Potential meter mix up/faulty meter

EssexHebridean

Some NSH's can be wired in that way - the newer ones that have an option to use an additional element ideally should be, certainly. Older standard box of bricks ones should usually be on a completely separate circuit that only comes live when the meter tells it off-peak has kicked in. OP - do your storage heaters have a single mains switch next to them to activate them when you reach the point of needing heating on, or do they have two? (The answer doesn't necessarily solve the mystery, but it might rule out some possibilities).

Can you let us have a photo showing where that yellow cable goes to, as well please? (I appreciate that this might rely on whether you have a pic showing this already due to the issues with accessing the meter cupboard.) 

Mister_G

Raxiel said:

Just inferring from the photo, you have a 4 terminal meter, and the output is split shortly afterwards. presumably one is the general supply to the flat, and the other is to the storage heaters. If you had a 5 terminal meter they might have all been connected directly and the heater circuit only energised during the 'off peak' hours. Whether it was like that until the smart meter went in (early smart meters only came in 4 terminal form) or an earlier swap, or if it had never been wired that way, I couldn't say.

Looks like a 5 terminal meter to me.

EssexHebridean

Mister_G said:

Raxiel said:

Just inferring from the photo, you have a 4 terminal meter, and the output is split shortly afterwards. presumably one is the general supply to the flat, and the other is to the storage heaters. If you had a 5 terminal meter they might have all been connected directly and the heater circuit only energised during the 'off peak' hours. Whether it was like that until the smart meter went in (early smart meters only came in 4 terminal form) or an earlier swap, or if it had never been wired that way, I couldn't say.

Looks like a 5 terminal meter to me.

I wasn't sure either way - hence asking about that yellow cable - it could be that runs to a contactor which activates the switch between the two circuits (apologies to the experts here if my wording oversimplifies this!). Alternatively it could be that two thick cables leave the meter and immediately disappear into the box on the left. 

Raxiel

Mister_G said:

Raxiel said:

Just inferring from the photo, you have a 4 terminal meter, and the output is split shortly afterwards. presumably one is the general supply to the flat, and the other is to the storage heaters. If you had a 5 terminal meter they might have all been connected directly and the heater circuit only energised during the 'off peak' hours. Whether it was like that until the smart meter went in (early smart meters only came in 4 terminal form) or an earlier swap, or if it had never been wired that way, I couldn't say.

Looks like a 5 terminal meter to me.

On second look you're right. I'd assumed the 4th cable was concealed behind the three visible grey cables, looking up the meter the two inputs are concealed by the grey cover next to the DNO fuse, so yes that's 5.

Beats me what that second black junction box is for in that case, it's not on the timed circuit, perhaps that's the boost?

Makes my suggested test unworkable, unless it was done during the off peak period.

Another question for the OP is then - are ALL the meters in the cupboard wired the same way?

Mister_G

The "yellow cable" is actually a green and yellow earth cable from the cutout.

The fact that the grey cables with brown markers are numbered 4 and 5 indicates that the actul meter does the switching.

EssexHebridean

Mister_G said:

The "yellow cable" is actually a green and yellow earth cable from the cutout.

The fact that the grey cables with brown markers are numbered 4 and 5 indicates that the actul meter does the switching.

Ahh thanks - I wondered whether it was an earth cable but couldn't see the green on my screen! 

Lemon483

Raxiel said:

Lemon483 said:

[Deleted User] said:

OP - what makes you think the meter hasn’t been installed properly? Smart meters are just meters that record electricity usage in the same way as an old analogue meter with the ability to send index readings and usage data to the nominated supplier. 

If a meter is accruing unexpected usage during just the offpeak period then the most likely cause is something that is set to use power at this time. The supplier will happily agree to fit a check meter alongside your existing meter*: however, if the existing meter is found to be recording usage accurately you will incur a charge for this test. I disagree with others that the supplier will just turn up and replace a meter on the off chance that there may be a fault.

You need to get an electrician in to rule out internal wiring issues. Any wiring upstream of the meter is the homeowner’s responsibility.

* only gas meters are removed for independent laboratory testing.

Mainly because it is recording usage when everything is off and the landlord has confirmed that since the new meter has been installed he received a high bill while the property was empty. Originally I thought if a few meters were swapped the same day, it could be the case of the wires being confused and our off peak supply is supplying another flat, that's why it is recording when everything is off at the fuse box, but after doing some sanity checks it is supplying our flat too as I can see the change in usage (I have turned the oven on to heat up and the usage went up). 

Just inferring from the photo, you have a 4 terminal meter, and the output is split shortly afterwards. presumably one is the general supply to the flat, and the other is to the storage heaters. If you had a 5 terminal meter they might have all been connected directly and the heater circuit only energised during the 'off peak' hours. Whether it was like that until the smart meter went in (early smart meters only came in 4 terminal form) or an earlier swap, or if it had never been wired that way, I couldn't say.

Your theory about miswiring the heater circuit seems plausible to me. You've confirmed that meter is connected to your general supply with an oven test, but that doesn't help with the off peak supply.

I'd suggest repeating the test, but this time turning off everything you can on the general supply, then turning on just the storage heaters.

I don't have personal experience with storage heaters, but I understand many are wired into both off peak and general circuits, with the overnight charge done on the former and a separate boost option on the latter. If yours are like that, don't use the boost, make sure its trying to charge on the off peak circuit. You may need to adjust a timer so it does it during the day. If the meter starts flashing rapidly, its probably not cross wired. If its not, try and figure out who's is.

Thats the thing, we don't use storage heaters and they are off at the fuse box since we moved in. Plus everything was off for 10 days before we moved into the property, however the smart meter was recording 15kwh usage a day during off peak while the flat was empty.

The main reason why I'm not keen on turning storage heaters on is mainly because it will be way too hot in the flat. 

When I was messing with the tests the storage heaters seem to work properly if charged on peak and also I can see the energy spike if charged off peak too, so the meter is definitely recording our usage alongside with someone else's it seems

Lemon483

Raxiel said:

Mister_G said:

Raxiel said:

Just inferring from the photo, you have a 4 terminal meter, and the output is split shortly afterwards. presumably one is the general supply to the flat, and the other is to the storage heaters. If you had a 5 terminal meter they might have all been connected directly and the heater circuit only energised during the 'off peak' hours. Whether it was like that until the smart meter went in (early smart meters only came in 4 terminal form) or an earlier swap, or if it had never been wired that way, I couldn't say.

Looks like a 5 terminal meter to me.

On second look you're right. I'd assumed the 4th cable was concealed behind the three visible grey cables, looking up the meter the two inputs are concealed by the grey cover next to the DNO fuse, so yes that's 5.

Beats me what that second black junction box is for in that case, it's not on the timed circuit, perhaps that's the boost?

Makes my suggested test unworkable, unless it was done during the off peak period.

Another question for the OP is then - are ALL the meters in the cupboard wired the same way?

Yeah, all the meters are wired this way in the cupboard. 

Someone asked about green and yellow cables and one of them goes to the on peak box and the other goes off peak box on the left of the meter. On the same rows there's also an older meter for another flat so the grey wires seem to intervine and make it hard to tell if they go to the correct boxes as they are hard to follow and the same colour scheme and size.