Before my time.....

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76nemo

76nemo

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Location
Ogdensburg, NY
Do any of you recognize these old meter boxes on the lower right of the newer ones?

Darrenshouseoldmeterboxes.jpg
 
I've seen similar things used to prevent tampering with the meter. They kind of work on the same principle as those plastic covers over thermostats you see in commercial places.
 
This is in an old house where they it want reworked, but it's almost full of AL. I will install a new service but only if they are willing to place AFCI's on all the circuits with AL. They have someone who is willing to redo the service as is with regular breakers. They want me to do it, but I will not cut any corners to please their cost. Like many other resi's up here, most of it is two-wire. Some of the two-wire is protected now by GFCI's. They are friends, but I won't do the job unless they comply with what I want done. It's either done the way I want it, or someone else can do it. No hard feelings.

I don't need the job that bad to cut corners and leave the old work. My way or the highway, now comes the bashings:rolleyes:

Maybe not, anyone disagree? I ran loop impedance testings on all of the circuits, and all of them seem fine. I don't care what my meter says, it's protected properly, or not done by me.

Go ahead, let the opinions rip:smile:
 
i saw a few of these a few of these a couple of weeks ago for the first time myself. One was at our post office, and then I noticed some houses a couple of blocks away all had these. I looked up close at the post office one, but couldn't tell much about the instide of it. I could see the components of the meter through that dark window but that was it. It had a big padlock on it. The PO is also the town nuclear fall-out shelter, so I thought maybe it was some type of blast-proof housing. :D
 
brantmacga said:
i saw a few of these a few of these a couple of weeks ago for the first time myself. One was at our post office...
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See post #2. It is to keep the PO from tampering with it. The feds are not happy unless they can stick their greedy little paws into everything. Now if we could just wrap one of these around our paychecks.:D
 
76nemo said:
This is in an old house where they it want reworked, but it's almost full of AL. I will install a new service but only if they are willing to place AFCI's on all the circuits with AL. They have someone who is willing to redo the service as is with regular breakers. They want me to do it, but I will not cut any corners to please their cost. Like many other resi's up here, most of it is two-wire. Some of the two-wire is protected now by GFCI's. They are friends, but I won't do the job unless they comply with what I want done. It's either done the way I want it, or someone else can do it. No hard feelings.

I don't need the job that bad to cut corners and leave the old work. My way or the highway, now comes the bashings:rolleyes:

Maybe not, anyone disagree? I ran loop impedance testings on all of the circuits, and all of them seem fine. I don't care what my meter says, it's protected properly, or not done by me.

Go ahead, let the opinions rip:smile:
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You are preaching to the choir here I think that that is one of the best ideas and totally agree with you afci is the answer to al wiring yet it still has some bugs to work out. You cant speak whale Dori.
 
480sparky said:
This should have been the Spot the Violations contest for today.

Anyone see the MC cable? :wink:
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I believe that is the grounding electrode conductor encased in armor. Not sure it was rated for outdoor use but it sure was common .

76nemo said:
Go ahead, let the opinions rip:smile:
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As for the AFCI when doing a service change I do not think it is required ,a good idea for sure ,... For some it is a line drawn on principle for some it is one of economics ,..not only from the standpoint of the competing electrician but also from the view of the H.O.

Perhaps not this house , but it would not be an exaggeration to say that adding AFCI protection could easily add a couple of thousand dollars to the cost......many old homes shared neutrals and such so whether straightened out or replaced it can be expensive. My 2 pennies
 
Those are weather shields for A-base meters. A-base meters, by themselves, are not weatherproof. They were typically mounted under porch roofs or inside for that reason. If they were to be installed where exposed to the weather, a can like you show was used. Yours looke like it might be Duncan brand.
 
76nemo said:
This is in an old house where they it want reworked, but it's almost full of AL. I will install a new service but only if they are willing to place AFCI's on all the circuits with AL. They have someone who is willing to redo the service as is with regular breakers. They want me to do it, but I will not cut any corners to please their cost. Like many other resi's up here, most of it is two-wire. Some of the two-wire is protected now by GFCI's. They are friends, but I won't do the job unless they comply with what I want done. It's either done the way I want it, or someone else can do it. No hard feelings.

I don't need the job that bad to cut corners and leave the old work. My way or the highway, now comes the bashings:rolleyes:

Maybe not, anyone disagree? I ran loop impedance testings on all of the circuits, and all of them seem fine. I don't care what my meter says, it's protected properly, or not done by me.

Go ahead, let the opinions rip:smile:
Click to expand...


I have never seen 2 wire AL. Didn't know it existed. Are you sure it's AL?
 
The armor is as noted the GEC and was used extensivly in this area for protection for the GEC. Not sure about NEC...BUT BXL, BX with lead sheath conductors was used outside and for direct burial.

Once had a mechanic order a 250' roll of 10-2 BXL durn neared killed me carrying it.
 
I had a meter encased in the same type of thing on my house when we bought it. After we did a heavy-up I took it apart for a look-see. It really was just an old odd shaped meter housing. there was nothing in it except for the jaw setup and a whole lot of extra space.
 
As stated ealrier, these are refered to a A-Base meters in my area. They are a bolt in meter socket and cause great concern to the firefighter. Over the years the bolts rust away and create issues. They are required to be replaced in our area when work is done to the electrical panel. Since most of these are rated at 60 amp, the mortgage companies require them to be replaced to a 100 amp panel minimum. I laugh at the welder helmet reference, never thought of them that way before. Good way to start a Monday.
 
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