Picture of damp electricity cabinet says it all but Smart meter now not working. Electricity is grand tho.
Rang ESB and said I think its dangerous (water + voltage), ESB said ring your provider (BGE) and they can organize a call out. Spoke to BGE (40 mins wait), “yeah that’ll cost you €220 callout”, if new smart meter is not needed, I get refunded Aaarghhh.
Told them to shove it, I won’t be paying for a piece of equipment I don’t want…
What say the people of Ireland? Is it dangerous? Should I foot the bill?
Who installed it, and did they make any effort to protect it from the elements? Photo doesn’t make it clear whether the door of the box functions.
Looks fairly shite, is the water some sort of condensation from improperly installed insulation board or balls, otherwise could be water coming down the cavity into the cabinet
The meter itself is probably at least ip55 rated. So it should he OK as long as its not submerged.
Where is the water coming from?
Call your supplier to arrange for the blank meter to be replaced.
Call esb networks and tell them the back board for the meter is damp and hopefully the two issues can be addressed at once.
If you are experiencing issues with your power supply like dimming/flickering of lights, momentary losses of power or if you are getting a smell of burning, hearing sizzling or a sensation of heat coming from the meter call their emergency line.
Get the door to the meter box repaired/replaced if it no longer able to close
Take this opportunity to bypass the meter altogether! Don’t forget to wire it back in a couple weeks before the meter reading! Don’t be too suspicious now ….
I can see exposed copper this is not a good install
That also looks like chipboard – probably one of the worst choices
Who is responsible for upkeeping the meter doors? Ours keeps opening in the wind and banging. The lock is damaged on it
ESB will prob blame who ever installed the trip for the ev charger
Waterlane Galway perhaps ?
Electricity and water aren’t the best of friends so yes it’s probably dangerous.
Not clear in the photo but looks like you have droplets at the top, as if water is running down the wall and into the gap at the top of the door. If so window draft insulation tape along the top side of the door might help.
Why particle board in an electrical box? It that up to code over there? Bit odd being flammable/not water resistant.
Does anyone know why there is a disconnect switch and also a switch (main circuit breaker?) ?
Yip…water on electrical coils always dangerous
Assuming its a rural house…
Look around for the pole closest to the property. This will have a cable running down the pole into an underground duct which runs to your meter box.
If the base of the pole is higher than your meter box, even marginally, there is a chance that ground water is running from the pole vicinity, down the duct and right up to the meter box.
If this is the case you could be looking at a much bigger problem where rainwater is flooding through the duct and up into your wall cavity – a few years and your walls could be crumbling.
Further evidence to support this theory is that it looks like the damp is rising from the bottom left of the meter box, where the ESB Networks cable is entering. Capillary reaction allows the water to soak upwards from that point.
I’d be worried about that damp getting into the wall too
19 comments
Picture of damp electricity cabinet says it all but Smart meter now not working. Electricity is grand tho.
Rang ESB and said I think its dangerous (water + voltage), ESB said ring your provider (BGE) and they can organize a call out. Spoke to BGE (40 mins wait), “yeah that’ll cost you €220 callout”, if new smart meter is not needed, I get refunded Aaarghhh.
Told them to shove it, I won’t be paying for a piece of equipment I don’t want…
What say the people of Ireland? Is it dangerous? Should I foot the bill?
Who installed it, and did they make any effort to protect it from the elements? Photo doesn’t make it clear whether the door of the box functions.
Looks fairly shite, is the water some sort of condensation from improperly installed insulation board or balls, otherwise could be water coming down the cavity into the cabinet
The meter itself is probably at least ip55 rated. So it should he OK as long as its not submerged.
Where is the water coming from?
Call your supplier to arrange for the blank meter to be replaced.
Call esb networks and tell them the back board for the meter is damp and hopefully the two issues can be addressed at once.
If you are experiencing issues with your power supply like dimming/flickering of lights, momentary losses of power or if you are getting a smell of burning, hearing sizzling or a sensation of heat coming from the meter call their emergency line.
Get the door to the meter box repaired/replaced if it no longer able to close
Take this opportunity to bypass the meter altogether! Don’t forget to wire it back in a couple weeks before the meter reading! Don’t be too suspicious now ….
I can see exposed copper this is not a good install
That also looks like chipboard – probably one of the worst choices
Who is responsible for upkeeping the meter doors? Ours keeps opening in the wind and banging. The lock is damaged on it
ESB will prob blame who ever installed the trip for the ev charger
Waterlane Galway perhaps ?
Electricity and water aren’t the best of friends so yes it’s probably dangerous.
Not clear in the photo but looks like you have droplets at the top, as if water is running down the wall and into the gap at the top of the door. If so window draft insulation tape along the top side of the door might help.
Why particle board in an electrical box? It that up to code over there? Bit odd being flammable/not water resistant.
Does anyone know why there is a disconnect switch and also a switch (main circuit breaker?) ?
Yip…water on electrical coils always dangerous
Assuming its a rural house…
Look around for the pole closest to the property. This will have a cable running down the pole into an underground duct which runs to your meter box.
If the base of the pole is higher than your meter box, even marginally, there is a chance that ground water is running from the pole vicinity, down the duct and right up to the meter box.
If this is the case you could be looking at a much bigger problem where rainwater is flooding through the duct and up into your wall cavity – a few years and your walls could be crumbling.
Further evidence to support this theory is that it looks like the damp is rising from the bottom left of the meter box, where the ESB Networks cable is entering. Capillary reaction allows the water to soak upwards from that point.
I’d be worried about that damp getting into the wall too