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Very long meter tails - is this proposed arrangement OK?

Chris Kessell

I would be grateful if someone could give this a sanity check...

We live in a bungalow, and the electricity meter and consumer unit are currently located side-by-side in an internal cupboard.  The DNO (Western Power) service cable to the house runs from an overhead line to the gable end of the bungalow and then around the external walls and into the back of this meter/CU cupboard. 

However, we're planning an extension which will require the service cable to be relocated because part of the wall it runs along is to be demolished.  A team from the DNO has visited to discuss the matter.  

We had hoped they might be able to simply reroute their service cable through the loft space to the existing meter location, but this isn't permitted.  However, they explained that the meter tails are our responsibility and hence could be run through the loft.  Hence their proposed solution is to fit an external meter box to the gable end wall of the house, relocate the meter into that, and run the meter tails through the loft space to the CU.  The distance from meter to CU would then be about 15m.

This arrangement was proposed by the DNO so I assume it's OK, but I have read (including in the DNO's own guidance literature) that meter tails should be no more than 2-3m long.  Ours would be at least 15m long!  So does their proposed solution sound reasonable?  Are there any potential issues I ought to be aware of?

Parents
  • +1

    Overhead lines? Is the current system TT? (Earthing from your own rod)

    If so, you'd likely need not just a switchfuse but an RCD as well at the meter end - especially if using an earthed wiring system such as SWA.

       - Andy.

Reply
  • +1

    Overhead lines? Is the current system TT? (Earthing from your own rod)

    If so, you'd likely need not just a switchfuse but an RCD as well at the meter end - especially if using an earthed wiring system such as SWA.

       - Andy.

Children
  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    Yes, it is TT.

    As it happens the earth rod will also need to be relocated as it lies under the proposed extension; the DNO agent suggested putting the new rod below the new meter box for cabling convenience.   

  • 0 in reply to Chris Kessell

    Can't you get the earthing upgraded to P.M.E? Ask for a new P.M.E. earthing terminal if permissible. Around here it is provided for no charge.

    Also, around here (East Anglia) incoming supply cables are run in lofts.

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to Zoomup

    The DNO (Western Power) guy insisted it had to remain a TT arrangement.  Not sure why - perhaps something to do with power coming from an overhead pole.

  • 0 in reply to Chris Kessell

    Around here we can get  a P.M.E. earthing terminal installed by U.K. Power Networks even for overhead supplied properties.

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to Chris Kessell
    Chris Kessell said:
    As it happens the earth rod will also need to be relocated as it lies under the proposed extension; the DNO agent suggested putting the new rod below the new meter box for cabling convenience.

    Or you could put in a foundation electrode. I am bound to wonder why one would not do so when the opportunity arises.

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    An individual earth rod is easier and less expensive to install Chris.

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to Zoomup

    not if the extension is yet to  be built - they will be digging holes for the foundations anyway, and if there is rebar or steel piling involved then to weld to it in a couple of places is very fast.
    M.

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