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 33 replies
  • Subscribers 28 subscribers
  • Views 3315 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

UKPN service head to smart meter - Advice and options?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Situation - first floor maisonette

UKPN Service head (60A fuse) TN-S is located in ground floor flat with no access for first floor.  Riser cables (VIR badly degraded) run inside brickwork up to another cutout fuse (60A).  Modern cables then loop into smart meter.  UKPN say they are not responsible for the riser - EDS 08-1103 section 6.1 - even though EPN as it was then installed it (although the cutout is theirs and technically only they are allowed to remove the fuse - my thoughts?).  UKPN won't pay for the work so that sits with the client unless anyone can tell me differently?

So, what's the best way to achieve this?  Need to upgrade the cable to 25mm2 (and probably ask to upgrade fuse to 100A) and it's not practical to start digging out the walls, not least because prolonged access to downstairs is not really an option.  Therefore external?  Best method/option?

Thanks in advance


Images - degraded VIR cable; upstairs cutout; downstairs service head
441e1955118398d5c372d5c581f9b1f4-huge-2021-03-08-11.11.21.jpg4d4b6764c4e77cfb446cace0ef9fb2cd-huge-2021-03-08-11.10.56.jpg
b96c361424b4d58634fc968632e95a41-huge-2021-03-08-17.06.50.jpg
Parents
  • 0
    Need to upgrade the cable to 25mm2 (and probably ask to upgrade fuse to 100A)

    Is the 1st floor flat's demand really that high?


    If it is, it might be worth having another conversation with the DNO - that looks to me like a looped supply with a black cut-out (60A max continuous?) with a single fuse that's already supplying both flats. I suspect an upgrade for 100A for just one flat isn't going to be a simple fuse replacement - due to the limitatons of both the exiting cut-out and the incoming cable that's presumably at present supply at least 3 installations.

     
    Best method/option?

    Installation methods will be interesting - as the meter is at the far end it'll be a Building Network rather than normal consumer's installation - so the practicalities of limiting the possibility of "abstraction" will restrict the choices available - generally cables would have to be difficult to 'tap' into and switchgear/fusing would need to be able to be sealed. Often "Ryefield" units or similar are used ... which aren't cheap.


    I'm not sure I'd go into panic mode about the rubber tails - it doesn't look like the insulation is falling off them and if they're embedded in masonry/plaster they're unlikely to start a fire even if severely overloaded (which seems unlikely). Certainly over-due for replacement and it sounds like that's planned anyway - so no point crying wolf.


         - Andy.
Reply
  • 0
    Need to upgrade the cable to 25mm2 (and probably ask to upgrade fuse to 100A)

    Is the 1st floor flat's demand really that high?


    If it is, it might be worth having another conversation with the DNO - that looks to me like a looped supply with a black cut-out (60A max continuous?) with a single fuse that's already supplying both flats. I suspect an upgrade for 100A for just one flat isn't going to be a simple fuse replacement - due to the limitatons of both the exiting cut-out and the incoming cable that's presumably at present supply at least 3 installations.

     
    Best method/option?

    Installation methods will be interesting - as the meter is at the far end it'll be a Building Network rather than normal consumer's installation - so the practicalities of limiting the possibility of "abstraction" will restrict the choices available - generally cables would have to be difficult to 'tap' into and switchgear/fusing would need to be able to be sealed. Often "Ryefield" units or similar are used ... which aren't cheap.


    I'm not sure I'd go into panic mode about the rubber tails - it doesn't look like the insulation is falling off them and if they're embedded in masonry/plaster they're unlikely to start a fire even if severely overloaded (which seems unlikely). Certainly over-due for replacement and it sounds like that's planned anyway - so no point crying wolf.


         - Andy.
Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines