Installing a new consumer unit

[Paul35]

I have just brought a new consumer unit and some new meter back boards to update me 50 year old consumer unit set up.

I’ve got everything set up ready for an electrician to start BUT wasn’t too sure who’s responsible for what?

Can an electrician extend the meter tails for my new consumer unit, or can ONLY British Gas (my supplier) do this job?

Can an electrician remove the main fuse and meter box to install new meter back boards, or can ONLY the people from the national grid/DNO do this job?

What I’m trying to find out is, can I ring up an electrician and ask them to remove my meter box and the main fuse, install new meter back boards, put them back on, extend the meter tails and then install my new consumer unit?

Thank you,
Paul.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Can an electrician extend the meter tails for my new consumer unit, or can ONLY British Gas (my supplier) do this job?

Yes, but not without someone else disconnecting the supply.

Can an electrician remove the main fuse and meter box to install new meter back boards, or can ONLY the people from the national grid/DNO do this job?

Only DNO.

What I’m trying to find out is, can I ring up an electrician and ask them to remove my meter box and the main fuse, install new meter back boards, put them back on, extend the meter tails and then install my new consumer unit?

No.

 

[AndyPRK]

talk to an electrican.

But if you want someone to move the main fuse holder, its likely to be very expensive!

I see an electrican did move a meter slightly, recently on youtube. It's going a bit far !

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Get onto your energy supplier, ask them to fit an isolator between meter and CU (The cheapest way to do this may be to buy an isolator from Toolstation or wherever, get your supplier to put a smart meter in and offer the fitter biscuits to stick the thing in while he's at it - if you're lucky they'll put one in anyway so back to Toolstation for a refund ). When you get round to booking an electrician, they can get on with the job instead of waiting on the DNO to pull the fuse for you.

 

[winston1]

Get onto your energy supplier, ask them to fit an isolator between meter and CU (The cheapest way to do this may be to buy an isolator from Toolstation or wherever, get your supplier to put a smart meter in and offer the fitter biscuits to stick the thing in while he's at it - if you're lucky they'll put one in anyway so back to Toolstation for a refund ). When you get round to booking an electrician, they can get on with the job instead of waiting on the DNO to pull the fuse for you.

He might not want a dreaded smart meter. But he does want to change the backboards behind the meter. (Don't know why though).

 

[oldbutnotdead]

He might not want a dreaded smart meter. But he does want to change the backboards behind the meter. (Don't know why though).

Picture the scene- a bit of chipboard just big enough for cutout, meter and 6 way Wylex board. Our hero is holding an 18way modern CU in his hand......
Yeah I'm not impressed with smart meters yet, where it may get fun is when the grid has too much power coming from solar and wind so pays people to use it. Flip side on a tarriff like that could be extortionate pricing if demand is excessive (believe there was some of that going on in North America in their recent cold snap)

 

[SUNRAY]

talk to an electrican.

But if you want someone to move the main fuse holder, its likely to be very expensive!

I see an electrican did move a meter slightly, recently on youtube. It's going a bit far !

1983 SEEBoard gave me permission, over the phone, to remove the cutout and meter from the wall and create site temps for timber & damp treatment. It took me 18 months to restore it, they read the meter every 6 months and never queried the lash up.

 

[scousespark]

SEEBoard was formed in 1989.

 

[SUNRAY]

SEEBoard was formed in 1989.

Don't think so, I purchased one of their vans, Bedford CA reg number ALF630H which I make about 1969. The log book showed the first owner as South Eastern Electricity Board.

 

[SUNRAY]

I started doubting myself... The first hit on google for "Seeboard shop pictures:

https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/topics/topicdecad/1960s-2

Another pic from the past;

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/574068283728667654/

 

[JohnD]

SEEBoard was formed in 1989.

That will have been the privatised utility company from the Thatcherite frenzy for selling off national assets.

The "Electricity Board" as a publicly owned organisation was in existence from 1948.

The company continued using the name afterwards.

Later it became state-owned again, so profits benefitted the taxpayer again (the French taxpayer, that is, since it was owned by EDF).

Conservatives have no objection to public ownership, provided it is not the British public.

 

[winston1]

Picture the scene- a bit of chipboard just big enough for cutout, meter and 6 way Wylex board. Our hero is holding an 18way modern CU in his hand......
Yeah I'm not impressed with smart meters yet, where it may get fun is when the grid has too much power coming from solar and wind so pays people to use it. Flip side on a tariff like that could be extortionate pricing if demand is excessive (believe there was some of that going on in North America in their recent cold snap)

I thought one was not permitted to install ones equipment (CU in this case) onto their backboard.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

I thought one was not permitted to install ones equipment (CU in this case) onto their backboard.

Fair point...forgotten about that .

 

[securespark]

Strictly speaking, this was true. In reality, everyone did it and the DNOs turned a blind eye.

I have lost count of the number of boards I have seen mounted this way, both in cabinets outside and also inside the house.

 

[Taylortwocities]

There are some backboards that have the words “Board equipment only” on them. There are some that don’t.
Back in the day the backboard, supply, cutout and meter were supplied by one entity: the “Electricity Board”

That’s not the case any more.