Emergency! Help needed - 3-phase meter install

[Will Partridge]

Hello,

I'm hoping someone can help with a bit of an urgent situation I'm in! I've just opened a new bar/restaurant after a lengthy refurb. Previously, the venue ran of a single-phase meter.

The refurbishments have been extensive and with all the equipment we've installed (ventilation, air conditioners, beer chillers & dispensers, etc) we have quite a few things that require 3-phase power. I arranged with my supplier to do a meter swap today ready for opening to the public. The electricians on the job had everything ready for this, literally just need to swap the meter over to a new 3-phase meter and all should be fine. Somewhere along the line, however, there has been a miscommunication with my electricity supplier (British Gas Lite). They turned up today and fitted a single-phase smart meter. The installer said that that was what was on his job sheet and couldn't tell me any more. I contacted British Gas Lite (several times) and the bottom line is that they refuse to swap out a single phase meter for a 3-phase. They will only do like-for-like. So now I'm stuck! Tonight we are open and it's boiling hot - desperately need air con to be on.

Any suggestions welcome on solutions to this. Can I get a 3rd party to install a 3-phase meter and still be on my British Gas Lite contract? Or do I need to try to get out of my contract and find a new supplier?? I'm concerned that if the latter, it's going to take weeks to get done.

Any help really appreciated!!

Will

 

[buzzlightyear]

Sorry the answer no only your supplier can change the meter .
You need to speak to them again and tell them what you want .is their a 3 phase in or single .looking at your post thier must be single phase in

 

[Strima]

Do you have a three phase supply?

 

[buzzlightyear]

If the op got single phase in and wants 3 phase then he will have to have it put in .
Shirley the sparks doing the job should have told you .

 

[Will Partridge]

Yes, we now have a 3-phase supply. It's literally just the meter that's the problem.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Can you send a photo of the incoming power supply. That's the incoming cable and the fuse (s) that are on the end of it.

 

[Will Partridge]

Can you send a photo of the incoming power supply. That's the incoming cable and the fuse (s) that are on the end of it.

Yes, certainly can tomorrow when I'm back in the venue. Will post when I have it.

I'm not particularly electric-savvy, however my electricians were saying today that everything has been updated with a new Ryfield board and that the 3-phase supply is all good to go, with just the meter install the final hurdle.

 

[mhar]

Took me over 6 months and 4 visits with British Gas to get a 3 phase meter removed and 3 x single phase installed. Very simple job.
Being polite, they are a pain to deal with / totally incompetent. Most of their meter fitters are not '3 phase qualified' which doesn't help.
I would threaten reporting to the regulator and see if that gets any movement

 

[suffolkspark]

Your gonna have to try and speak to somebody competant their end this morning to have any chance of it being done today..... The incompetancy of suppliers bugs me

 

[Octopus]

Just for clarity - only the SUPPLIER can install a meter ....

 

[johnduffell]

All i can suggest is get on the phone and escalate it as high as you can, make sure you say it's a formal complaint etc. You basically need someone to put their neck out and treat it as an emergency. Given how much losses you'll be suffering it's worth staying on the phone until they promise to do it asap.
Big companies have their procedures and there will only be one person with the power to bypass the procedure. Unfortunately a lot of the employees will be blinded by the process and will just fob you off or just say they are doing what they're told. Even at the complaints level it's hard to find someone who can think for themselves.

 

[The Ghost]

You can change your supplier. Personally I might connect up the three phase without a meter and inform the energy supplier I have done so. Explain to them this supply is vital to business and if they do not care to meter the other two phases then that is their problem. Possibly get it in writing. You could fit your own three phase meter and have a least a reference as to how much electricity you have used in the interim while you change suppliers. This would obviate extortionate estimated claims and at the same time demonstrate you have no criminal intention regards the abstraction of electricity.

 

[buzzlightyear]

if some body turns up to change a meter weather single or three phase
they would have put it in.
But reading this post again .
Possible the op has got single in .and has not got three phase in .

 

[PEG]

What connections were made,in order to test?

 

[johnduffell]

if some body turns up to change a meter weather single or three phase
they would have put it in.
But reading this post again .
Possible the op has got single in .and has not got three phase in .

Annually the op stated the electrician's said the supply is there only the meter

 

[buzzlightyear]

What we need is the picture of the current set up of the meter.

 

[buzzlightyear]

electrician's said the supply is there only the

the question why was it not done .

 

[snowhead]

Back to the begining for a moment.

Was the Restaurant originally a single phase supply with a single phase meter?
And has it now had a new 3 phase supply installed?

Or did it have a 3 phase supply with 2 phases unused and a single meter on 1 phase?

If the latter, has an application been made to the local D.N.O for a 3 phase supply and have they given approval?
It can't just be assumed that because the other 2 phases are live that the local network can take any load on them.
The supplier, B.G Lite would need to have sight of that approval before they fit a 3phase meter.
The main electrical contractor should have discussed this at the planning stage.

I don't beleive BGL would get involved in the application for a 3phase supply.
If the original request to them was for a 3ph meter and they only had record of a single phase supply, that's all they can fit.
No other supplier would be able to fit a 3 ph meter.

 

[Will Partridge]

 

[Will Partridge]

That's a pic of the board. There are 2 supplies that run up to some residential flats above, and one that is for my commercial unit

 

[Jim_e_Jib]

Are the two supplies to the flats upstairs the other two phases?

