Solved

Lights flickering throughout flat since Smart Meter installation

  • 31 December 2022
  • 27 replies
  • 1785 views
J
Rank

Hi there,

 

I had a smart meter installed about a month ago. In the last couple of weeks the lights in the apartment have started flickering, particularly when power-hungry devices (e.g. kettle, microwave) are used. Over the last week or so this has got worse, and now occurs even when no appliances are in use. 

An electrician came today and couldn’t find any potential causes, but isn’t allowed to look inside the smart meter because it’s property of OVO. I contacted OVO this afternoon and they’re not able to send anyone out to resolve this worsening issue for the next 3.5 weeks. 

 

Is this issue common with smart meters? Are there any potential solutions to this in the short term?

Many thanks!

icon

Best answer by BPLightlog 31 December 2022, 17:50

View original

27 replies

Blastoise186
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +1

Hi @jacobdavies ,

This is unlikely to be the smart meter itself, but OVO can definitely take a look for you. It’s more likely to be a badly installed meter - smart or not - than an actually faulty meter. And even then, a fault like this could happen to anything. Either way, it’s very rare that this comes up.

My guess is bad wiring somewhere, but @PeterR1947 probably has a better chance at figuring this out than I do.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way!
J
Rank

Hi @Blastoise186 ,

Thanks very much for your reply.

I understand from here (under ‘Noisy Electricity Meters) that OVO would be able to come out sooner if my meter was making an arcing, vibrating or zapping noise - then I could book in an emergency meter exchange. However, although I have evidence of bad wiring at or around the meter, I don’t qualify for an emergency visit - is that correct? Is it worth me calling the number on that page anyway?

Many thanks!

Blastoise186
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +1

I wouldn’t usually automatically jump straight to an EMEX, because that might not solve the real problem. It’d probably be better to have OVO send an engineer out to check the existing equipment is installed properly first.

What you describe doesn’t sound like it qualifies for an EMEX either...

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way!
BPLightlog
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

Hi @jacobdavies if it is just light flickering (rather than power sockets and appliances) it will not be caused by the smart meter. Lights will be on a different circuit and it is that circuit which is more likely to be the cause. You mention an electrician taking a look - unfortunately an intermittent fault like you describe is very difficult to detect but if there is poor wiring in and around the main distribution board, that is where to start. It could be that something was disturbed when the swap was made

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
J
Rank

Hi @Blastoise186 and @BPLightlog ,

Thanks for your speedy responses!

It is both lights and appliances flickering (the microwave light now flickers quite a lot, and didn’t before). The electrician wasn’t able to find any potential causes outside of the smart meter - that was the only stone he had to leave unturned.

It sounds, then, like I won’t be able to get this resolved until the OVO engineer visits in late January. Is there anything I can do at my end to dig deeper into the issue, or to get an engineer to visit sooner?

Many thanks!

BPLightlog
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

The problem if it is caused by source at or near the meter is that there is so much energy and so it is not the place to ‘take a look’. 
If you can show the engineer what’s happening easily, they should be able to sort things. It does sound like a loose connection unless it is an unusual faulty meter

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
J
Rank

Hi @BPLightlog ,

Thanks for this! Just to clarify - do you mean that I should call out the electrician to check again for an external loose connection of the smart meter, or should I sit tight until the OVO engineer comes in late Jan?

Many thanks!

PeterR1947
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +2

If lights and other appliances are affected it certainly sounds like a loose wire somewhere and as the only change has been the smart meter fitting the finger points to that.  Are there any signs of discoloured insulation around the meter tails going into or out of the meter?  If there is any discolouration, this is an emergency.

Peter

BPLightlog
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

@jacobdavies as Peter says, look for any discolouration on the wires connected to the meter. Another clue might be if you can see any flashes by the meter connections. Can you look at the area easily in the dark? (Don’t put yourself too close, just in case)

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
J
Rank

Hi @PeterR1947 and @BPLightlog ,

Thanks so much for your responses, especially on New Year’s Eve!

I just put the kettle on and had a look at the meter in the dark and couldn’t see any flashes. However, I could hear occasional tinny ‘dzzt dzzzzt...dzzt’ sounds from it, almost like a sparking sound. Might this be arcing?

