meter question.

[sellers]

Just had a very sketchy phone call of a bloke.

He wants me to price for a new meter.

Basically from what I understand off him. He has a garage with 3 phase for ramp etc. and he has a building next door which he rents out as a work shop to a joiner. This workshop has a very old fashioned coin operated style meter that you put pounds in. He beleives that the the amount of money being put into the machine isn't covering the cost of whats being used by quite a bit and he wants a quote for a new meter.

I take it from what hes saying. Is that he has a 3phase meter in his garage and from his DB a supply goes next door through this meter into the joiners DB. Have you guys come accross situations like this before? Just after a bit of info on the subject.

 

[green-hornet]

Its very common to have user installed meters like you describe.

Most meters can be set up to take whatever charge per unit/used.

Or just simple meters that you record each unit used and then bill them for that proportion of the used units.

 

[sellers]

Thanks GH. Now for my next question, where can you get a 3 phase coin meter from? Had a look online but nothing much returned. Patch?

The customer wasnt very clear on the phone, I'm not sure if the joiners shop is 3 phase or not, or wheather he wanted a coin meter or standard? Just want to make sure I'm clued up with ideas and prices before I go to look at it on monday.

The meters you mentioned, I take it you can set a certain price per unit, and the digital display will display how much is owed? How much is it roughly per unit at the moment?

 

[Andy™]

Stephen Wales

or most wholesalers can get them ordered in

also note that in domestic, you cannot charge more per unit than you pay. i.e you cant make a profit, or even charge extra to cover top up cards etc. this doesnt apply to your commercial situation though

 

[Adrian]

I have never come across a 3 phase coin meter

it sounds like its single phase and he just needs to adjust the units per coin dial on the meter

 

[sellers]

back onto this, how are the 3 phase meters read?

do you press a button and it will tell you the kwh per phase??

on something like this one http://www.stephenpwales.co.uk/Product/three_phase/home_threephase.htm

 

[Apache]

The spec would suggest it totals the three phases

http://www.meterspec.com/325.pdf

 

[sellers]

I canny see where??

If you look at the unit, theres a Tab above L1, L2, L3 looks like it may do both seperatley and all together??

 

[binky]

[quote name='Andy

 

[Apache]

There's actually 2 places in Torbay doing meters, but can' think of the other's name. (I think one left the other outfit to set up on his own).

this outfit

http://www.electricmeters.co.uk/

?:|

 

[sellers]

can someone confirm, that a 3phase meter will give one reading of all the phases added together?

 

[Andy™]

mine only gives one reading. some may have an option to display total or each phase individual

 

[Lurch]

Didn't there used to be, and maybe still is, an optional plan where you get a super duper tricked out meter with loads of extra info? Can;t remember what it was called. As standard you usually get one reading.

 

[spinlondon]

Sounds to me like he doesn't require a new meter, just to have his existing meter re-set to the correct charge.

If I remember correctly, you just pull out the coin mechanism and turn it round untill the correct figure is lined up.

Coin meters are usually set higher than the actual cost, and when the meter is emptied, any over payment should be refunded.

Sounds like the owner has not been calculating the cost of the electricity used, otherwise he'd know for definate that the meter is under charging.

What he really needs is a separate supply with either a quarterly or card meter installed.

 

[sellers]

He does need a new meter, I went to look at it a couple of weeks back.

What it is, is that he has a coin meter but its only on one phase which is why the amount in the tin isn't covering the cost of the bill.

So new 3phase meter, so he can read how much it is taking and charge per unit.