New Water meter tripping circuits

[Chrisknowlesuk]

Bit of a head scratcher.... Haven't done any testing yet but thought I'd see if anyone else had come across this...

A client of mine has just had Water meter installed at the front of their drive by the Water Board. Now, a 32A breaker for their power ring is tripping. Not sure how the water board have tapped into their supply but is from adjacent to the meter rather than coming from the board.

Have done a few basic things such as unplugging all appliances just to make sure its not a coincidence. Will call their water supplier tomorrow to ask exactly what they have done and may try changing the breaker as an initial check.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar??

Thanks

 

[Octopus]

The only thing a water meter can do is leak.....have they got any electrics in the garden near the water meter?

 

[Chrisknowlesuk]

Not as far as I could initially see?
Going back tomorrow so will be able to do some proper investigating and checks.

They have dug up a patch (and filled in) at the end of their drive. Client says they needed to tap into the supply. But no evidence of any activity at the fuse box. Surely, they wouldn't tap into the pre-meter side of their electric supply. Only sketchy info from client so will get a better picture when I speak to the water board tomorrow.

 

[mattg4321]

Expect they'll tell you they fitted a water meter! What are you thinking they will say?!

Sounds like a coincidence, unless they've created a leak in the immediate vicinity of the water meter and there is an electrical supply getting wet.

 

[mattg4321]

Not as far as I could initially see?
Going back tomorrow so will be able to do some proper investigating and checks.

They have dug up a patch (and filled in) at the end of their drive. Client says they needed to tap into the supply. But no evidence of any activity at the fuse box. Surely, they wouldn't tap into the pre-meter side of their electric supply. Only sketchy info from client so will get a better picture when I speak to the water board tomorrow.

Never heard of a water meter needing an electricity supply

 

[telectrix]

Never heard of a water meter needing an electricity supply

they don't . unless united utilities have started fitting smart meters.

 

[Paul228]

The water meter fitting has nothing to do with the tripping.
I'll put my Kawasaki on it.
Think about it.
Water meter, doesn't use electric and is sat in the garden.
The tripping is caused by something on your side of the board, which you say is the socket ring.

 

[davesparks]

Not as far as I could initially see?
Going back tomorrow so will be able to do some proper investigating and checks.

They have dug up a patch (and filled in) at the end of their drive. Client says they needed to tap into the supply. But no evidence of any activity at the fuse box. Surely, they wouldn't tap into the pre-meter side of their electric supply. Only sketchy info from client so will get a better picture when I speak to the water board tomorrow.

They won't have been anywhere near the electric supply, they will have installed it in the water supply. The clue is in the name 'water meter'

 

[PEG]

...I'm sure i read this one,in an old Viz...

 

[dmxtothemax]

Maybe you have changed the earthing arrangements
by altering the plumbing like using pvc pipe.
This could upset some RCD breakers .
Get an electrician to check your earthing system

 

[marc8]

Why not try IR test you had done most of the work by unplugging everything on the circuit would probably given you an answer one way or other.

 

[Zdb]

A client of mine has just had Water meter installed at the front of their drive by the Water Board. Now, a 32A breaker for their power ring is tripping.

Check for volt drops

 

[Deleted member 9648]

So the best way to proceed when a 32a mcb is tripping is to 'change the breaker as an initial check'.....
Sometimes I could cry.

 

[marc8]

Check for volt drops

could check the electron flow

 

[Wilko]

As @dmxtothemax says, the new ones meters are plastic. So other than possibly interrupting an inappropriate circuit through their pipework it can't be that. Perhaps loop test installation earth and confirm all is well ?

 

[telectrix]

i blame Brexit.

 

[DPG]

A client of mine has just had Water meter installed at the front of their drive by the Water Board. Now, a 32A breaker for their power ring is tripping. Not sure how the water board have tapped into their supply but is from adjacent to the meter rather than coming from the board.
Thanks

If a 32A MCB is tripping then it is time for some basic testing, regardless of what has been done. And I wouldn't just change it and see what happens.

 

[PEG]

We are swimming against a 32A current,here...and the OP has gone under

 

[mrloy99]

They have tapped in to water supply...They could have broken your earth connection.In olden times water pipes were used as the earth..No longer permitted due to non metallic sections in use..I doubt if this could cause red issues but it is something you should check and rectify if necessary

 

[dmxtothemax]

If there was a small earth current before, that was being bleed off thru the metal pipes to ground ? Now without that path to bleed off, then there would be an imbalance which the RCD is detecting. Just a theory, but worth checking !