Meter Box vs Meter Panel: What's the Difference?
Meter boxes, meter panels and panel surrounds do different jobs. A quick guide to which one your metering installation actually needs.
The box is the enclosure
A meter box is the weatherproof enclosure that houses the metering equipment — hinged door, sealing provision and mounting for the panel inside. Sizes run from 300x300 single-meter boxes to 600x900 multi-phase enclosures.
The panel carries the gear
The meter panel is the insulated board inside the enclosure that the meter, service fuse and neutral link actually mount to. Bakelite remains the standard material because it's rigid, non-conductive and rated under AS 1795-1985.
Surrounds for flush installations
Flush-mounted metering in brick or rendered walls uses a panel-and-surround format instead of a surface box: the surround trims the wall opening and the panel sits within it. Ordering the right combination up front avoids a return trip when the wall's finished depth doesn't match.
Related Products
Electrical Meter Boxes
Galvanised meter boxes from 300x300 to 600x900
Meter Box Solutions
Sort the metering enclosure before you're on site
Electrical Metering Solutions
Every part of the metering install, from one supplier
Meter Boxes for Duplexes
Two-meter enclosures for side-by-side dwellings
Meter Boxes
Galvanised steel meter boxes
Bakelite Panels
Insulated meter panels — custom sizes available
Switchboards
Main switchboards & distribution boards
Residential Construction
New builds, duplexes, granny flats and renovations
Electrical Contractors
Boards, boxes and metering at trade volume
Keep Reading
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How to pick between 300x300, 400x400, 500x500, 600x600 and 600x900 meter boxes for residential and commercial metering installations.
Solar Metering: What Changes at the Meter Box
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