Meter Isolation

[dingbat]

I did some work for a customer recently and recommended he get in EME to upgrade his supply. He asked for a fuse upgrade, new tails and an isolator. the isolator principally because he'll be getting a rewire some time in the next year. But here's the thing. They fitted a new digital meter, upgraded the fuse to 100A (from 60A) and then connected the new meter (via 100mm length of 25 sq mm tails) to the Henley block that served the existing installation, from which 16 sq mm tails go to the fuse box as before... so much for the upgrade.

When the customer queried the lack of an isolator he was told that the meter had an integral isolator and that beyond that point it was entirely up to the owner of the installation. They told him to remove the seals on the connection side of the meter and connect up his own new tails.

Has anybody come across this? I've always made a point of avoiding anything to do with the meters. I don't recall ever noticing a meter with an integral isolator. Has anybody ever isolated the supply at the meter?

 

[BR]

Yes, most of the new meters are fitted with internal isolators. The tails from the service head are connected to the bottom of the meter as before and this is sealed with a supply board seal. At the top of the meter then is cover, behind which is the connections for the customers 16mmsq supply cable. The isolator (small red switch) is also fitted behind this cover.

 

[dingbat]

Well there you go then... you learn something every day. But shouldn't there be provision for customers' 25mmsq supply cable?

 

[Millennium_Boy]

Ampy Automation's new digital meters also have an isolator, which is a white rotary switch near the bottom right, with a Positive Contact Indication window.
see here

 

[dingbat]

Nice one MB. All this gucci new kit going in left, right and Chelsea, regs being updated all over the place, part P... blimey, next thing you know they'll be changing all the colour codes... d'oh!