Meter tails

[Ian1981]

What's everyone's thoughts on installing meter tails >3 meters in length.
I've contacted northern power grid who said the tails where down to the electricity suppliers discretion.
Contacted the electricity supplier who didn't give a definite answer, basically do what you want!?

 

[Pete999]

What's everyone's thoughts on installing meter tails >3 meters in length.
I've contacted northern power grid who said the tails where down to the electricity suppliers discretion.
Contacted the electricity supplier who didn't give a definite answer, basically do what you want!?

Buck passing at it's best then Ian

 

[Ian1981]

Buck passing at it's best then Ian

Indeed Pete it's usually the case

 

[Pete999]

Indeed Pete it's usually the case

I guess

 

[7029 dave]

IMO, stick to the 3m rule, it's well recognized.

 

[Octopus]

How long do your tails need to be?

 

[Octopus]

IMO, stick to the 3m rule, it's well recognized.

Hum... not sure I agree with that.

If only they ALL agreed on 1 set of guidelines.....

 

[7029 dave]

Hum... not sure I agree with that.

If only they ALL agreed on 1 set of guidelines.....

I have fitted self connect meter's, tails to CU in a distance of 20 odd meter's. lol Who is going to police that.? Who cares.?

 

[Octopus]

I have fitted self connect meter's, tails to CU in a distance of 20 odd meter's. lol Who is going to police that.? Who cares.?

Precisely - who cares. What exactly is the point of the 3m guideline?

 

[Ian1981]

How long do your tails need to be?

Length is 6-7 meters in total.

 

[Ian1981]

I have fitted self connect meter's, tails to CU in a distance of 20 odd meter's. lol Who is going to police that.? Who cares.?

NICEIC during assessments

 

[7029 dave]

Precisely - who cares. What exactly is the point of the 3m guideline?

It is just that, a guideline, Electricians that provide tails to the CU know that.Our stance is as long as the meter is within 3m of the cut out, it's down to you lot. Connection will be given. (new installs)

 

[Leesparkykent]

If the mop is any of these
Association of Meter Operators - Members - https://www.meteroperators.org.uk/members
then I would stick with the guidance
Association of Meter Operators - Stakeholder Info - https://www.meteroperators.org.uk/stakeholder-info

And DCUSA (The Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement) says the same thing.

https://www.dcusa.co.uk/Documents/De-Energisation - FAQ Document v 1 0.pdf#search=de-energisationj

 

[Des 56]

This is the way I look at the topic
If I install a cable,its my responsibility to protect that cable

When it is permitted the supplier may allow me to rely on "their" fuse for (usually) a distance that has often been regarded as 3 metres max
The cut out fuse is a bonus to me the installer, not a item to be manipulated to omit my responsibility
Anything over 3 meters deserves a fuse of its own

 

[Octopus]

I on occasions have to deal with some chaps locally who won't connect to a switch fuse! This has caused me issues in the past!

 

[sparksburnout]

I had a discussion only the other day with a guy from WPD's technical team who made it very clear that their cut-out is there to protect their equipment and not the meter tails. They allow tails of up to 3M (From the cut-out not the meter) to the CU to be "additionally protected" by that fuse, but anything beyond this must have additional protection and conform to BS7671. His words not mine, although it seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Midwest]

Of course, we are then in the scenario, of having two fuse in series, probably of the same rating (or of a size not to allow suitable discrimination, without reducing supply for customer), and it will be the ---- of a coin which will go first.

Never really understood this scenario, even though eminent members have explained it several time before for me

 

[Des 56]

Of course, we are then in the scenario, of having two fuse in series, probably of the same rating (or of a size not to allow suitable discrimination, without reducing supply for customer), and it will be the **** of a coin which will go first.
Never really understood this scenario, even though eminent members have explained it several time before for me

There is and never has been any requirement to provide discrimination with the supply fuse
I can't see it would matter in the very rare circumstance which one popped, they are going to be off supply anyway

The above assumes a single user supply rather than a multiple sub main installation

 

[Midwest]

So apart from the DNO requiring such, does it actually make any difference, i.e. prevent the Main Fuse going before the switch fuse, or are we just on about complying (BS7671 et al)?

 

[Des 56]

If there were a 100 amp fuse in the cut out and we had to account for discrimination,we would end up putting a 2 sizes lower fuse (63A )to have any chance

The client could become unhappy losing a fair portion of their capacity for no apparent benefit if that was the case