Switch fuse after meter??

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Hi, just getting some work done on my house.

The proposed consumer unit location is under the stairs and around 10m from the meter which is in the garage. The electrician says he will need a switch fuse at the meter end in order to allow the distance between the meter and board is over 2m.

What is it? and will the cable between the meter and consumer unit need to be an armoured?

Would just like a second opinion.

Many thanks.
 
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Yes a switch fuse is needed.

Yes swa is a good idea if the cable is exposed or being installed anywhere that is likely to suffer damage, such as vermin, nails, screws etc.

The alternative would be earthed galv trunking as containment along the route between Henley box supplied to the feed tails adjacent to the meter and the cu.
 
Yes a switch fuse is needed.

Yes swa is a good idea if the cable is exposed or being installed anywhere that is likely to suffer damage, such as vermin, nails, screws etc.

The alternative would be earthed galv trunking as containment along the route between Henley box supplied to the feed tails adjacent to the meter and the cu.

Thanks, very helpful
 
Chri5 is right, it's needed

In most instances it's needed for regulatory reasons rather than technical ones. The fuse is required to protect the cable in the event of a fault, the switch part is largely a matter of convenience. In most cases, given the correct choice of cable, the cable between the meter and consumer unit would in fact be adequately protected by the electricity distributors's fuse, however most distributors impose a maximum limit of 3m of cable to be protected by their fuse, any more and they will insist on a customer fuse as well.

There is a slight flaw in the thinking behind this though. Assuming the customers cable is of adequate size to handle the full available supply, then the customers fuse and the distributors fuse will likely be of the same rating and in the event of a fault there is no telling which one will blow first (known as discrimination, or lack of it in this case) This is just background info BTW, you're still required to have one!
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Chri5 is right, it's needed

In most instances it's needed for regulatory reasons rather than technical ones. The fuse is required to protect the cable in the event of a fault, the switch part is largely a matter of convenience. In most cases, given the correct choice of cable, the cable between the meter and consumer unit would in fact be adequately protected by the electricity distributors's fuse, however most distributors impose a maximum limit of 3m of cable to be protected by their fuse, any more and they will insist on a customer fuse as well.

There is a slight flaw in the thinking behind this though. Assuming the customers cable is of adequate size to handle the full available supply, then the customers fuse and the distributors fuse will likely be of the same rating and in the event of a fault there is no telling which one will blow first (known as discrimination, or lack of it in this case) This is just background info BTW, you're still required to have one!
[/i]


Great thanks
 

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