Hi all,

I wonder if you can help me?

I am confident with electrics but always stayed away from replacing Consumer Units due to the tails from meter issue and unwilling to pull the service fuse.

However moved in with girlfriend who's house has a token electric meter.

The existing CU is full (wilex mcb 6 way) and she wants a shower and underfloor heating.

So i was thinking, in theory, if she doesnt insert any tokens in the meter the electric will cut off and the tails from the meter will not be live until more tokens are creditted and therefore allow for easy replacement.

Any thoughts appreciated

Many thanks in advance

Thanks Plugwash.

I am nervous about the service fuse if im been honest in that i don't know what i will find when i open the seal (never seen inside one) so thought my idea may be safer and less frightening  .

The existing meter to cu tails are fine in terms of wear and length so I was intending to leave them in place thus not touching the actual meter whatsoever during swapout.

I can hear TN's little wacko paws padding down the corridor already........ any second now he'll burst into the forum saying......

"Chop those meter seals - CHOP 'EM I SAY!"

As for actually contributing anything to your dilemma.... I'd give it a miss on this job for a couple of reasons.

1- if it's a flat you may only have 60 or 63A main breaker and the service fuse probably is about the same. You'll need to do some proper testing to establish if the existing set-up is going to cope.

2- If your girlfriend has to put tokens into the meter it would imply that someone else actually owns the place or the electrical services, so you may get badly stung if you alter it. If it's just an ex council place she's bought, then I'd get the old slot-meter replaced for convenience sake; in which case you'll need to get the job looked at properly anyway.

In all seriousness this is a job you'd be best to get someone in to look at. Pay them for a proper inspection and plan of attack. You may be able to do all the prep and making good to save time & dosh which would be good. But without the proper test kit and the knowledge of C&G2391 proceedures, you could end up with a real nasty one here.

Live will be disconnected but neutral may not switch, would depend on meter spec, most switch the pair. I'd snip the seals & pull the fuse anyway, just in case the meter decides to pick that moment to go faulty.

100A should be up for a first shower in most normal sized installations. Are you buying the underfloor heating roll with the earthing mesh already set up, or are you buying the elements and assembling while laying it? I'd give the floor its own dedicated earth while running the shower cable in too. 10mm would be good, & when bonded to the bathroom bonding will give you a reassuring level of safety.

neutral isn't idolated by the service fuse either

this doesn't really pose a problem especially with most rec backbones up to PME standards nowadays

just a little word of warning

if your old CU has its main switch further from the meter you may need to replace the tails out of the meter

if you have to do this then you will have to open the meter terminal cover

this will have the cables going into as well as out of the meter

Good job then id say, because removing the cover from the meter leaves a selection of live terminals, and is also not legal.

Stick with what your doing, and in your case the Neutral at that point is considered adequately Earthed to the Network so doesnt pose a danger.

Anywhere else this would be considered a live conductor.

Good luck & Be carefull

now now thats naughty Plug!

you and I both know that for an electrican it's different, we've talked about this.

and anyway I personaly sealed it all back up so as to keep fingers out  

Nothing wrong with my Temp Supply!  

erm.. with meter seals, kindly donated by EDF Energy, want to know anymore?

and EDF energy aint up where you are I dont think or iirc in ur terms