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popeyeuk
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September 3, 2019
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Can I get a smart meter installed in a semi concealed gas box to end my metering woes (2 years +)?

  • September 3, 2019
  • 11 replies
  • 8563 views

Hi folks I am writing this after months of problems relating to Smart Gas meters and trying to fit one in a semi concealed meter box.

Back in 2017 OVO suggested it would be a good idea to upgrade to smart meters. A Lowri Beck engineer was dispatched and he removed our working gas meter and fitted a new smart gas meter. After he left we noticed the meter box lid was buckled and the noise from the meter was vibrating through the house.

Without boring you with the whole story...The smart meter was replaced with a new digital dumb meter.. (This engineer said "which clown tried to fit a smart meter in there")

The new dumb digital meter also failed with a blank screen after a few months ... This was then replaced with another dumb gas meter...

This latest one failed with a blank screen back in March.

Since then we can take no gas readings and have been left in limbo. 2 weeks ago my wife received an email from OVO asking us to contact a company called "Cadent" who would be able to provide a concealed gas box extension quotation which would give room for a smart meter.

We rang...The guy laughed a lot ... and said... We stopped doing those 2 years ago because it was too much hassle.

Latest advice from OVO is for us to find a builder to fit a concealed box extension which you can buy from a builders yard...I haven't found such a product anywhere yet..!!

So... sorry to drone on ... This is the abridged version … At the moment we cant read our dumb broken meter and have no idea how to upgrade the box so we can have a new meter. Apparently the dumb meters are no longer available.

Photo below is current dumb meter in box.(Digital Screen is Blank)

P.S. I see some people on this forum have had a SMETS 2 meter installed by OVO in a concealed box. Why can't we have that option ... It has never been offered..??

 

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Best answer by Transparent

Updated on 29/10/25 by Ben_OVO

 

As the comment below describes, we can install S2 smart meters in semi-concealed gas boxes (a gas meter in a born box, half-submerged in the ground. You can find out how to book an appointment here:

 

 

 

In 2017, only SMETS1 Gas meters were being supplied by OVO. They did fit within a semi-concealed enclosure, but it was tricky and almost impossible to view the integral screen.

When SMETS2 gas meters started to be installed by OVO they had just developed a “fitting kit” which resolved the problems. A steel collar (green arrow) pulled the meter to the back of the enclosure and two rigid steel pipes with complex bends (purple) allowed the input and exit pipes to line up.

The meter display could be read, although I usually put my smartphone in front and took an photo!

There was no size difference between the two versions of smart gas meters. They just used a different make of electronic unit which sits in front (red).

There is one major manufacturer of smart gas meters which uses a very different shape, and that’s Landis & Gyr:

L&G units are generally fitted by British Gas, so they’re very common. Personally I don’t like the inbuilt display. It’s tricky to read because the line-widths are so narrow.

Your non-Smart meter looks like it might be an L&G optical-measurement variety.

 

The fact that your gas meters are failing has nothing to do with them being positioned in a semi-concealed enclosure, or how damp it is. I’m not suggesting you try this, but I can’t actually think why such a meter would fail even if completely submerged in water!

Simply contact Customer Support and request that a replacement meter is fitted.

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

 

11 replies

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Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
Emmanuelle_OVO
Retired Moderator
January 30, 2023

Hey @Dryland,

 

Welcome to the OVO Online Community,

 

I know that with OVO you can send across photo’s and we can get our specialist team to look into, you can also book a ‘site visit’. 

 

If you’re an OVO customer, I’d advise getting in touch with Support with the dimensions of the cabinet as well as photos. 

 

Hope this helps.

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