Move electricity meter and consumer unit implicatons

Profile9506

Hi,

Our electricity meter is currently situated very close (a few centimetres) from the consumer unit. They are both situated in the integral garage. 

We are converting the integral garage to an extra bedroom and we'd prefer to move the meter to the outside of the property. That's moving the meter about ~2-3 meters. We haven't had an electrician over yet, but some of the builders advised to keep the meter where it is, because it will be a pain connecting the new meter to the existing consumer unit. Do you think it's a reasonable concern?

grumbler

Profile9506 said:

... some of the builders advised to keep the meter where it is, because it will be a pain connecting the new meter to the existing consumer unit. Do you think it's a reasonable concern?

I don't see why connecting could be a pain, although there are restrictions on the length of the cable between the meter and the CU. A bigger pain can be to move the meter as this is the job that only the supplier (Cadent?) can do, and, as a monopolist, they are likely to charge a lot.

Profile9506

Thanks, what are the restrictions? I've read somewhere that it should be less than 3 meters, unless there is a fuse(?) between the meter and the CU. is this true?

gm0

Yes. Extra fuse is a required protection feature for long tails.  As is care on cable spec if to be buried (in whatever structure) and whether trunking is used. Still rated to the 100A buried.

Being the earth path for a  240v 100A meter tail is not recommended.  So a cable type that minimises "some idiot drilled into it later" risk is a sound plan.  Spec will likely mandate something amored or routed through the equivalent trunking anyway.  Closer to the supply cable than a nornal tail.

Your sparky should know and be able to sort a Part P option for your structure - based on where it needs to go

Or you can extend house wiring with normal cables/rules - with a CU move / joiner box or a couple.  And put a CU back by the meter.  Short normal surface tails. No additional fuse. 

But lots of cables and another set of connections to make for that.  But still one lot of CU change retesting of all circuits.

DNO moving a main fuse connection a trivial amount = 1k. 
Moving it outside - could easily be 2k - 5k depending what is around and the scope to intercept current route and repurpose.  They will charge even to think about it.  This is where they recover field force money.  Elective changes. New supplies.

ka7e

It can be quite complicated. Your supplier has to do the actual installation of a new meter and may have to send in 3rd party contractors to re-route the supply. You also need an electrician on hand to reconnect the meter to the CU. We had the meter moved to an external wall and it involved digging up a footpath to join it up to the nearest cabling. The preferred position for the CU is near the front door so in the event of a fire, the Fire Brigade can isolate the power on entry to the building. Our supplier charged £1200 to move the meter (5 years ago) and we had to pay the electrician on top of that.

badmemory

If it is outside you risk damage to the box due to weather or other interference.  Also if it becomes necessary to read the meter it could be a problem.

35har1old

badmemory said:

If it is outside you risk damage to the box due to weather or other interference.  Also if it becomes necessary to read the meter it could be a problem.

Cut out and meter would be outside.
It is to prevent any attempt of bye passing the meter

badmemory

35har1old said:

badmemory said:

If it is outside you risk damage to the box due to weather or other interference.  Also if it becomes necessary to read the meter it could be a problem.

Cut out and meter would be outside.
It is to prevent any attempt of bye passing the meter

I didn't actually mean by-passing the meter.  There are outside meters near here & all the doors are off & broken, but I can turn my electric off & who would want some local yob to do that.

ashe

ka7e said:

It can be quite complicated. Your supplier has to do the actual installation of a new meter and may have to send in 3rd party contractors to re-route the supply. You also need an electrician on hand to reconnect the meter to the CU. We had the meter moved to an external wall and it involved digging up a footpath to join it up to the nearest cabling. The preferred position for the CU is near the front door so in the event of a fire, the Fire Brigade can isolate the power on entry to the building. Our supplier charged £1200 to move the meter (5 years ago) and we had to pay the electrician on top of that.

Good luck to them with ours, its in a kitchen cupboard behind a load of prosecco glasses