The Ryefield board doesn't appear to have any gromets protecting the cable entries. It would be worth getting this looked at as the metal edges could cut in to the cable.

 

[Octopus]

That's not pretty .... And can you have 3 phase is the question

 

[buzzlightyear]

That looks like the dogs *****s ,to me the op might need a new supply for it .maybe that's why they did not change the meter.

 

[johnduffell]

No space on the board so they left the termination floating around in front of the cutout!
Also those tails are supposed to go through the same hole in the metallic box to avoid wasting energy warming up the box and possible fault current issues.

 

[Strima]

That's rough...

 

[westward10]

Looks like the tails from the head loop into the Ryefield so three phase is probably present and in use, the supplies to the flats must be out of view. Who installed that unfixed service terminal block?

 

[Taylortwocities]

And lovely plastic tape work on that line tail

Good grief, its a dog's chucked up breakfast.

 

[snowhead]

Re Picture ,another question that possibly only the onsite Electrician can answer,
Were the 2 Flats connected to the other 2 phase fuses and they've been moved into the Ryefield?
All the tails from cutout to Ryefield and also up to the flats look to have been replaced

 

[Strima]

Where's the meters for the flats? Can you show us a picture showing more of the installation?

 

[MFS Electrical]

Where are the grommets?

 

[BruceBanner]

3phase on site but all in use! Could ask the flats if they wouldn't mind sharing there electric for a bit. Other than that need an additional supply, unless something else there not posted yet that your sparks knows about??? It is poor though!

 

[Octopus]

Opening might could go badly

 

[BruceBanner]

3phase on site but all in use! Could ask the flats if they wouldn't mind sharing there electric for a bit. Other than that need an additional supply, unless something else there not posted yet that your sparks knows about??? It is poor though!

 

[BruceBanner]

Hope the sparks PI insurance is in place, again on the assumption we have been shown everything.

 

[Wilko]

On seeing that pic in post #19 - if the meter fitter has done that, I'd be sending it to their customer services on a mail titled "Safety Concern After Your Meter Installation" or some such. That should get their attention. Tell them it's not what you wanted as well. Hopefully they'll send the A team to fix and all will be resolved .

 

[DNO]

It is a 3 phase Ryefield. The Meter fitter has installed a single EDMI AMR and an isolator. The contractor has fitted a double pole RDL block and bunched the 3 phases. Then the contractor has connected the singles into the isolator. This customer will have problems because there is no separate 3 phase service. Also there is no room for a 3 phase meter. This should have been sorted at the planning stage but as usual the contractor doesn't think of that, just "does his job" and walks away. The block by the way has been left by the contractor, not the meter fitter, the meter has done all he can with the situation he finds.

 

[Wilko]

Hi DNO - apologies up front as I'm not experienced in this realm and happy learn.

The meter installed appears to be Mk7C which is 134mm width and its 3 phase equivalent is Mk10D which is 175mm, so it needs 41mm more space. If that isolator was relocated the 3 phase meter should fit(?). The tails from Ryfield and the "floating" service connector block are shambolic and I wouldn't blame meter person if they had said not suitable for change to smart meter on the day (?).

 

[Mike Johnson]

According to how much power you need on a particular three phase machine you can run it off single phase with a variable frequency drive Invertek spring to mind: Variable Frequency Drive Manufacturer | AC Variable Speed Drives | AC Drives - http://www.invertekdrives.com/ speak to them they are very helpful if not speak to the Inverter drive supermarket: Teco filtered by Category: AC Inverter Drives (400V) (Page 1 of 3) - https://inverterdrive.com/m/Teco/?filter=Category%7cAC+Inverter+Drives+(400V) they are equally helpful.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Found the single phase in to three phase out link: Search Results for 'single phase in three phase out' filtered by Category: AC Inverter Drives (230V) - https://inverterdrive.com/Catalogue.aspx?search=single+phase+in+three+phase+out&filter=Category%7cAC+Inverter+Drives+(230V)

 

[DefyG]

Your contract is with BG so they and only they are the ones that can install a 3 phase meter subject to you agreeing a contract with them. The fact that they will probably use a third party meter installer is neither here or there!
Who filled in the application? If you kept a copy and can prove a 3ph meter was requested you should be in the clear regarding getting out of the existing contract.

 

[Dunc N]

The building has a 3 phase supply. You have one of the phases. You do not have a 3 phase supply.

 

[stevels4]

Is it just me or does that brown cable from the isolator load side look heat distressed?
Also not only is a 3ph meter larger it will also need the space to install a 4 pole isolator.
Apart from that it’s a total mess.

 

[Deleted account]

Is it just me or does that brown cable from the isolator load side look heat distressed?
.

It's been wrapped in brown Electricians tape.

 

[MJPD29]

That is seriously rough work by the meter fitter I'd have them back on the basis there are no grommets alone

 

[freddo]

It's been wrapped in brown Electricians tape.

Perhaps they ran out of blue tails!

 

[stevels4]

Am I missing something here ? Where is the live feed to the meter, I can see the neutrals in and out and the live out only.
You have a 3 phase cut out but this is supplying 3 single phases so cannot be reassigned for a 3 phase supply.
You could be looking at a new 3 phase service being installed by the DNO and that will certainly take weeks to organise and blow the budget!