Advice on replacing CU

[skatman]

Hello, i am looking to you all for advice. I want to replace my current cu with a newer larger one. At present i have 3 separate ones 1x6 mcb's,1x2 mcb's and 1x1 mcb. This is what was fitted when i bought the place.

I am not a qualified sparks but am pretty competent with my electrical work, however i do not wish to or intend to mess with the service fuse. I have read some post's from people who are qualified and their advice is good enough for me. I have noticed a few suggestions of having an isolater fitted between the service fuse and cu, hence giving a means of cutting power to CU.

Would i be right in thinking a key electric meter is as good as . i.e if i let the meter run out of credit would this isolate the CU and allow me to change it.

Thanks in advance for your help
Cheers

 

[Steve]

I wouldn't trust the key meter to safely isolate the electricity. Do you have one of those blue talexus electric keys? They are cool, aren't they? Much better than tokens! besides, when you run out of credit, you will then have to wait for the emergency credit to run out . . . could be night time by the time you can start . . . not good to change a CU in the dark!!! Dont do it anyway.

Can you post a picture of the meter, main fuse and the CU's? preferably all in the same photo so we can see the wires joiing it all up. Replacing this all with a nice snazzy RCD CU would be a wise decision, although it may throw up other problems with the electrical installation which fuses wont detect.

Fitting a new CU is not really a DIY job, but if you consider yourself competent enough, buy an isolator, get your electricity supplier to come and pull the fuse for the day, and fit the isolator while the power is off safely. Then anytime in the future you can work on the install in safety. This work will be notifiable to your local building control department. Give them a bell and tell them what you want to do, and they will advise the best course of action for you.

 

[Steve]

I have a quick question, relevant and not worth starting a new thread . . .

WHY have a meter that is capable of automatically switching 100 amps, and not have some form of override, so you can take advantage of this switching capability and avoid the cost of an isolator? Worlds gone mad.

 

[securespark]

Some meters have a DP switch on the consumer terminal side.