Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 55 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 4675 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

smart meters: questions to ask?

DavidMartin
My electronics does not quite extend to domestic power systems so would appreciate advice: 


We have a 4kW PV installation (which works well), but I understand some smart meters are incompatible with PV installations.  Partly for that reason I have prevented installation, so far.

I also understand that smart meter standards are still settling and not all meters being installed are guaranteed to work for the forseeable future, through changes in suppliers, etc.

There also seem to be issues around safely and future maintenance of some smart meter systems.


So ... can the team suggest questions I should ask to reduce the risk of a 'bad' smart meter installation ?


Thanks.
  • 0

    Sparkingchip:




    John Peckham:

    Alan


    Thanks. I wonder why no low current switch output from a Smart meter to switch an external contactor just like my old dumb pre-payment meter? I already had the contactor. 




    cc1a459fffe849649a8fc07441c433f3-huge-20191125_130341.jpg

    The job I am just leaving. 


    Go on, figure the wiring out. 


    Andy B 


     




    The meter is switching the neutral to the contactor.

  • 0

    Go on, figure the wiring out. 





    Looks to me like a simple single phase supply with a meter that has a some volt-free contacts that close when a certain tariff is in force (probably "off peak") - the proteus box at the top right contains a contactor and a 1A(?) fuse - which supplies the contactor coil and is switched (in its neutral) by the meter (eventually ending back in the cut-out N's block). So the the mid-right tails will supply the 24h CU and the left hand ones the off-peak CU. 


    I'm not sure about the T&E at the bottom and judging by the JB and expanding foam, I probably don't want to know...


     - Andy.
  • 0
    You would get a slap on the wrist for switching the neutral, wouldn’t you? ?
  • 0

    Sparkingchip:

    You would get a slap on the wrist for switching the neutral, wouldn’t you? ?




    Not if you switch line as well (preferably break line before neutral, etc.) 132.14; or it's a lamp control circuit 463.1.2 but Sparkingchip is correct if the switch is in the neutral conductor alone 530.3.3.

  • 0
    I was in discussions with Octopus regarding an export tariff for a building with solar panels and a three phase supply.They said that there was currently no approved three phase meter for use with export tariffs but they were hoping to have on tested and approved for use sometime in 2020.

  • 0
    This is a DNO situation, various guide books don't apply.


    Regards, UKPN.?
  • 0
    It was allways the way to switch the neutral on a 3 phase supply, i may still have an (rec) official wiring diagram somewhere.
  • 0
    It does make switching the E7 supply contactor very simple and as said above, a different set of rules apply.


    Andy B.
  • 0

    Typiod:

    It was allways the way to switch the neutral on a 3 phase supply, i may still have an (rec) official wiring diagram somewhere.




    Yea indeed. My supplier wanted to fit a REC4 switch. I declined.

  • 0

    Sparkingchip:

    It does make switching the E7 supply contactor very simple and as said above, a different set of rules apply.


    Andy B.




    Otherwise the supplier could make the volt-free switch available to switch equipment within the customers installation, but that would create all sorts of issues.


    Andy B.

Community Rules & Guidelines