Stevenfyeager
Senior Member
- Location
- United States, Indiana
- Occupation
- electrical contractor
Does a house meter need to be 3 feet from an operational window or just the point of attachment for overhead service? Thank you.
meter distance from window
- Thread starter Stevenfyeager
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
No, just the wires from the drop need the 3' clearance not the actual meter
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
About 30 years ago we had an inspector that turned me down for that. I asked him to go back to the office and talk to his boss. I got a call later saying everything was okay
Stevenfyeager
Senior Member
- Location
- United States, Indiana
- Occupation
- electrical contractor
about 15 years ago, I had laid out on a house where the meter (for underground service) was to go, close a window. I didn't end up getting the job, and the electrician told the general contractor that I had it planned in a space not allowed because it was within 3 feet from a window. The contractor called me to tell me my error. 
mgookin
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Myers, FL
- Occupation
- Retired inspector, plans examiner & building official
about 15 years ago, I had laid out on a house where the meter (for underground service) was to go, close a window. I didn't end up getting the job, and the electrician told the general contractor that I had it planned in a space not allowed because it was within 3 feet from a window. The contractor called me to tell me my error.
And he hired the guy who didn't know what he was talking about?
fmtjfw
Senior Member
- Location
- Fairmont, WV, USA
Local POCO may have such a rule, but I seriously doubt it.
Other guy was likely more convincing with his angle about it not being legal and/or the gc just liked him better. One good avenue to check is the poco- they may have their own rules, as well as the ahj- but if they flag someone they need to be able to show said ordinance/rule in writing. There are lots of generalizations that occur w/ code articles like this- to many 3 ft means everything electrical, b/c they didn't actually read the rule, they only assume.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
That is where you may find such rules - POCO's or local AHJ's - NEC alone has no such rules. Open conductors at the transition to the service drop however have limitations to distances from openings in buildings.
- Status