Can a Smart meter be installed flat (horizontally)?

Reaper

I want a Smart meter but have limited space and a Smart electricity meter + comms device won't fit vertically on the wall, but it could do if it was laid flat. Is that allowed? I have contacted my provider's 3 times but can't get an answer.

Torry_Quine

How do you know it won't fit? Has someone been to your home and told you 

Robin9

The new Smart meter is a replacement for your existing meter and is about the same size


Edit - can we have a photo please ?

Scot_39

There are sadly cases where there wont be enough space - the size differences are small - but can easily be an inch or so - and there is a limit to the bending of 100A / 25 mm2 meter tails from incoming / mains fuse - to enter the base of the new meter cleanly.

There was another poster the other day with a similar problem - with fuse to meter tails coming in just below the more compact single phase suspect old dial meter - and no space above.

See

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6509818/smart-meter-too-big/p1

My meter fitter did a lot of the rejigging - moving Henley blocks and consumer unit tail isolators around by inches - and new connection tails from meter as old were then too short - all for free - but that was more to do with replacing a 5 port compact digital E10 meter (smaller than the analogue dial meter it physically replaced) with a 4 port smart + external contactor - a suppliers choice not mine - as the 2-3 year old digital was no longer supported.

As to your main question - a quick google found one meter supplier - specifically saying to supplier's (non UK though) their smart meters should be installed upright.  

And upright does seem to be the orientation in photos posted frequently here.

But I am sure a more knowledgable person may (or maybe not ) be able to confirm mandatory.

Reed_Richards

The whole thing is electronic, I cannot see why orientation should make any difference other than the fact that the display will be on its side making it harder to take manual readings (if required).

MWT

I'd be a little surprised if it could be installed in any orientation other than flat against the board that all metering and related DNO equipment is supposed to be mounted on...

Scot_39

Reed_Richards said:

The whole thing is electronic, I cannot see why orientation should make any difference other than the fact that the display will be on its side making it harder to take manual readings (if required).

No - well at least not in early days.

They contain isolator / switching relays or contactors.

Cannot remember if fail open or fail closed.

My 4 port multirate meter uses an external contactor module to switch restricted supply 6 times a day - it sounds very mechanical to me -  a 5 port meter would have the alcs on board.

The DNO guidelines mark a simple meter cabinet in 4 quadrants - bottom left for supply fuse - top left for meter - and meter designed to be mounted flat against the board.

And whilst not saying its the reason - anything other than upright would risk water collecting on mains terminals.

MultiFuelBurner

Condensation and gravity.

Best to mount it upright not flat imo

prowla

I don't think that there is anything in the functional components of an electrical meter which should affect its orientation.

The point about condensation may be relevant, but I would be disturbed if I found any form of liquid coming from or in the vicinity of an electricity meter whether it were mounted vertical or flat.

macman

Even if legal, what horizontal surface would you mount it onto-if not a vertical wall?

MWT

macman said:

Even if legal, what horizontal surface would you mount it onto-if not a vertical wall?

... the routing for the tails could get challenging as well...