ᐅ Size of the electrical meter cabinet (electric meter enclosure)

For a standard single-family house with an air-source heat pump, how many slots for meters does the main electrical meter or its enclosure typically have? Our electricity provider requires a bidirectional meter for the heat pump and a disconnection device to be able to isolate the heat pump from the power supply.

Or, to put it differently, in which standard sizes are meter enclosures available—1, 2, 3, or 4 slots—or are they only offered in increments like 2, 4, 6, and so on?

Please check again precisely about the additional meter and shutdown. Do you have photovoltaic panels?

In our case, shutdown is only required by the grid operator from X kW (kilowatts) and when using a heat pump tariff. Without a tariff and below X kW, it is not required.

We basically have a distribution board for a single-family house with a heat pump included in the contract. Due to a photovoltaic (solar) preparation we requested, we are now being asked to pay an extra fee for expanding the meter space. So far, so good. In my opinion, the basic contract already includes a distribution board for the house installation plus the heat pump, right? That would be 3 meter positions: 1 for the main electrical supply, 1 for a secondary meter for the heat pump, and 1 meter position for the ripple control device or whatever it’s exactly called. If there are only distribution boards available with 2, 4, or more meter positions, wouldn’t the 4th meter position for the photovoltaic system theoretically be included without additional costs?

lesmue79 schrieb:

For a standard single-family house with an air-source heat pump, how many slots does the electric meter or the meter cabinet usually have? Our electricity provider requires a bidirectional meter and a disconnection device for the heat pump, so they can disconnect it from the grid.

2 slots for the meter plus your slots for the electrical system.

lesmue79 schrieb:

Or to ask differently, what are the standard sizes of meter cabinets with 1/2/3/4 slots? Or are they only available in increments like 2/4/6, etc.?

2 slots usually means you have meters on the left and electrical components on the right.
With 3 slots, you can install 2 or 3 meters. Attached is a photo showing 3 meters.

lesmue79 schrieb:

If meter cabinets only come with 2 or 4 slots, wouldn't I theoretically have the 4th meter slot available for photovoltaic without extra costs?

Why would you need a 4th meter slot for photovoltaic?
1 – Standard feed-in
2 – Heat pump
3 – Photovoltaic

Edit: It might be that your cabinet is not allowed due to height restrictions. In that case, you’d need 3 slots just for the meters, plus your electrical system. So at least 4 slots total. With some extra margin, more like 5, plus a multimedia slot.

But your electrician should know this, right?

The heat pump does not necessarily require a separate meter; it can also be connected to the household electricity supply without a disconnection device. This is especially convenient when combined with photovoltaic systems, as it eliminates the need for a second basic fee.

danixf schrieb:

2 slots for meters + your slots for the electrical system.

Usually, 2 slots means you have the meters on the left and the electrical components on the right.
With 3 slots, you can install 2 or 3 meters. Photo for 3 meters attached.

Why add a 4th meter slot for photovoltaics?
1 - Standard feed-in
2 - Heat pump
3 - Photovoltaic

Edit: It could be that the cabinet is not allowed for you due to its height. Then you need 3 slots for the meters + your electrical system. So at least 4 in total. With a bit of leeway, more like 5 + a multimedia slot.

But your electrician should know that, right?

The energy provider requires a bidirectional meter for the heat pump.

I thought the ripple control receiver for the heat pump would take up the space of a fourth meter, which is why I believe 4 meter slots are necessary.

If the general contractor (GC) contractually includes a meter cabinet for the house installation and heat pump, which one should be included in their cost calculation: a meter cabinet for 2 meter slots or one for 3 meter slots? Operating nationwide in Germany, as a GC, shouldn't I expect that a house electricity meter plus a heat pump meter plus a ripple control receiver will be needed? And if yes, what should I include in the basic calculation: two meter slots, three meter slots, or four meter slots?

Or put differently, if I now skip the extension of the meter cabinet for the photovoltaic system on paper, how much space will I realistically have if the ripple control device, heat pump meter, and house electricity meter are already installed? Will there still be room for a photovoltaic meter if I decide to install a photovoltaic system on the roof at some point?