My supplier has told me my meter installation is illegal, how do I rectify ?

[UNG]

Beat me to it. The misapplication of the word engineer to semi skilled workers is one of my pet hates.

Calling them semi skilled is being generous

 

[binky]

Calling them semi skilled is being generous

There was a time when technician meant something, or in my case the higher level of engineering technician. Sadly those days are long gone.

 

[benawhile]

It gets worse.

So the builder has created a "plasterboard tent". He has just lined the inside of an old house with plasterboard, with no insulation, no sealing of voids so as you have noted, cold outside air is free to circulate between the walls of the house and the plasterboard tent. I bet your house is cold and costs a fortune to heat.

You need access to YOUR consumer unit as well.

It might be possible to move the supply head and meter to an outside meter box, or it might be possible just to move them higher up the wall where they can be incorporated into a proper sized cupboard with proper access.

Like i say there is no easy or quick solution, I think that corner kitchen unit and the worktop above it has to come out at the very least to give access to cut a BIG hole in the plasterboard, relocate the supply head, meter and possibly your consumer unit, then see if it can be all put back together with the kitchen as you want it.

I am particularly disappointed in your electrician for not pointing out to you the troubles that lie ahead leaving the meter and supply head where it was.

Regrettably so. I became aware of the "plasterboard tent" problem shortly after we moved back in. We lost control of the project, this was the second builder after the first one defaulted. If we sacked 2 builders we were concerned that no builder would deal with us after. But that's another sad story. I think all dry lining should be much better regulated, as it is used to cover holes in the inner skin, ill fitting windows etc and actually causes increased heat loss. Maybe I could campaign for it?

 

[benawhile]

Additional side note thought:-

I wonder what protection is in place for the meter tails from the meter to the CU, buried in the wall??

Do you mean physical protection or electrical, RCD? If RCD, would this be part of the consumer unit?

 

[benawhile]

Looking ahead, I am thinking of installing an EV charging point. Would this be any easier (and cheaper) if I have an outside meter that the charger could be connected to? Generally would an external meter be a better solution or are there disadvantages apart from extra cost?

 

[michael8554]

Unbelievable.
Get rid of the middle shelf permanently.
Remove areas from the two backboards and from the bottom shelf to give clear access to the meter, the stop-cock, and to the incomer and fuse.

 

[Stevie G]

There was a time when technician meant something, or in my case the higher level of engineering technician. Sadly those days are long gone.

I remember reading an article about the great train robbers in the 1963. the article states they used an electronic Technician to stop the train by altering the track lights from Green (Go) to Red (Stop) !
How he managed this ,was to stuff his glove in front of the Green Light, so to mask the light then had used an ever ready 6v dc battery , wired to a small 6v bulb and placed this behind the Red fresnel of the lamp !!Hey Presto ,the train stops at the bridge .
Two extra years at college doing my C&G 235-C technicians course , when a glove and a battery /lamp sufficed

 

[kerching]

Two extra years at college doing my C&G 235-C technicians course ,

Harrrrumph….think of the turmoil and trauma a Nail Technician must go through! The struggle is real, be careful out there

 

[Geoff1946]

I remember reading an article about the great train robbers in the 1963. the article states they used an electronic Technician to stop the train by altering the track lights from Green (Go) to Red (Stop) !
How he managed this ,was to stuff his glove in front of the Green Light, so to mask the light then had used an ever ready 6v dc battery , wired to a small 6v bulb and placed this behind the Red fresnel of the lamp !!Hey Presto ,the train stops at the bridge .
Two extra years at college doing my C&G 235-C technicians course , when a glove and a battery /lamp sufficed

To be fair the guy knew that he couldn't just fiddle the wiring without triggering a current sensing safety circuit.