Can anyone help me identify what is in my electrical meter box please?

Qyburn

Scot_39 said:

The split of ownership in the meter cabinet itself - I always thought none of that was householder - but a poster above suggests otherwise - and happy to bow to better knowledge.

I believe the isolator is the customer's, the only item bit of householder kit allowed in the meter cabinet. Looks like a three phase unit pressed into service, hopefully the togglescare all ganged together so it's one switch. You really do not want anything that could disconnect Neutral on it's own!

doodling

Hi,

chris_n said:

The isolater (box on the right) is all you need.

No, that is not the case.

The isolator is an on/off switch (only) and does not provide overcurrent protection.

Most DNOs require separate overcurrent protection if the tails are longer than a certain length (usually around 3m).  The DNO fuse is there to protect their supply, not your long tails.

You should expect to install a "switchfuse" in addition to the isolator currently present (I think the isolator belongs to the DNO but am willing to be corrected).  This will need to be installed within a short distance of the meter cabinet but probably won't fit within it.

Mister_G

Shifting the isolator up a bit, your electrician should be able to fit one of these in.  

https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/product/danson-100a-fuse-consumer-unit-and-fuse-carrier-with-80a-fuse-691039?vat=1&pr=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRtYnyrr-rG3fC86nSMp4S61yH-QjoV3dgZXf-9ICmUC3iLXVXEX0TRoC9loQAvD_BwE

The isolator is normally considered to belong to the consumer, even if fitted by the DNO, but worth checking directly with them.

I'm assuming that you will not be needing the E7 supply anymore, so they could actually replace the isolator with a single phase one.

Qyburn

Normally the isolator would be something like this ..
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/795554-100a-fused-main-switch

I wonder if the existing isolator has MCBs? As I say it looks like a three phase device repurposed to switch the two supplies with a single toggle.

doodling

Hi,

Qyburn said:

Normally the isolator would be something like this ..
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/795554-100a-fused-main-switch

I wonder if the existing isolator has MCBs? As I say it looks like a three phase device repurposed to switch the two supplies with a single toggle.

It is almost certainly a repurposed three phase plus neutral switch (and presumably installed as standard where an isolator is required for E7).  I note from looking again at the picture that someone has sealed it so I'm guessing that the DNO or the supplier thinks that it is not customer modifiable.

It is clear from the picture that it is purely a switch, no overcurrent protection.

Mister_G

It's quite normal to seal the incoming side of the isolator (mine is).  The customer side is unsealed to allow connection of cables.