New Meter

[oharaf]

We had a new meter fitted today by Meter Plus, the fella who came was a real sparky!!!

Any way got talking and he told me a few things.

The new meters are £7 from Slovakia and have a work life of 10 years max.

The old meters used to be refurbed at a cost of £30 and had a working life of potentially 50 years per refurb

So every 10 years £7 plus inflation or every 50 years £30 plus inflation??

Mmmm, not good value to me.

Also I asked him if the new meters were designed for remote reading, apparently they are, but, they have been working on the software for 6 years at least and cannot get it to work properly, he has been told they are at least 5 years away from even being able to carry out a full trial.

So it looks as if the meter boys jobs are safe.

He still only used a Socket & See when he'd finished, got a few seals thou

 

[Deleted member 54734]

The new meters are £7 from Slovakia and have a work life of 10 years max.

The old meters used to be refurbed at a cost of £30 and had a working life of potentially 50 years per refurb

So every 10 years £7 plus inflation or every 50 years £30 plus inflation??

Mmmm, not good value to me.:

Varies between DNO's/meter companies.

I remember hearing my boss on the phone once talking to a salesman negotiating a price for new stock.

The conversation went something like "I'll pay you a pound per meter or i'll go to another company".

The life span also varies per type, round here the longest life I've ever seen is on a sangamo which last's for 30yrs.

But yes the majority if not all i fit now last for around 10yrs tho OFGEM have been known to extend them when they are coming to the end of their life.

Also I asked him if the new meters were designed for remote reading, apparently they are, but, they have been working on the software for 6 years at least and cannot get it to work properly, he has been told they are at least 5 years away from even being able to carry out a full trial.

So it looks as if the meter boys jobs are safe.

Again I think it varies......
We fitted some around 15yrs ago (before my time) in one area which had a telephone lead sticking out of the bottom, AFAIK this was then plugged into the phone line and could be dialed up when a reading was needed.

We still use a similar system for CT panels in factories the meter readers have problems getting access into.

There is however(I've head on the grapevine) a type our company are testing at the moment called a SMART METER.

This type is supposed to be able to be read without gaining access to the property by sending out the reading over bluetooth/wifi or similar.
So the meter reader only has to drive up the street in his van to get all the readings.
It will also read the gas and electricity on the same meter (take it some kind of sensor on the supplys) and will also tell you how much your appliances are using.

I'm sure somebody posted on here not so long ago saying they had just had one fitted?

He still only used a Socket & See when he'd finished, got a few seals thou

Can't see the problem with a socket and see for what we use it for?
Infact i can't think of a better tool for a quick test of polarity on a circuit before and after, tho I'm sure somebody will point me towards something in a min

Also can't see how the seals would be of use without the crimps.
I know you can crimp them without the pliers but if we were going to try and take somebody to court for tampering, UNSTAMPED crimps are just the same as NO crimps.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Infact i can't think of a better tool for a quick test of polarity on a circuit before and after, tho I'm sure somebody will point me towards something in a min

Yes, they're OK for a quick test (Phase/neutral reversal) but they do not check if the neutral & earth are reversed. You'll still get 3 lights if N & E are swopped.

But that's unlikely to happen on "your" side Roo!

 

[Deleted member 54734]

Yup knew about the earth neutral but like you said...

I also use a NEON!

 

[Taylortwocities]

 

[Deleted member 54734]

Tis the approved method due to earth spikes being awkward to use on a PME supply at the top of a block of flats.

Never used to test for dead tho.

 

[plugwash]

but they do not check if the neutral & earth are reversed.

I don't think there is any reliable way for a tester to determine if earth and neutral are reveresed. After all they connect to the same place.

 

[RF Lighting]

Also can't see how the seals would be of use without the crimps.

My offer of a cup of tea and two chocolate hobnobs still stands, should you happen to "loose" your pair