Electrical board - can this be removed?

echidnasands

Running around in circles with the Electricity Company & electricians… Does anyone know if the boards in the green box can be removed, which would allow the newer boards (in the red box) to be repositioned to be flush with the roofline.. this would create a neater space that could be boxed/covered.. which is what we are aiming for. Thanks.

10-10-20

What was removed from the blocks in green?

echidnasands

Absolutely no idea. The new red board was installed when we moved in a few years back… no idea whether the green box is still required or not, and or what it's servicing.. I suppose I could switch it off and see what happens?

echidnasands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122592984#Comment_122592984

Absolutely no idea. The new red board was installed when we moved in a few years back… no idea whether the green box is still required or not, and or what it's servicing.. I suppose I could switch it off and see what happens?

davebuck

I would think there was an old fuseboard removed and the new MCB panel would not fit in the space left, the smart meter is definitely on the old ESB meter backing. The new ABB trips are all off?

10-10-20

101 questions... 😝 where is the main consumer unit and can you also upload a photo?

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593013#Comment_122593013

Looks like it's just above the meter.

echidnasands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593013#Comment_122593013

This is everything…

Doolittle51

The red board was probably for night storage heaters. There would have been 2 meters prior the smart meter install (red box) One meter dedicated to the night storage board and one meter for the main board which feeds the rest of the house. If the night storage meter reading doesn't change for 2 years, it's deemed redundant and equipment connected to it is not reconnected when a smart meter is installed. When your smart meter was installed, they just terminated the tails from the old night storage board into Henley blocks.

To answer your question, the board in the green box can most likely be removed. A REC will be able to determine this very easily. However, the equipment in the red box is your main ESB fuse and smart meter. These can not be moved easily, quickly or cheaply. You'll need a REC and ESB networks involved. Your existing electrical installation needs to be up to a certain standard and if it is quite old, there could be a lot of remedial work involved in making your installation meet those standards.

echidnasands

Most helpful, thank you.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593061#Comment_122593061

That's what I thought, but wasn't sure. Thanks.

meercat

agree with Doolittle51

your mains cables are undersized too especially if that’s a shower or car charger on the top row

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593057#Comment_122593057

If you got rid of the old ABB NSH fuse board (which looks to be already disconnected) it might be possible to shove up the timber board that the meter is mounted on. There looks to be some length on the incoming service cables.
Probably strictly should involve ESBN, but your electrican might be prepared to do it.

drury..

You'd get a bit but not a lot before one of those wires stops it

Realistically moving the meter higher and boxing it doesn't serve any useful purpose aside from aesthetics