Below are photos of the meter. The only potential discolouration I could see is on the right-hand one of the white cables going into the base of the box marked Scottish Power only. This is clearly an older cable though, so might have been like that for a long time.

Many thanks!

J
Rank

Sorry - photos are below.

 

BPLightlog
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

@jacobdavies that sound could indeed be arcing. I also don’t like the bare earth cable tracking across that old connection. It might have been there for some time but any disturbance could have moved things, even a little 

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
J
Rank

Thanks very much @BPLightlog .

I think I’m not actually able to do anything about this arcing as I currently can’t arrange for OVO to do an emergency meter exchange until their phone lines reopen in 3 days time. I’ve just called 105 and Scottish Power wouldn’t be able to do any sort of repair except for pulling the main fuse to the property. The electrician that came yesterday wasn’t able to touch the meter or the box marked property of Scottish Power. 

Am I best off turning off the power to the apartment and moving out for a couple of days?

BPLightlog
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

I’m for safety first @jacobdavies so if that’s an option, it might be best. Given the issues you’re having, I would be cautious .. there may be internal arcing or what’s called partial discharge - the problem with both these things is they are destructive forces, even if very slowly. Sorry I can’t be more helpful

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
J
Rank

Likewise @BPLightlog - I’m going with that option as it’s safest. Thanks so much for your help today.

PeterR1947
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +2

 

Thanks very much @BPLightlog .

 

Am I best off turning off the power to the apartment and moving out for a couple of days?

You could try phoning your DNO as it’s an emergency and that might be able to send someone out, worth a phone call

Jeffus
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +2

@jacobdavies pop a post on the ovo twitter page.

It is an official ovo channel and the ovo staff there have access to your account.

Perhaps include the word Emergency in the post. It may get picked up earlier than after the bank holiday . I see ovo did reply to some posts overnight. 

As well as a public twitter post, try a private message ovo twitter. In the private message include your name, address, account number and date of birth for security purposes. 

 

J
Rank

Hi @PeterR1947 and @Jeffus ,

Thanks very much for your responses.

Re the DNO: I called 105 last night and the DNO said that they weren’t able to do inspections or repairs - all they could do is pull the main fuse for the apartment.

I’ve just DM’d OVO on Twitter. Fingers crossed.

Tim_OVO
Rank
Userlevel 7

What’s the outcome of this one, @jacobdavies? 

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
J
Rank

Hi @Tim_OVO ,

It turns out there was a loop external to the flat that was coming loose and burning out. Nothing to do with the smart meter at all - false alarm!

Thanks

 

BPLightlog
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

Hi @Tim_OVO ,

It turns out there was a loop external to the flat that was coming loose and burning out. Nothing to do with the smart meter at all - false alarm!

Thanks

 

Glad it got sorted anyway @jacobdavies 

Independent volunteer - Sitting in a Faraday cage, waiting for a signal
Blastoise186
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +1

Yup, that’s still a nasty issue regardless. I’m glad it’s sorted now because that’ll wipe out the fire risk too.

If you can get that earth wire sorted out too, that should solve all the problems we’ve spotted.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way!
T
Rank

Having problems with flickering lights since smart meter installed this past summer.  the problem is through out the house,  My generator was servcied yestrday and he checked all the boxes and wiring and said all ok. My neighbors having same problems.

power company called out two days in a row.  the doe no say what they found or what they did per customer servce they dont give out that info.  She denied it is the smart meter.

I am afraid of a fire or damage to my appliances and electronics. 

what can be done

Blastoise186
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +1

Hi @Toni4610 

The chances of the Smart Meter causing this are a million to one and so remote that it’s VERY unlikely. I strongly recommend you ask a qualified electrician to check everything else over - it could be a dodgy consumer unit for example, or you’re overloading circuits.

If you are concerned, please call 105 and your DNO can try to take a look.

Securing energy by zapping security bugs... For that is The Blastoise Way!
T
Rank

thank you I plan on contacting the state untility board also

Reply


Terms & ConditionsCookie settings