Electrical question - New cable from the meter

Mike1983

Mike1983

Mike1983

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16 Nov 2007
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Hi all

I was wondering if there is a compliant / legal way of getting another electrical supply out of the main meter (in utility cupboard outside) as opposed to running a new circuit from the consumer unit (indoors). The new supply will be for an outbuilding.

Please see attached photo below. The cable connected to the meter is naturally the one that is currently feeding my consumer unit, there are no other spare ways on this meter and it would be a major hassle to run a new circuit from the consumer unit.

I was wondering if the following is possible

1) Install a new connection box (product / spec unknown) in the utility cupboard, sufficient to allow an incoming feed and 2x 3core outgoing cable connections.
2) Disconnect existing consumer unit supply.
3) Connect meter to the new connection box
4) reconnect the consumer unit supply to the new connection box
5) Connect the new cable to the connection box.

Or would I need to get the utility supplier to provide a new meter with additional outgoing terminals?? However I note the earth core bypasses the meter.

I will obviously call in an electrician to do the work, just want to get my ideas straight before approaching someone.

Thanks

 
Don't touch your incoming meter!!!!!

No really don't touch it, you can be fined for messing with the incoming supply. It would most likely be easier to split the supply before it hits your RCD (not sure if this is possible) and add another RCD and then cable to out building with its own RCD. I may be wrong on all of this but I do know not to mess with Incoming supply ;)
 
The usual way to do what you want is to 'split the meter tails'.
Which basically means break the 2 outgoing cables from the meter and stick them in to one of these http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/d190/Cable+Management/sd2460/Connector+Blocks/p31284 then continue the tails in to the existing consumer unit and run new cables (usually Steel Wire Armoured) from the connector block to the garage/shed in to one of these - http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Ele...Units/sd2979/Garage+Consumer+Unit+IP55/p42773
It's not something a DIYer should do and is what's known as Notifiable work so should be done by a registered electrician who can do that for you.
There are ways of doing it yourself and getting Building Control to notify for you (at a cost) but I wouldn't bother.
 
BigBoy said:
Don't touch your incoming meter!!!!!

No really don't touch it, you can be fined for messing with the incoming supply. It would most likely be easier to split the supply before it hits your RCD (not sure if this is possible) and add another RCD and then cable to out building with its own RCD. I may be wrong on all of this but I do know not to mess with Incoming supply ;)
Click to expand...

He's not needing to touch the incoming supply, the system post meter (the tails on the right hand side of his image) are "his" to do with as he pleases.

OP: you need to follow JohnnyG's post and just split those tails out, many houses have multiple consumer units structured just as you are wanting to do :)
 
Thanks for the replies. Glad to hear I was going in the right direction with the "connection box" thinking and I don't need to have the Utility company involved.

Works will be done by an electrician btw.

Out of interest, I presume the cable needs to be 25sqmm conductors as it's not protected by anything smaller than the incoming main 100A fuse? Also, can this be just run & buried without RCD protection?

As mentioned, will be getting an electrician in, just like to be pre-armed with knowledge first.

Thanks
 
Looking at your existing tails if no more slack than we can see might be best to get supplier out to open up meter and put 25mm from meter to new Henly block for suppler to connect up and put old tails into Henley block - for best fit

Then take a 2nd set of 25mm from henly block to either a switch fuse or small 1 way cu with 100a main switch and fuse to suit load for outbuilding - ideally metal to make glanding the swa easier, then run swa size to suit load from this cu to outbuilding cu no rcd required at metre end.

Need to know how much load you need in outbuilding as this will affect swa size and switchfuse / mcb size etc, also better to use 3 core swa rather than 2 core and use internal core for earth aswell as armour to be extra safe.

This assuming you are ok to export your tncs earth to outbuilding if not then can use 2 core swa and tt earth spike at outbuilding end and earth the armour from 1 side only and use tt earth for outbuilding cu.

Also supplier/dno dont like you filling their meter cupboard up, they might need the space so you will probably be ok with henly block but swtichfuse/small cu they might prefer it placed somewhere else ideally, maybe take new tails straight through wall into cu then out from bottom wall to outbuilding.
 
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