Electrical rewiring

[Riyaad]

Hello experts,

Please advise.

I have a property with 3 houses. The electricity wires needs to be replaced for all the houses. My issue is they are being rented out and i need them split to ensure each house runs on its own supply. Currently the 2 additional houses are piggybacking off the main house. What can i do to separate the supply so that each house is independent from the other. If 1 runs out of units, the remaining 2 houses are affected. My need is similar to a complex/flat system. The final plan is to also equip each house with its own solar system.

Also, if you can assist with a quote that would be great. The property is in Cape Town, Bellville South area.

Thanks, Riyaad

Edited September 5 by Riyaad

[GerhardK83]

Good evening @Riyaad and welcome to the forum.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but what I understand from your post is that there is 1 supply connection to the Municipal power supply, 1 prepaid meter in the main residence and the other 2 residences power comes from the main residence.

The quickest option would be to divide the power up before the prepaid meter in the main residence and install prepaid meters in the other 2 residences - if there is no prepaid meters installed in those residences.

Since the end goal is to install a solar system in each of the residences it would also be wise to install an isolator and a miniature circuit breaker at the point of origin so that the power to the other 2 residences can be isolated for maintenance work.

 

So far I know @TaliaB is in the Cape Town area and maybe he can assist.

 

Kind Regards

 

GerhardK83

PS post a couple of photos of the DB's and prepaid meter or meters in the residences then better advise would be able to be given.

[Virwat]

Also another question:

Is the Main supply single phase or 3 phase?

[Riyaad]

Good morning guys, and thank you for warm welcome. 

Yes, there is 1 supply to the property (main house) with coct prepaid meter. Additional houses have Citiq meters. Its a std house so i suppose its single phase. Is the quote the best option or is there better option. I want to try and limit my expense as far as possible and have the tenants carry most of the cost if not all. 

The metro box was removed as i was feeding the main box at a cost of R900 a week. Each of the 3 boxes at the time used about R100 a week. I was advised that the main box was feeding the citiq boxes hence the lower cost for them.

We then removed the Metro box. So as at today, the Siena box is the coct box connected from the main municiple supply, 2 citiq boxes in the additional houses and again i'm feeding at R300 a week now as only 1 house is occupied now. This remaining tenant spends aprox R50 a week now.

2nd house is connected from the main house. 3rd house is connected from 2nd house. This apparently is incorrect and should be from origin/main db box.

I'm being taken for a ride as i live in PTA and the property is in CPT. A big problem as i am not there to oversee or negotiate.

I received a quote (as attached) but in my uneducated mind this will have me to carry the electricity cost instead of the tenants. 

It makes sense what you saying to split from municipal origin and then to each house individually (which is what need). My problem is who can do this and at what cost. Everyone seems to promise a solution but never deliver on that.

[abd7]

Contact @TaliaB, fundi master electrician who can sort you out and advise further.

 

[TaliaB]

Thanks @abd7 for the reference but unfortunately i am in Humansdorp busy with a Victron system installation at Woodlands Dairy and from there i will be in Nelspruit only back in Cpt end of Oct.

That said @Riyaadif i may make some suggestions the quote attached is a solid plan just some minor adjustments highlighted in yellow.

If the original supply to the main house is a 60amp supply i will use 16mm² armoured cable(Swa) buried(trenched) minumum of 500mm no conduit necessary. Cascade down to 2nd main house 10mm² armoured cable(swa) buried(trenched) minumum depth of 500mm same with Newtech house. I presume the Newtech house consumtion would be much lower due the cable size suggested but as main feeder i will also use 10mm² armoured cable for future expansion. All 3 cables needs to originate from the new feeder box. Rather install decend size feeder cables for redundancy. Main Breaker amparage on the 3 houses could be decided if load determination is done.

For power consumtion measurement  on the 2nd house and Newtech house locable kwh meters could be installed to determine power consumption from each tenant or use existing kwh meters.

Unfortunately if you are the registered owner of the property(erf) you will be liable for the cost and you need to assure a valid test report and Coc issued to you in person. You can claim back the cost from the tenants in the form of rent and/or levies.