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Smart meter isolation switch

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  • 07-08-2020 9:09am
    #1
    alan4cult
    Registered Users Posts: 1,583 ✭✭✭


    I'll be getting a smart meter installed in the next year, no notification date yet. Is it possible to request the installer install an isolation switch after the meter or do they install the meter only usually?

    This switch would be after the meter and main fuse but before the consumer unit.


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    #2
    alan4cult
    Registered Users Posts: 1,583 ✭✭✭alan4cult


    Anyone?


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    #3
    meercat
    Registered Users Posts: 4,729 ✭✭✭meercat


    alan4cult wrote: »
    I'll be getting a smart meter installed in the next year, no notification date yet. Is it possible to request the installer install an isolation switch after the meter or do they install the meter only usually?

    This switch would be after the meter and main fuse but before the consumer unit.

    Esbn are required to install a switch after the meter so you shouldn’t have to request one (although this isn’t always fitted). A rec who observes this is supposed to inform Esbn


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    #4
    sparcocars
    Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭sparcocars


    The snaer metwrs being fitted don't have an integral isolator switch like some of the digital meters have but esb will fit a seperate isolator with the smart meter.

    As meercat said you won't need to request this.


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    #5
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,353 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    alan4cult wrote: »
    This switch would be after the meter and main fuse but before the consumer unit.

    Asking as a consumer, in the case of an external meter, where would the proposed isolation switch be located?

    My smart meter was installed in March last, the installer did not ask to come into my house.


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    #6
    meercat
    Registered Users Posts: 4,729 ✭✭✭meercat


    coylemj wrote: »
    Asking as a consumer, in the case of an external meter, where would the proposed isolation switch be located?

    My smart meter was installed in March last, the installer did not ask to come into my house.

    Beside the meter,in the cabinet


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    #7
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,353 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    meercat wrote: »
    Beside the meter,in the cabinet

    Doesn't that mean that a prankster could open the box and cut off my power?


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    #8
    alan4cult
    Registered Users Posts: 1,583 ✭✭✭alan4cult


    coylemj wrote: »
    Doesn't that mean that a prankster could open the box and cut off my power?
    Yes.


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    #9
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    coylemj wrote: »
    Doesn't that mean that a prankster could open the box and cut off my power?

    Nothing new here.
    This could always have been done. Even in cases where there is no isolator the fuse could simply be pulled. This would of course be a stupid thing to do, but it is easily done.


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    #10
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,353 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Is there a fuse and/or isolator switch on my meter ....


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    #11
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    coylemj wrote: »
    Is there a fuse and/or isolator switch on my meter ....


    See the 2 grey cables entering the bottom of the meter? They should come from a fuse.

    This link may help.


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    #12
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,353 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    2011 wrote: »
    See the 2 grey cables entering the bottom of the meter? They should come from a fuse.

    +1 have to confess that I never even noticed it!


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    #13
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    coylemj wrote: »
    +1 have to confess that I never even noticed it!

    That's the one :)
    If that fuse was pulled the house would have no power.


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    #14
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,353 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    2011 wrote: »
    That's the one :)
    If that fuse was pulled the house would have no power.

    Cheers. I’m guessing that the fire brigade would pull that fuse as part of their standard procedures if there was evidence of a fire within.


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    #15
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    coylemj wrote: »
    Cheers. I’m guessing that the fire brigade would pull that fuse as part of their standard procedures if there was evidence of a fire within.

    I don’t think so. Fireman’s switches are sometimes installed but not normally in a domestic installation.


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    #16
    meercat
    Registered Users Posts: 4,729 ✭✭✭meercat


    coylemj wrote: »
    Cheers. I’m guessing that the fire brigade would pull that fuse as part of their standard procedures if there was evidence of a fire within.

    Yes they do. And they also call out Esbn


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    #17
    Shadow_2003
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭Shadow_2003


    A9EFBBCF-FC0B-4C26-87B8-F3036F8C2915.jpeg

    We’re planning to have our consumer unit upgraded in a couple months, today I noticed there’s no isolator switch at the ESB meter, we had a smart meter installed a few years back, shouldn’t ESB have installed an isolator?



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    #18
    meercat
    Registered Users Posts: 4,729 ✭✭✭meercat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118429142#Comment_118429142
    https://safeelectric.ie/contractors/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/07/July-2019-Newsletter-Final.pdf

    page 3 , bottom left



    as an aside, when your consumer unit is upgraded it’s also a requirement to upgrade mains cables and earthing including new earth rod. A over current protective device may also be required in your meter cabinet. Your rec will need to provide a certificate to facilitate esbn connection into the meter.



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