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Import and Export meter overloading - is it possible?

Andrew Smith 323

I had a large electricity supplier install solar PV and battery system and the import meter melted followed by the export meter.

They are stating that it is my issue and not there's as I have overloaded my consumer unit.

The import meter was rated to 100A

The export meter was rated to 100A

My incomer is protected by an 80A fuse

My export meter is on a supply protected by a 50A MCB

They are saying it is not their issue and I will have to go through the Ombudsman if I don't agree with their report.

How do I deal with a large company that refuses to take responsibility for faulty workmanship.

 

  • 0

    Additional information - Fully electric house, 5.5kWp PV system through a 4.5kW invertor with 30kW battery storage. 1 x EV point protected by 32A MCB. Max system draw (midwinter) as monitored via MyEnergy is 15.8kW with EV charging

  • +1
    Andrew Smith 323 said:
    How do I deal with a large company that refuses to take responsibility for faulty workmanship.

    You get an independent report to say that the installation was faulty.  I'm not sure the usual Energy Ombudsman would deal with a case like this.  It could have to go to the civil court.

    On the subject of installation quality, why is there an ELV cable rolled up and shoved next to an LV cable, with no segregation between the two?

  • 0 in reply to Simon Barker

    That was for comms between the 2 meters I believe, just the way it was done

  • 0

    In the bit of photo we can see, it looks rather like the dreaded loose neutral screw effect  again - the live wires at the top out of shot I presume are in tip top condition ? 

    Are they implying by their statements about your consumer unit,  that their design is not adequately protected against a perfectly credible overload condition ?

    I suggest collecting pictures of all the bits, as well as what wire sizes have been used.

    I assume its one of these https://www.metermarket.co.uk/product/eastron-sdm230-mbus-mid-single-phase-direct-connected-100a-energy-meter.

    15KW is a lot, but a 100 fuse and 230V suggests max steady load of 23kW, plus transient excursions above that - was the installation  not foreseeing a likely level of load ?

    M

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    Thanks, I had a gas boiler and no EV at the time of installation

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    My incoming fuse is rated at 80A and I have no issues, but these meters are rated at 100A and one is on a circuit protected by a 50A breaker. I am having trouble with the maths saying it was overloading issues if I haven't been over 80A?

  • +1 in reply to Andrew Smith 323

    indeed and I'm not too clear what section is protected by what,

    -but as described  I'm struggling to see

    a) how they think you have overloaded it

    b) if that really is what they think, why they designed you a system that could not handle the likely current.

    And more likely if the neutral is burnt but not the live, that is a classic 'one loose screw' issue - both sides should look equally cooked as they carry identical current.

    M.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    But how do I fight one of the 'big boys' to admit they're at fault?

  • 0 in reply to Andrew Smith 323
    Andrew Smith 323 said:
    I am having trouble with the maths saying it was overloading issues if I haven't been over 80A?

    What was your energy input - from the Grid and PV, and potentially the battery?

    What was your energy output - to home, grid, and potentially battery. It may be that the current flow somewhere was excessive.

    Have you a circuit diagram please?

    Andrew Smith 323 said:
    But how do I fight one of the 'big boys' to admit they're at fault?

    How much s it worth to fight? i.e. what is the possible benefit, and what has been lost. Balance the two.

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    Maximum power drawn for the year is 15.8kW during winter with heating on, batteries charging and EV charging.

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