Curious box enclosing meter, with electronics

[SJD]

Can anyone cast some light on a curious meter I came across today.

The old-style meter has a circuit board fitted on top, and the whole lot enclosed with a Perspex cover, with meter seals at each corner to prevent access. See photo below (hopefully).



What is this for?

I'll try to add a close-up of part of the board in another post.

 

[SJD]

Here is a close-up of the board, as best I could without accessing the inside.

NB this is a very small house, likely one of the "social" units on a large estate, now a rental property, maybe 30 to 40 years old.

 

[johnduffell]

Probably the meter kept being bypassed or tampered and that's to alarm or record any interference.
I expect the current bill payer could probably get it removed.

 

[mhar]

The economy 7 radio switches could have issues switching on and off because of geographical and outside influences. Think they used to rely on a radio4 longwave signal to switch. Could this be a timer control circuit for econ 7? Maybe a relay for econ 7?

 

[buzzlightyear]

it could have came from Afghanistan. I could be a b/trap for the mice .

 

[elsparko]

Here is a close-up of the board, as best I could without accessing the inside.

NB this is a very small house, likely one of the "social" units on a large estate, now a rental property, maybe 30 to 40 years old.View attachment 43774

nothing you need to worry about touching, if those seals are on it its someone elses problem

 

[davesparks]

The red and black wires appear to power in coming from the incoming side of the meter. Can you see what the other wires connect to (looks like yellow and black to me)?

 

[SJD]

It is not Economy 7, there is no off-peak supply/usage in the premises.

My thoughts were also relating to anti-tamper and/or meter bypassing, perhaps from a long-gone tenant.

I've no intention of touching it myself (thanks, elsparko), and I've suggested to the landlord that the supplier likely would be delighted to swap it for a smart meter to help meet their targets. Just that I'd like to know something about it.

All the wires appear to go to the meter connections (red/black twisted pair, and yellow/brown twisted pair). I can't see for sure but I'm fairly sure none of the wires leave the Perspex enclosure.

 

[buzzlightyear]

it could be the first smart test meter .

 

[davesparks]

Maybe it is a device to slow down the meter or otherwise interfere with its operation.
Having it visible but sealed in an enclosure to look like it is DNO property is probably a better way of disguising such a device than any attempt to hide it.

DNO operatives and meter readers are taught to look for hidden attempts to bypass the meter, but they might just assume a sealed box is legitimate.

 

[buzzlightyear]

the meter says on it 93 the relay shows 94 .

 

[Andy78]

Could it be a device installed to check meter accuracy ?

 

[telectrix]

this may shed some light on the subject:
http://www.cyplex.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=28

 

[SJD]

this may shed some light on the subject:
http://www.cyplex.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=28

So perhaps some early kind of "smart" meter after all?

 

[SJD]

I have one more photo, of the top visible side of the PCB, which might give more clues?

 

[buzzlightyear]

it could be the first smart test meter

So perhaps some early kind of "smart" meter after all

I maybe wright.

 

[telectrix]

I maybe wright.

orville, wilbur, or wheel?

 

[Sparksaflyin]

Probably the meter kept being bypassed or tampered and that's to alarm or record any interference.
I expect the current bill payer could probably get it removed.

I’d have to agree with this comment. Looks like a tamper.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I’d have to agree with this comment. Looks like a tamper

what bell ! lol some mothers do have them.

 

[Sparksaflyin]

what bell ! lol some mothers do have them.

Explain.........