ᐅ Meter Slots in the Electrical Panel – How Many Are Required?

Created on: 25 Jan 2018 07:42
W
Wickie
Hello everyone!

We still need to specify to the electrician which meter cabinet we want. Of course, they also need to know how many meter slots are required.
Our electricity provider advised us to plan for 4 slots to be future-proof.
We will have a heat pump (which we intend to operate without a separate meter), photovoltaic is being prepared, and at the moment, an electric car is not planned. However, we are having power installed at one spot in the garage in case it becomes necessary later.

Is it really necessary to plan for 4 slots? How have you handled this?
Mycraft25 Jan 2018 11:52
The price is reasonable, I also have the cabinet.

It provides space for 4 meters and two distribution panels, roughly like this:


Electrical distribution cabinet with cable ducts, wiring, and terminal blocks.
W
Wickie
25 Jan 2018 12:49
Ah, OK – thanks!

The more I think about it… it doesn’t really make sense anyway. We prepare all sorts of things and then stop at the electrical panel considering it.
I’ll take another look at the old quote this evening, but probably just out of curiosity.

And when I look at all the cables already waiting to be installed in the service room… that stuff takes up space too!
D
Domski
25 Jan 2018 13:37
There is space for 4 meters, but check with your utility provider about a ripple control receiver for the heat pump. Some providers require a ripple control receiver for load shedding with heat pumps (even though it probably doesn’t matter for just 3 kW electrical load).

I had to remove the APZ box and retrofit a 3-point box because they only have ripple control receivers with 3-point connections. However, I was also the first smart meter customer in my branch area...

By the way, ripple control receivers are also available as DIN rail versions, just not from my utility provider.
W
Wickie
25 Jan 2018 20:12
Ah, never heard of that before... Thanks for the tip – I’ll bring it up there!

In our initial offer and in the architect’s price comparison, I found the originally planned cabinet with two meter slots listed at just under 600 EUR net (if I have that right). So the cabinet with 4 meter slots costs us about twice as much.