Should I move electrical meter, CU and mains power?

[RakS]

Hi all,

I'm getting my house refurbished and the Electricity meter is currently located above where my new hob will go (and where my old hob was,) in a small opening in the wall. My builder's said that he thinks it might be wise to move it, and reposition it close to the new consumer unit which will be installed, but I understand moving meters can be expensive. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I was thinking of moving that a few meters further down the wall. In this instance, would it be better to move the Cut Out, CU and Meter to the new location?

Is the Cut Out OK to stay where it is or is it outdated and needs to be replaced, regardless?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[bernardgreen]

It would be very wise to arrange with your DNO to have the cut out moved. It is after all the main fuse to your property and should it blow ( unlikely ) then removal of kitchen cabinets to access it to rpelace it would be a serious inconvenience. There also the consideration of a fault developing in the cut out.

DNO District Network Operator, find yours here http://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/electricity-distribution-map.html

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'm getting my house refurbished and the Electricity meter is currently located above where my new hob will go (and where my old hob was,) in a small opening in the wall.

And also concealed in that wall you have a supply cable with no fault protection on it other than the fuses back at the substation.

Not good at all.

My builder's said that he thinks it might be wise to move it, and reposition it close to the new consumer unit which will be installed,

If you were to have the new CU somewhere else, what would be the plan for running the tails from the meter to that location?

BTW - please don't let a builder have anything to do with electrics.

but I understand moving meters can be expensive.

It can. But ...

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

... my thought is that you have little choice but to move the cutout and the meter.

 

[winston1]

I would get moved out of the kitchen altogether, perhaps to a box on the outside wall.

 

[phatboy]

Your DNO might co-operate with re-locating this to outside, as this is what they seem to like (Well, in my area they certainly do). In my case they offered to relocate it outside for no charge (I declined).

Worth having the conversation, you could be pleasantly surprised.

 

[EFLImpudence]

What is the other side of the wall?

 

[RakS]

What is the other side of the wall?

Neighbours house.
Looks like I'm gonna have to arrange/pay for the whole shebang to be moved. Oh well, thanks anyway.

 

[OwainDIYer]

The cutout's fine but the fuseboard is in very poor condition and needs to be repaired or replaced.

What may complicate this is
(a) you appear to have a Clifton / Mantel consumer unit cupboard, to repair/replace this in situ you can get a 'skeleton' consumer unit but it will need some fettling to fir in the existing
(b) units of this age typically use Imperial size steel conduit in the walls and that can make extending/rewiring circuits more awkward
(c) there's a slim chance your cutout is back-to-back with your neighbour's and may share the same supply cable.

I would (a) relocate the hob if at all possible (b) put a splashproof metal hinged door over the whole thing. Having a CU behind a hob though is a very bad move if access is required to it in an emergency or darkness and you have hot pans on the hob.

 

[Doggit]

The CU definitely needs moving, as does the meter, but I suspect the cutout could actually be left where it is, as long as you fit a heat resistant splashback over it (and maybe a bit more besides). The current setup is above the hob, and would be below the extractor, but with some careful planning, I expect it could be left where it was, and if you move the hob, then it would very likely end up with a wall cupboard there instead - which could be worse.

 

[333rocky333]

I understand moving meters can be expensive.

http://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/internet/en/our-services/move-equipment-underground-supply/