SELECT

Q & A of the Day – Must I install an isolator in this house?

Published: 3 March 2009 Category: Q&A

Our Voltimum Experts answer your questions on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise area. This one, concerning a domestic installation and the possible need for an isolator, is answered by SELECT:

Question: In a domestic installation, where the supply meter is located in an external meter box, and the consumer unit is further away than 2m, firstly - is it a mandatory requirement to install an isolator?

Secondly, can the supply authority insist that the isolator is not installed within their meter box?

Answer: Generally, the distributor will allow meter tails to be protected against fault current by their cut-out fuse, providing that the meter tails do not exceed 3m in length.

If the tails do exceed 3m, then you must install a suitable switch-fuse or fuse-switch to provide adequate fault protection. The distributor may not allow you to install this main switch in its meter box. If not, you will need to install the fuse-switch within the 3m length of tails.

To see many more Q & A in Voltimum UK's Experts Area, please click on the link:

www.voltimum.co.uk/consult.php?universe=consult.index.questions