Turning the electricity off at the outside meter box

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OllieF

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#299180 18-Aug-2022 09:39

My folks power went out in the middle of the night last night, and vector came and said a switch was off in the meter box. Can this happen automatically - I did not think so. I am concerned because of the increased crime, and my folks are elderley. I do wonder if someone is testing the house for a break-in.

The house is alarmed and has a back up battery, so they could start using a sleep function at night.

Any thoughts?

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#2955904 18-Aug-2022 09:58

Buy a cheap padlock and put it on the meter box, It will certainly then prove whether its a faulty switch or "enemy action"

Behodar

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#2955908 18-Aug-2022 10:02

A switch, or a breaker? Just wondering whether there's a little communication breakdown between Vector > parents > you.

Bung

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#2955911 18-Aug-2022 10:08

wellygary:
Buy a cheap padlock and put it on the meter box, It will certainly then prove whether its a faulty switch or "enemy action"

If the box is lockable a zip tie will tell you if someone has opened it without being too much hindrance if legitimate access is needed.

If this is something happening in their area it might be mentioned in the local FB group if there is one.

OllieF

85 posts

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#2955923 18-Aug-2022 10:26

Behodar:

A switch, or a breaker? Just wondering whether there's a little communication breakdown between Vector > parents > you.

My mum just 'switch', so I am wondering if it is possible for something to happen inside the meter box automatically. The vector guy came in the middle of the night and corrected it. She did not go out there with him. It was a stormy night but do not understand how that could have caused something in the meter box to occur, but I am not knowledgeable in this area.

Will definely look at securing the meterbox somehow.

cyril7

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#2955936 18-Aug-2022 10:40

Hi, as Behodar says, if it was a breaker that tripped, that could happen without anyone accessing the meter box, ie an internal house overload could cause it to trip. But if it was an isolation switch, that would require someone to operate it. As suggested, put a lock on it.

Cyril

hsvhel

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#2955954 18-Aug-2022 11:28

no saying it's going to be suspicious until proven in your case, we had success with some double sided tape on the side, to obtain the prints when one of ours was being opened.

Subsequently, when the police caught the little shite at another property, he was also charged with tampering on 4 meter boxes in the complex

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OllieF

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#2956034 18-Aug-2022 12:42

Thanks everyone. Last year the switchboard was moved inside so it was the meter only. I just rung the electrician who did the work, and he said that from his memory of their box, it could not have happened automatically. He is going to go round and secure the box so you need a tools to open it.

Why are people tampering with meter boxes - I can only assume because its prep to burgle. Most people dont have alarms on at night......It was such a bad night in Auckland, that I find it odd that people are doing this just for fun.

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allan

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#2956035 18-Aug-2022 12:44

Behodar:

A switch, or a breaker? Just wondering whether there's a little communication breakdown between Vector > parents > you.

Most likely a breaker I would think. Even manged to do it to ourselves recently with too many heaters trying to heat a couple of rooms quickly for visit of very young grandchild. Thought we had a power outage until i realised other things were still working.

richms

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#2956040 18-Aug-2022 12:59

OllieF:

Why are people tampering with meter boxes - I can only assume because its prep to burgle. Most people dont have alarms on at night......It was such a bad night in Auckland, that I find it odd that people are doing this just for fun.

Or to get the homeowners to come outside where they jump them.

Richard rich.ms

Yoban

448 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2956081 18-Aug-2022 15:20

Yep has this happen to us a few years ago at 0630h...unscrewed the door, flicked the switch, waited a few minutes and then left out the front gate.

How To Secure Meter Box (Following Prowler Switching Power Off) (geekzone.co.nz)

CCTV caught some of it, but UPS failed so missed some key aspects.

Have used screws with a head that a flathead screw driver would be of no use on.

Tinkerisk

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#2956088 18-Aug-2022 15:47

I have never been able to understand why you install the electricity meters and house connections outside the buildings?

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raytaylor

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#2956090 18-Aug-2022 15:49

Bung: If the box is lockable a zip tie will tell you if someone has opened it without being too much hindrance if legitimate access is needed.

If this is something happening in their area it might be mentioned in the local FB group if there is one.

I understand its illegal to lock a meterbox because the fire service need to turn it off before they enter the house with their hoses. They dont want to be waiting for a lineman to come and pull the pole fuse.

Zip ties are acceptable.

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MadEngineer

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#2956144 18-Aug-2022 15:54

Tinkerisk:
I have never been able to understand why you install the electricity meters and house connections outside the buildings?

Historically so that the meter reader can check it without requiring you to be home or to be disturbed when they need to do a reading. Less of an issue now but they still require regular inspections.

Personally I find it better for that reason and also should we need to evacuate the house for some reason we have the ability to kill power from the outside.

If power is killed maliciously then yes it’ll be targeted as theft. There are other tricks that they do as well to test for occupancy, for example turning on your front water tap.

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raytaylor

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#2956150 18-Aug-2022 16:01

Tinkerisk:

I have never been able to understand why you install the electricity meters and house connections outside the buildings?

Before electricity meters were connected to cellphone networks, a man used to come around to your house every two months to read the meter. If they were on the outside of the building he could do it during the week rather than coming back on a saturday morning and waking you up at 8am.

Ray Taylor

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neb

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#2956151 18-Aug-2022 16:02

cyril7:
Hi, as Behodar says, if it was a breaker that tripped, that could happen without anyone accessing the meter box, ie an internal house overload could cause it to trip. But if it was an isolation switch, that would require someone to operate it. As suggested, put a lock on it.

You've also got to look at what's most likely. The OP mentioned it was a dark and stormy night (literally), what are the chances of a prowler wandering around in a storm at night and random turning people's power off?

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