Moving ESB Meter

CuppaCocoa · 20-01-2012 12:57pm #1

Just had our house renovated. The ESB meter was originally on the outside wall of the house just left of the hall door. The electrician then moved it about 4ft to the inside wall when he was re-wiring. It is now sitting on top of the door frame and looks absolutely sh*7te :mad: I mentioned it to the builder and he said that it would cost about €1,000 to move it and that only the ESB could do it

. Now this guy would say Mass so just checking if there is any truth in it? If the electrician moved it in the first place then why the hell can't he move it back?

M cebee · 20-01-2012 2:16pm

spark prob not registered so can't do anything with it

esbn wont do anything without a cert from registered electrician

CuppaCocoa · 20-01-2012 3:53pm

M cebee wrote: »

spark prob not registered so can't do anything with it

esbn wont do anything without a cert from registered electrician

He is registered and he's already sent in the cert!

cdb · 20-01-2012 4:17pm

Its a job for ESB Networks. Details here

CuppaCocoa · 20-01-2012 4:33pm

cdb wrote: »

Its a job for ESB Networks. Details here

My query is he moved it in the first place why can't he move it back :mad:. It's only a few feet and it's hanging over the door frame!

M cebee · 20-01-2012 4:57pm

cant tell much from here-have you asked him?

are esbn due to call?

on a rewire esbn may connect new tails to existing meter indoors or else meter is relocated to a cabinet outside

CuppaCocoa · 20-01-2012 5:15pm

M cebee wrote: »

cant tell much from here-have you asked him?

are esbn due to call?

on a rewire esbn may connect new tails to existing meter indoors or else meter is relocated to a cabinet outside

ESB are due to call to connect the tails. I don't want to pay them to have this moved as I feel it should have been put back in its original location. Will be taking it up with the architect before ESB come so hopefully he can get it rectified.

M cebee · 20-01-2012 5:32pm

doesnt seem like theres any problem here assuming esbn reconnect to meter 'indoors'

Davy · 20-01-2012 5:44pm

Why was it moved in the first place?

meercat · 20-01-2012 7:16pm

any chance pics
possibly moved it so that the outside wall could be insulated during renovations
the inside wall may be studded so it makes dropping wires to new fuseboard easier to hide
if he has issued cert and you have paid esbn to connect new tails then all should be in order (electric wise)
he possibly should have discussed moving the meter to an outside box much earlier in the renovations
the last relocation of meter cost my client €480 (paid to esbn)not including ducting and trenching that the builder charged

liveandnetural · 20-01-2012 11:39pm

post a picture of the meter

and the door frame

CuppaCocoa · 21-01-2012 9:53pm

Here's a pic. What do you think?

Davy · 21-01-2012 10:01pm

lilybarlean wrote: »

Here's a pic. What do you think?

I see why your not happy. I don't think the ESB will be too pleased either. Your sparks shouldnt have touched the meter. Pity you didn't decide to move it outside from the start. Have you question him on why he move it?

CuppaCocoa · 21-01-2012 10:11pm

Davy wrote: »

I see why your not happy. I don't think the ESB will be too pleased either. Your sparks shouldnt have touched the meter. Pity you didn't decide to move it outside from the start. Have you question him on why he move it?

No, I presumed he would move it back before they left :mad:. I just want it back on the outside wall or at least in line with the new fuse box so that I can get a cover made for it. Will take it up with the architect. Not happy.

Davy · 21-01-2012 10:28pm

lilybarlean wrote: »

No, I presumed he would move it back before they left :mad:. I just want it back on the outside wall or at least in line with the new fuse box so that I can get a cover made for it. Will take it up with the architect. Not happy.

You should be able to get the meter up above the cutout (other black box) and it won't be so bad. The cutout will have to stay as is because of cable length. Both are property of networks so should only be move by them

CuppaCocoa · 21-01-2012 10:41pm

Davy wrote: »

You should be able to get the meter up above the cutout (other black box) and it won't be so bad. The cutout will have to stay as is because of cable length. Both are property of networks so should only be move by them

If it should only be moved by the ESB then why was the bloody thing moved in the first place? That's my query! We didn't knock down or insulate the outside wall:rolleyes:

paddymick · 21-01-2012 11:10pm

lilybarlean wrote: »

He is registered and he's already sent in the cert!

Did he give you your copy?

lilybarlean wrote: »

Here's a pic. What do you think?

Ouch

No really it Looks good

Are you sure he wasnt originally planning on moving it back(maybe the plasterer got in before he got a chance to move it) why else would he leave the long tails there like that in a nice tidy mess.

Also did they do a full re-wire? If so then your fuse board position is against regulations for a start.

CuppaCocoa · 21-01-2012 11:15pm

paddymick wrote: »

Did he give you your copy?

Ouch No really it Looks good

Are you sure he wasnt originally planning on moving it back(maybe the plasterer got in before he got a chance to move it) why else would he leave the long tails there like that in a nice tidy mess.

Also did they do a full re-wire? If so then your fuse board position is against regulations for a start.

Don't know what he was planning to do, they were all working together! The house was totally renovated from top to bottom and fully re-wired.

