I think you must have - that's not 'putting a bit of customer's equipment in the meter box' - it's an almost complete takeover of the box
Kind Regards, John
Terminating SWA in Meter Box?
- Thread starter jamesmcbride
- Start date
Kind Regards, John
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I think you must have - that's not 'putting a bit of customer's equipment in the meter box' - in an almost complete takeover of the box
Kind Regards, John
Yes, I do now see his point and accept that I'm going to have to change it... Although I wish I had pictures of successful installations.
So anyway, are there any smaller Metal clad fused swiches, or is a KMF + adaptable box my best bet?
I doubt that you're going to find anything remotely as small as the KMF - I think they're great!
I dare say this is going to get me some flack, but what the hell .... given that ordinary meter tails up to 2 or 3 metres are accepted without any protection, one might consider going in ordinary tails from the KMF into the house (maybe ony a metre or so, maybe even less) into an adaptable box (or whatever) and do the rest of the run from there in SWA?
Kind Regards, John
There's a slit cut between the holes using a hacksaw blade.
View media item 66096
My sympathy goes out to the SWA!
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Hmm, That was a consideration, but then I'd still need to join them, which would need to be accessible, so what ever happens it isn't going to be "pretty" inside.
Not from this side of the room.
He's providing a KMF, so the cable will be protected.
I can see the benefits of doing that, but finding a terminal block rated at 100A (80A if using a genuine MEM 800KMF) might be tricky, unless a Henley was used.
The KMF + adaptable box may be a little bulkier than ideal, but if the OP is willing to compromise slightly and use an 80A consumer's fuse (I have a 60A, for discrimination purposes) then 16mm² SWA can be used clipped direct and maybe a rectangular box above the KMF of say 100x50x50 similar to Bernard's suggestion.
Not beautiful, perhaps, but it would only have to be a box/enclosure. I was just thinking of ways of saving even morte space in the meter box - although, with the KMF, you'll have no lack of that, anyway.
Kind Regards, John
There certainly are possibilities, and a traditional Henley (not some of the massive 'equivalents'!) would perhaps be the most obvious (and quite small).
Kind Regards, John
The hint there is that we would really not want any metalwork introducing to a viewing cabinet be it in the form of switchgear or terminating boxes.
I know that it is not written anywhere but it does introduce hazards when working on cutouts that are unacceptable to some.
That makes total sense. However, although everyone seems to have been talking about metal adaptable boxes (or metal diecast boxes in the case of Bernard), I see no reason why the box used for terminating the SWA could not be plastic (and small) which, together with a (plastic & small) KMF800 would, I presume represent no hazard to people working live in the box.
Kind Regards, John
There would also be no reason why technically, you could not provide the earth for the SWA from the other end of the cable and use a plastic stuffing gland at the meter box end.
Yes, also true. I confess I'd overlooked the possibility that an SWA gland in the cabinet could come to represent potentially hazardous (to anyone working live) 'earthed metal' if the shroud were to slip. I suppose that another option (taking up a bit more space) would be to have an SWA gland totally within an insulating enclosure (or, indeed, {some will probably scream!} to terminate the armour of the SWA within such an enclosure without using an SWA gland)
Kind Regards, John
Though not the DNO's responsibility, can they not provide suitable fuse and switch? Their equipment can vary from place to place, so do they have something suitable than can be wired in, if the op leaves an enclosure with an Isco block in it?
How does the DNO do it when they move meter positions to outside?
I remember over 15 years ago, a relatives bungalow, had to have it's overhead supply changed to underground. It was the DNO who insisted the work had to be done.
The meter position was moved to the other end of the house. New tails were ran in the loft and down the wall to the meter, well in excess of 5 metres, more like 10.
No switch fuse was fitted that I could see, though it may have been incorporated in their equipment, didn't look that hard as it wasn't really any of my concern.
Any particular reason you chose SWA rather than tails? Is the cable boxed in?
Of course, the best way round this is probably to fit another kiosk next to the one you have.
How does the DNO do it when they move meter positions to outside?
I remember over 15 years ago, a relatives bungalow, had to have it's overhead supply changed to underground. It was the DNO who insisted the work had to be done.
The meter position was moved to the other end of the house. New tails were ran in the loft and down the wall to the meter, well in excess of 5 metres, more like 10.
No switch fuse was fitted that I could see, though it may have been incorporated in their equipment, didn't look that hard as it wasn't really any of my concern.
Any particular reason you chose SWA rather than tails? Is the cable boxed in?
Of course, the best way round this is probably to fit another kiosk next to the one you have.
It depends on each circumstance and often the knowledge of who is planning it! All that is written is the 3m maximum tail length and that customer equipment is not allowed in the box!
Certainly any I have been involved with or seen have had a switchfuse fitted internally and a sub-main to the original position
Given that the DNOs are not involved even with the meter, I would have doubted that they would be prepared to get involved with anything downstream of the meter - at least 'officially'. What DNO personnel may, themselves, be prepared to do ('for a cup of tea') is perhaps a different matter.
Kind Regards, John
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