Securing Electricity Meter Cupboard

nickpowell77 · 11 Jan 2017

Hi - I have an outdoor meter cupboard which contains a master switch that would kill the power to my house. I would like to make access to the cupboard difficult and therefore would like to secure it with a better lock than the crappy triangular keys.

Any thoughts on how best to do this?

Thanks, Nick

Jadele · 11 Jan 2017

I have always thought that this is a problem but never had one fortunatley. We recently moved and my idea if there were to be one on the new house was to buy wide Key Safe such as this http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p65...=65310&gclid=Cj0KEQiAzNfDBRD2xKrO4pSnnOkBEiQA cut the back out of it except where the securing holes are and then bolt it on over the crappy lock allowing access to it without much damage to the box. Failing that you could put a loop either side of the box and slide a bar in that can have a lock attached. you know something like this https://www.insight-security.com/image.php?product=5999

nickpowell77 · 11 Jan 2017

That's great @Jadele thanks for your advice. I just ordered the key safe

SFK · 11 Jan 2017

Or drill two holes in meter cupboard, one in door and one in frame. Pass a Cable Tie through the holes and tighten to secure door.
Small so does not draw attention to itself, and stops any quick opening of door, but allows you and meter reader to get in by cutting off Cable Tie.
Of course not that strong so it does not stop a slightly determined effort.
sfk

Taylortwocities · 11 Jan 2017

Any lock/cable tie etc would mean that the supply company would not be able to access the meter and/or remove the main fuse should they need to.

You might like to check your supply agreement about access.

Mind you, it won't be any more difficult that accessing the millions of electriciaty meters that are inside peoples homes.

Simon35 · 11 Jan 2017

nickpowell77 said:
Hi - I have an outdoor meter cupboard which contains a master switch that would kill the power to my house. I would like to make access to the cupboard difficult and therefore would like to secure it with a better lock than the crappy triangular keys.

Any thoughts on how best to do this?

Thanks, Nick

Why? Do you regularly have people switching your supply off, or are you fixing a non-existent problem?

Jadele · 11 Jan 2017

my problem with them is if someone suspects you are on holiday they can shut down the supply let your alarm batteries die then rob you with no alarm later in the week.

JohnW2 · 11 Jan 2017

Jadele said:
my problem with them is if someone suspects you are on holiday they can shut down the supply let your alarm batteries die then rob you with no alarm later in the week.

Not impossible, I suppose. However, it could be partially addressed by fitting a (battery-powered) 'power failure alarm', which would alert the neighbours to the fact that something was wrong.

In the final analysis, nothing would stop a fairly determined person getting into an external meter cabinet and, if they were clever/careful, without leaving much evidence that it had been tampered with.

Kind Regards, John

EFLImpudence · 11 Jan 2017

Jadele said:
my problem with them is if someone suspects you are on holiday they can shut down the supply let your alarm batteries die then rob you with no alarm later in the week.

They could always buy some insulated side cutters.

Jadele · 11 Jan 2017

EFLImpudence said:
They could always buy some insulated side cutters.

well my post was more sort of saying what my problem with external meter housings is rather than this is what I do to prevent unauthorised access. I don't have an externally accessible power supply but if I did I would put in some extra protection.

Like with anything if they want to do something or take something there is little to stop them but you can always make it easier to do someone else lol

mfarrow · 11 Jan 2017

Have you got a photo of the switch? It could be lockable in the on position.

Meterman can read numbers, and people can't be mischievous.

Taylortwocities · 11 Jan 2017

If a badman wanted to dis the supply, he could just yank the main fuse. He wouldn't phone the DNO for permission first, either!

Simon35 · 11 Jan 2017

Jadele said:
my problem with them is if someone suspects you are on holiday they can shut down the supply let your alarm batteries die then rob you with no alarm later in the week.

Would they just not go and rob a house without an alarm, mine for example, instead?

Iggifer · 11 Jan 2017

Simon35 said:
Would they just not go and rob a house without an alarm, mine for example, instead?

Only if you're (the person without an alarm) a neighbour and happen to be away at the same time.

Although I think your general house breaker isn't really that far up the IQ chart to think about to turning off the entire supply a couple of days before breaking into the house.

Similarly though, I know of an electrician, who shall remain nameless, who popped a DNO fuse at about 7pm on a Friday and instead of phoning them and waiting for them to attend, drove around to the nearest external meter cabinet, ran out, pinched the fuse and ran off again.

True or not? I don't know, but I've heard it from more than one source.

JBR · 11 Jan 2017

I have to say that this concerned me a little when we recently had our meter moved to a box outside the house. I suppose there must be a lot of people with this outside meter arrangement, so the chances of it being us is remote - hopefully.

I wonder what the objection would be (by the DNO) if householders could pay for a more secure box. After all, this would be no more of an inconvenience than gaining access to a meter inside someone's house.

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Securing Electricity Meter Cupboard

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