Power smart meter - does it go inside or outside the house?

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Jax

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#111469 4-Nov-2012 15:28

As per title - new build, power company not selected yet.

Some other new house nearby have the large power meter box on the outside of their houses... I thought this
wouldn't be necessary?

Cheers

gregmcc

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#711795 4-Nov-2012 15:36

Jax: As per title - new build, power company not selected yet.

Some other new house nearby have the large power meter box on the outside of their houses... I thought this
wouldn't be necessary?

Cheers

Smart or dumb meter, the outside meter board is still required, the power companies need access to preform maintiance as needed as they class the meter as part of their network

B1GGLZ

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#711805 4-Nov-2012 16:00

gregmcc:
Jax: As per title - new build, power company not selected yet.

Some other new house nearby have the large power meter box on the outside of their houses... I thought this
wouldn't be necessary?

Cheers

Smart or dumb meter, the outside meter board is still required, the power companies need access to preform maintiance as needed as they class the meter as part of their network

+1
On the outside.

old3eyes

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#711826 4-Nov-2012 16:44

gregmcc:
Jax: As per title - new build, power company not selected yet.

Some other new house nearby have the large power meter box on the outside of their houses... I thought this
wouldn't be necessary?

Cheers

Smart or dumb meter, the outside meter board is still required, the power companies need access to preform maintiance as needed as they class the meter as part of their network

Not really. My smart meter is in the middle of the house. No reading required as these things have a GSM SIM card in them so they call home every couple of hours with your latest power usage so if the spot market goes up they can charge you more..

Regards,

Old3eyes

gregmcc

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#711829 4-Nov-2012 16:54

old3eyes:
gregmcc:
Jax: As per title - new build, power company not selected yet.

Some other new house nearby have the large power meter box on the outside of their houses... I thought this
wouldn't be necessary?

Cheers

Smart or dumb meter, the outside meter board is still required, the power companies need access to preform maintiance as needed as they class the meter as part of their network

Not really. My smart meter is in the middle of the house. No reading required as these things have a GSM SIM card in them so they call home every couple of hours with your latest power usage so if the spot market goes up they can charge you more..

Must be a really old house piror to 1970's that had an internal meter board/fuse board, guess you missed the 1st line "...new build...."

Niel

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#711836 4-Nov-2012 17:12

As others said, must be outside. But I'm sure you can ask for a smaller, more expensive plastic box. The box is needed for the isolation point, for when your power needs to be cut. Like a demarcation point for phone wiring. The meter is also there as it belongs to the power company, not you. There are rules about where it can be, typically the closest corner to the power entry point of your property.

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TechSol

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#712170 5-Nov-2012 12:11

seen a ton of new builds recently with the meter integrated into the switchboard... if they wish to isolate your house, they can do it in the pit, or the plynth outside....

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B1GGLZ

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#712225 5-Nov-2012 13:34

Evilg: . if they wish to isolate your house, they can do it in the pit, or the plynth outside....

Not if you don't have one.
Depends on the installation I guess.
If they install a pit or plinth the meter could be inside. Otherwise outside.
We just have a box on the wall outside with isolation point and switchboard in the garage. Only other point to disconnect is the 60 amp fuse up the pole in the street.
Strangely all the houses here (North Shore) have underground supply but they run it up poles to fuses then across the street to overhead lines. One would think they could have run those underground too and installed individual plinths on the boundary like we had in Rotorua.

Niel

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#712536 5-Nov-2012 20:01

I forgot about the fuse on the pole. So then there is no need for an ugly metal box outside my brand new house. At least it is hidden behind a colour steel spouting down pipe.

We had to pay to get a pit installed (Pakuranga, East Auckland) as a new build is not allowed to re-use an overhead cable. And we paid lots for the pit while the neighbour, if he decides to build in the future, gets to use the pit for free.

You can never have enough Volvos!

TechSol

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#712683 6-Nov-2012 08:47

B1GGLZ:
Evilg: . if they wish to isolate your house, they can do it in the pit, or the plynth outside....

Not if you don't have one.
Depends on the installation I guess.
If they install a pit or plinth the meter could be inside. Otherwise outside.
We just have a box on the wall outside with isolation point and switchboard in the garage. Only other point to disconnect is the 60 amp fuse up the pole in the street.
Strangely all the houses here (North Shore) have underground supply but they run it up poles to fuses then across the street to overhead lines. One would think they could have run those underground too and installed individual plinths on the boundary like we had in Rotorua.

The fuse up the pole is a valid disconnection point. I have chatted to a number of retailers in Auckland lately and they all defer to the lines companies on this point. In this case, I haven't found an example of a new build where an outside meter box is still required.

richms

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#713118 6-Nov-2012 19:52

Friends new build went in the garage in the same giant box that the breakers and automation gear is in.

Richard rich.ms