A castle and the old meter cupboard
Last week I visited a castle, and with seeing the old meter cupboard I thought: inspiration for a new blog. This is the predecessor of the meter cupboard. Nowadays, the meter cupboard no longer resembles this. However, it is an important part of the house.
Meter cupboard
In Dutch homes, the meter cupboard is mostly situated in the hallway. This houses the electric meter, gas meter, circuit breakers, and sometimes internet or telecom connections. Also, the water meter can sometimes be found here.
Tip: write down the emergency numbers from the suppliers and stick them somewhere in the meter cupboard. So, you know where to find them in emergency situations.
Electricity:
There are several components, which all have their own function.
Earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB)
Protects against electric shocks by cutting power if leakage is detected.
Electricity meter
This part measures your power consumption. In most cases, this is a smart meter. Here you can check what you use is at the moment, and deliver it to the network.
Fuse panel
Divides the electrical system into circuits with individual breakers or fuses. For example: kitchen, washing machine, lighting etc. This becomes handy when you need to replace an appliance. In that case, you can switch off that specific part of the electricity in the house.
In my work, I come across many meter cupboards that still use ceramic fuses. I always advise replacing the fuse box with a modern one, due to the fire hazard. The costs are around €1.500-2.000.
1-phase versus 3-phase connection
The electricity provides energy in the house. This can be a 1-phase or 3-phase connection. 1-phase connection is used for small households with average use. 3-phase could be the way to go when you use a home charger for your electric car or own solar panels. So, in general, when you use more energy than an average household does.
Water meter:
We are so blessed with clean drinking water in the Netherlands. On the water meter, you can see how much water is used. Also, you can turn off the water supply if work needs to be done.
Good to know: Once a year, you can expect a letter or e-mail from the water company. They need the m3 on the meter to calculate your yearly water consumption.
Are you curious about the average usage of water, electricity, and gas? Check out this blog.
Gas meter or district heating
Here you can check the use of gas or district heating. Mostly, this is a digital meter.
Internet connection:
Internet connection is nowadays a necessity. It’s just a small wire that will provide you (together with a provider) access to the World Wide Web.
Conclusion meter cupboard
A meter cupboard is a small but indispensable part of your house. This is where water, electricity, and internet will enter the house. If something is wrong, first check the meter cupboard.
Are you thinking about renovating your old house? And besides the meter cupboard, a lot more needs to happen? Let’s plan an online free meeting here. No strings attached.
