Upgrade electric transformer

[farmerjezza]

I’m looking to upgrade a single phase transformer to three phase . Three phase is available at the post so just a new transformer. It will need to run cables 250 metres to the mobile grain drier . Also to power barn conversions to five properties.
What sort of costs are people incurring roughly and we’re you dealing directly with National Grid or some agent to help out . Any advice would be much appreciated..
Thanks

 

[Blue.]

I paid £18800 for a three phase 50kva supply 18months ago,my brother paid £13k a couple of years earlier for the same.
Both were to cubicles at the base of the poles.

 

[farmerjezza]

Cheers ,
Thanks for that .
So another question … Said pole is not on my land so after I’ve spent a fortune upgrading it can the electric company then take advantage and connect anyone else to it for a minimal fee ?
I appreciate I’m asking difficult questions….
Anyone ??? Ta

 

[Wesley]

Cheers ,
Thanks for that .
So another question … Said pole is not on my land so after I’ve spent a fortune upgrading it can the electric company then take advantage and connect anyone else to it for a minimal fee ?
I appreciate I’m asking difficult questions….
Anyone ??? Ta

If there’s spare capacity on the transformer yes. Doesn’t matter if its on your land or not. Wouldn’t be a minimal fee though. The charges would be similar.

 

[Wombat]

If there’s spare capacity on the transformer yes. Doesn’t matter if its on your land or not. Wouldn’t be a minimal fee though. The charges would be similar.

If it’s on your land you can refuse as they would need a way leave to get it off your property and connect and they normally won’t fight it if you say no especially if only for one development

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Tell them you need it for charging EV’s and looking at prototype E tractors.

Let us know if it helps!

 

[upnortheast]

I’m looking to upgrade a single phase transformer to three phase . Three phase is available at the post so just a new transformer. It will need to run cables 250 metres to the mobile grain drier . Also to power barn conversions to five properties.
What sort of costs are people incurring roughly and we’re you dealing directly with National Grid or some agent to help out . Any advice would be much appreciated..
Thanks

You deal with the local DNO. That's Northern powergrid in these parts. Are the barn conversion on their own meters ?
6 years ago we got 90 KVA 3 ph. Needed 2 offset poles to sit transformer on. 30 metres cable to our meter hut. £27000.
They will want full payment with order then tell you 6 months before they can do the job..
There will be a form to fill. In on DNO website requesting a quote
Make sure you are sitting down when you read their quote

 

[Exfarmer]

Locally had a large discount on very large upgrade because one of the properties fed qwas occupied by a vulnerable person. Not sure how they rate some as vulnerable but think most pensioners qualify. This case it was the farmers father who had just touched 65 and worked full time. So well worth checking who is in trhe barn conversions.

 

[Daddy Pig]

We had to have a transformer pole changed 2 years ago, it supplied 3 ph to our neighbours and single ph to ourselves, i cheekily asked if they woud upgrade our supply to 3 ph and put cable underground. They agreed to do it free of charge as long as i dug the trenches.

 

[essex man]

Cheers ,
Thanks for that .
So another question … Said pole is not on my land so after I’ve spent a fortune upgrading it can the electric company then take advantage and connect anyone else to it for a minimal fee ?
I appreciate I’m asking difficult questions….
Anyone ??? Ta

Pretty sure that's a yes.
Quoted 30k to upgrade transformer and replace overhead wires(250m) to our buildings about 15 years ago.
Decided against as benefits marginal.
One day(with a few days notice)they just turned up pulled out a few poles, replaced the 60 year old 3 phase wires and supply much better subsequently.
No charge.
Ukpn work in mysterious ways

 

[Exfarmer]

Good old UKPN they were a decent bunch. We had an upgrade at our old farm very cheap because the local manager played cricket at out club

 

[Rich_ard]

I paid £18800 for a three phase 50kva supply 18months ago,my brother paid £13k a couple of years earlier for the same.
Both were to cubicles at the base of the poles.

I was 7 k in about 2012. I got a fair length to my yard for that too. Although I built a new road that reduced the height below the cable they charged me 5k on top to underground that.

I understand there are subs involved now. Don't know about it but have heard some are getting help for connecting. Be to do with car charging look into that.

 

[Blue.]

I was 7 k in about 2012. I got a fair length to my yard for that too. Although I built a new road that reduced the height below the cable they charged me 5k on top to underground that.

I understand there are subs involved now. Don't know about it but have heard some are getting help for connecting. Be to do with car charging look into that.

I put a single phase supply in 20 years ago thinking it’s alright it doesn’t need to be huge because we’re all using led lighting and such,it could do with being a bigger supply now.

 

[Rich_ard]

I put a single phase supply in 20 years ago thinking it’s alright it doesn’t need to be huge because we’re all using led lighting and such,it could do with being a bigger supply now.

It's always the way. I put same as you I think that as big as I can get on domestic rates. I use the 3 phase but wouldn't use the capacity. I didn't have any power so was a complete new connection. Its just cost me £2500 to run a cable up to the house 180 m we're building. I think it's over kill on size but what can I do!

 

[Netherfield]

Back in the 1960s they would try and sell you more electricity, came and asked us to go three phase because a few houses on the line were complaining of lights dimming TV acting up, oven not getting hot enough.

Nowadays it's more of an attempt to lower consumption where possible, so they've got people by the short and curlies and charge what they want, it's worth a try if you're the only one on a transformer to argue for a discount because they can re-use the old transformer, they will try and charge just for the cost on the new one, even though it may not be 'new'.

 

[deleted user 837354]

You would think they would be keen as mustard to put three phase in, so they can sell you far more juice??

 

[Daddy Pig]

You would think they would be keen as mustard to put three phase in, so they can sell you far more juice??

Different companies

 

[essex man]

You would think they would be keen as mustard to put three phase in, so they can sell you far more juice??

Doesn't work like thst.
More akin to openreach and broadband.

 

[Rich_ard]

You would think they would be keen as mustard to put three phase in, so they can sell you far more juice??

Three phase is more efficient so you'll use less

 

[Derrick Hughes]

If you are talked out I have a question
The cable to my house about 100 m goes though 5 big trees touching the branches of most of them , when it's windy they clearly rub on the branches , they are old trees but healthy , but if one should come down.
I have no intention of removing the trees , the cable for safety need to go underground, as its in a National Park ,is there anyway they will contribute to the cost?
The cable has gone through the transformer further back
I did get a transformer and post moved at another property free of charge but used anthor reason for that