Meter Reading Change for our Freehold

[ericmark]

My smart meter 5 inches wide, and 7 inches wide, but needs another 4 inches below it to have a reasonable curve for the cables.
My old meter this type

and there was not enough room to change it. Other items on the board had to be moved first, but I wanted a smart meter to be paid for export, so I had to jump through their loops.

I have had problems in the past with meter installers, including giving a TT supply, when the paperwork said the supply would be TN-C-S, and they actually turned on the supply with no earth connected.

Current rules seem to be that only one wire may be terminated in each port

That seems fair enough, can't really say torqued up correctly if more than one cable per terminal, at one time they wanted an electrician present before connecting the supply, or at least a resent EICR or EIC, and really can't raise them without any supply. I had this argument many times with caravans, any certificate issued no longer valid once moved.

But with an existing supply, that is not really valid, they have two options, connect as it was connected before, or abort the meter change. My meter change was aborted twice. I must say final job was very neat, full marks, and new tails fitted as well to the isolator.

But had I not asked for a new meter, I don't think I would have ever got one. And I simply can't read it, OK the app tells me what I have used, so that is not a problem, but in my wife's name, so every so often they change pass word, and I have to change it in the app.

It would be far cheaper if the communal lights were added through a meter of course to one of the residents supplies and the other 3 paid him, it would remove the standing charge.

 

[SUNRAY]

That sounds very reasonable, doesn't it? I must say that I can't recall every having seen otherwise.

Years back it was extremely common:
7/.0.044" to the 30A or 7/0.052" to a 60A DP fused switch
7/0.029" to the 10 or 15A DP fused switch for lighting

And a modern example possibly even 2 examples

Oh and both of those properties have an EV charger as does the other head where the looped supply originates from

As above, I don't really see why that situation should arise. In particular, in terms f the OP's friend, it would seem particularly odd that a fire-alarm should be fed directly from the meter (if t was) - not the least because there would have to be some OPD somewhere!

As above 2 different isolator/ocpd

 

[plugwash]

As above, I don't really see why that situation should arise. In particular, in terms f the OP's friend, it would seem particularly odd that a fire-alarm should be fed directly from the meter (if t was) - not the least because there would have to be some OPD somewhere!

Second fuseboxes/CUs get installed for a bunch of reasons. Sometimes running out of slots, sometimes lack of parts availability, sometimes lack of provision for RCD protection (or conversely, not wanting to put something like a fire alarm or lift supply on a RCD).

Now the installer of the second CU probablly should use Henly blocks, but the reality is people cut corners. We see loads of old installations on here with multiple sets of tails in the meter outputs.

 

[JohnW2]

Second fuseboxes/CUs get installed for a bunch of reasons. Sometimes running out of slots, sometimes lack of parts availability, sometimes lack of provision for RCD protection (or conversely, not wanting to put something like a fire alarm or lift supply on a RCD).

Sure, but as you go on to write ....

Now the installer of the second CU probablly should use Henly blocks, but the reality is people cut corners. We see loads of old installations on here with multiple sets of tails in the meter outputs.

It's surely a very strong "should", isn't it?

Whilst I've seen plenty of second CUs/fuseboxes installed for the sort of reasons you give, I'm pretty sure that I never seen wired directly into a meter (along with the first one) - only ever with Henley's or suchlike. Apart from anything else, I'm not sure it really would qualify as 'cutting corners' since, unless the person wanted to do something very naughty and dangerous, there would be as much hassle involved in getting the DNO fuse pulled and getting access to the meter terminals (if anyone was prepared to provide that access) as there would be in fitting a Henley/whatever, wouldn't there?

 

[JohnW2]

Years back it was extremely common: .... 7/.0.044" to the 30A or 7/0.052" to a 60A DP fused switch .... 7/0.029" to the 10 or 15A DP fused switch for lighting

I know that we're both pretty old, but you seem to be turning the clock back to the days before domestic DBs/CUs, aren't you? What I said was that I cannot recall ever having seen a 'second CU' fed directly from a meter, and that obviously presues that there is a 'first CU' already fed from the meter.

And a modern example possibly even 2 examples ........ Oh and both of those properties have an EV charger as does the other head where the looped supply originates from

Hmmmm. Is my eyesight failing me as well as everything else? As far as I can tell from your photo, what I'm seeing is two meters, each of which only has one pair of outgoing conductors. Where is the meter which is supplying two or more things (e.g an 'original CU' plus something else that has been added)?