M cebee · 21-01-2012 11:19pm

the DB looks to be above the 2.25m regulation height

paddymick · 21-01-2012 11:21pm

What M cebee said:)

CuppaCocoa · 21-01-2012 11:33pm

What's a DB?

paddymick · 21-01-2012 11:36pm

lilybarlean wrote: »

What's a DB?

Your fuseboard.(distribution board)

lynchieboy · 21-01-2012 11:36pm

What an abortion of a job! why didnt he move the meter to an external box? nobody can touch the ESB meter except ESB networks, I moved my own meter last year (I'm an electrician) you need a cert and a relocation fee of about 400 euros is charged by ESB. If you owe him money I'd say dont pay untill its moved to a location that you are happy with. I'd also say the ESB wont be happy when they see that someone interfered with the meter, and if the seal was broken they might get a bit sticky. (Thank god I'm an electrician and I dont have to deal with these cowboys).

M cebee · 21-01-2012 11:36pm

DB distribution board

2.25m is the max height to the top of board

CuppaCocoa · 21-01-2012 11:53pm

lynchieboy wrote: »

What an abortion of a job! why didnt he move the meter to an external box? nobody can touch the ESB meter except ESB networks, I moved my own meter last year (I'm an electrician) you need a cert and a relocation fee of about 400 euros is charged by ESB. If you owe him money I'd say dont pay untill its moved to a location that you are happy with. I'd also say the ESB wont be happy when they see that someone interfered with the meter, and if the seal was broken they might get a bit sticky. (Thank god I'm an electrician and I dont have to deal with these cowboys).

How can he move it if the ESB are the only ones who can do it?

Yes, he moved it a few feet which he probably shouldn't have done. No, we didn't get a copy of his cert but he did tell me he's sent it in to the ESB. Sigh. Thank God, we've only paid the builders half the money! Over to the architect to sort out :rolleyes:

cast_iron · 22-01-2012 12:43am

In fairness, it may well cost up to €1000 to get the meter moved the the suggested location by some posters here (outside in a meter box). And it appears the OP didn't want this, so claiming it was "the right thing to do" byt he builder is not strictly true.
That doesn't excuse it's current positioning....looks like the length of the incoming tales governed its position. Nor does it excuse him moving the meter.

The solution is probably still the same as it was from the start though, ie. an ESB callout costing €400 + associated works. This will have to be paid by the OP, not the builder.

meercat · 22-01-2012 11:44am

I think the main problems here were lack of planning
The electrical contractor should have discussed moving the meter to the outside on day 1
I'm sure he repositioned the meter temporarily so that the outside Walls could be plastered
He most likely hasn't broken any seals to do so
He would have done this without involving esbn so that the job could proceed without disruption to power supply knowing that when he issues the cert ,esbn will reconnect the new tails(you will have to pay for this upgrade reconnection)
In my experience of esbn,if they have to move the meter,even 1 ft,there will be an additional charge as they will have to send out an additional crew who work on supply not metering
Also as others have stated,your d.b is incorrectly positioned according to current regulations
I think you should speak directlly to your electrical contractor first

paddy147 · 22-01-2012 4:28pm

lilybarlean wrote: »

Here's a pic. What do you think?

OH MY GOD.:eek::eek:

If the sparks moved it,then he should move it back again and install it safely and propperly.

Otherwize...................

Picture and small claims court,if the sparks wont sort that and put it right for you.

Too many cowboys out there nowadays,and they are giving other professional trades people a bad name,because of their shody dangerous work.

M cebee · 22-01-2012 5:02pm

paddy147 wrote: »

lilybarlean wrote: »

Here's a pic. What do you think?

OH MY GOD.:eek::eek:

If the sparks moved it,then he should move it back again and install it safely and propperly.

Otherwize...................

Picture and small claims court,if the sparks wont sort that and put it right for you.

Too many cowboys out there nowadays,and they are giving other professional trades people a bad name,because of their shody dangerous work.

the meter has just been lifted off the outside wall -no biggie really if seals are intact

customers and builders often dont want to shift meters due to cost and delays

he's at fault for db height and anything else that may be amiss

Bruthal · 22-01-2012 6:19pm

paddy147 wrote: »

OH MY GOD.:eek::eek:

If the sparks moved it,then he should move it back again and install it safely and propperly.

Otherwize...................

Picture and small claims court,if the sparks wont sort that and put it right for you.

Too many cowboys out there nowadays,and they are giving other professional trades people a bad name,because of their shody dangerous work.

What big danger is there? DB is higher than the reg height by the look of it. Thats a different problem to do with standing on ladders or chairs to operate MCB`s. Hardly a major electrical danger, which cant really be judged from a photo of an unfinished job.

The height of DB aside, or any other possible problems in the OPs setup, how many properly done electrical jobs would look good if photos of them half finished were put up on this forum? Meters arer often temporarily moved and/or connected, pending the final proper connection.

cast_iron · 22-01-2012 7:33pm

paddy147 wrote: »

Picture and small claims court,if the sparks wont sort that and put it right for you.

I wouldn't be too happy about where the meter is placed also. But what grounds would you go to court on?

Would you be happy to pay €1000 to get it moved to where it would be best suited? (an external meter box)?

Moving ESB Meter

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