely your main switch for the fuse box.

This is the isolator switch, top right, that isolates your fuse box from the main supply so you can carry out work without pulling the main fuse, bottom left, which can cause the smart meter to log errors.

 .

This one's a bit unusual as there is an additional switched fused isolator as the consumer unit is obviously further away than the maximum allowed for meter tails of 3m.  Looks like its a 25/16mm SWA from the fused isolator to wherever the consumer unit is located.

molerat

Mister_G said:

This one's a bit unusual as there is an additional switched fused isolator as the consumer unit is obviously further away than the maximum allowed for meter tails of 3m.  Looks like its a 25/16mm SWA from the fused isolator to wherever the consumer unit is located.

My tails must be at least 7m.  Meter at front of house and fuse box in the middle.  I measured a straight line inside the house from the other side of the internal wall where the fuse box is to the other side of the porch wall where the meter is and it was a straight line 18ft.  Regs were obviously different in the 80s.

Mister_G

molerat said:

Mister_G said:

This one's a bit unusual as there is an additional switched fused isolator as the consumer unit is obviously further away than the maximum allowed for meter tails of 3m.  Looks like its a 25/16mm SWA from the fused isolator to wherever the consumer unit is located.

My tails must be at least 7m.  Meter at front of house and fuse box in the middle.  I measured a straight line inside the house from the other side of the internal wall where the fuse box is to the other side of the porch wall where the meter is and it was a straight line 18ft.  Regs were obviously different in the 80s.

Would probably have been done to 14th or 15th edition of the Regs.  I'm afraid that my copies have long gone!

GreenCustomer

Many thanks @MWT and @molerat for clarifying.  Looks like I will need an isolator switch too when I get a smart meter. Thanks to OP too..yes a useful post.