Calling on all inspectors and masters

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

kevinware

Senior Member
Location
Louisville, KY
Hello everyone,
I am in need an interpretation of 230.24(B) I have went and shot off my mouth to my lead guy, I said I could handle running a service upgrade job. Well damn if he didn't give me one (note to self, stop running mouth) The 700 sq.ft. single family dwelling is about 80 years old and at present has a 60 amp 3-wire 120/240V service. The intention is to upgrade the service to 100 amps so the house can accept an electric range and dryer and central air unit. My sticking point (as silly as this is going to sound to some of you) is this. In article 230 section 230.24(B) the clearances of the service drop are discussed and I am having a big problem applying that section to my stiuation. In the opinion of this form "Should I install a mast?" and bring the clearance at the drip loop up to 12 feet? The service drop runs parallel with the driveway. Any opinion form inspectors would be great. I have asked my electrical instructor and he has stated that I can just run the new service parallel with the old and not to worry about the clearance the 10' 5" is ok as he made the coment "What are you going to do, ask the home owner to raise the house two feet?" Please see pic.

Thanks for all your help,
Kevin

web page

Edited to fix URL. Charlie

[ April 05, 2005, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: charlie ]
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

The utility may have other ideas. If you are going to upgrade the service, I'm assuming you will have to contact the utility. They may not reconnect power unless it meets their clearances.

Steve
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

As 66 mentioned, your utility company has there own regulations that they follow too. Check with them. They probably have a printed list of regulations that they sell/give to contractors.
Also, it doesn't hurt to ask. Call your local inspector or head inspector and ask. Same thing with the utility company. Calling and asking is way easier than tearing down and redoing.
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

I'll third that.

Contact the PoCo customer service rep for the house.

In my PoCo, I'm obligated to contact them before the job begins and get their input.
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

The reference to 230.24 is not germane to this discussion since the service drop is owned by the serving electric utility. The NESC requires 12 ft of clearance over areas that are accessible to pedestrians only. There are some applicable notes to the tables that will permit a reduction of two feet under certain circumstances.

If this were on our lines, we would accept the installation. I highly recommend you contact the electric utility representative in that area for input. :D
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why you have to be 12ft.

Your only concern should be 230.24(B)(1).
(2) (3) and (4) don't apply.

Maybe I missed something?
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

Russ, it is one of the rules in the NESC. There is a note that permits you to be lower by two ft if the building doesn't permit the 12 ft clearance. The NEC doesn't apply to the stuff on our side of the service point which, I assume, is at the connectors from the service drop to the service entrance conductors. All of my comments are under the assumption that the service drop doesn't cross over the driveway. :D
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

Hi charlie,
I got to say that if a service didn't meet NEC minimum I could not sign off on it.
We've had this discussion before, and no sense rehashing it
I don't really think we have a conflict here, seeing how NESC minimum that is quoted in the book published by the local poco is the same 10 ft as the NEC.
I'm fortunate to be able to work with great people from Common Wealth Edison, our local poco.
They communicate with me regularly, and won't tie in services unless they pass our inspection first.

[ April 05, 2005, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: russ ]
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

I also agree with the others contact poco. My only concern is I hate seeing just 100a on any house have you done a load cal on this house will 100a be enough if you can try to sell customer on 200a upgrade just my personal preference
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

LG&E would be fine with your idea. You are in louisville right? They are picky about service locations but not heights and distances from windows and drives as they should be. 40207 tells me you are in my neck of the woods.
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

Why can't your mast penetrate the soffit, and install flashing where the mast penetrates the roof? :D

The only tricky part is cutting the pitched roof hole from the bottom, but it can be done. ;)
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

An electric range, dryer, and air conditioning on a 100 amp service will result in very short life for the service. If you do not use #220 silicon carbide paper, elbow grease, and electrical grease on ALL the wire strands regardless of whether it is copper or aluminum, the box lugs will slowly spot weld over time and become unserviceable.

My parents one time had a rental property similar to yours. Since the original electrician was too lazy to clean the #2 aluminum and hit it with joint compound, the main breaker was fused to the wire. Instead of cleaning and greasing the wire strand at the meter and panel and changing the main breaker, I had to put in a new panel.

Sure, NEC allows 33 KVA of connected load on a 100 amp residential service, but NEC has a specific disclaimer as to adequacy and convenience. This implies a disclaimer as to how long wiring will last.

I do not install anything less than 200 amps on residential jobs. It is far too easy for people to buy all kinds of power hungry stuff, plug it in, and turn it on. Then they wonder how they have over $100 per month electric bills!
 
Re: Calling on all inspectors and masters

Originally posted by mc5w:
An electric range, dryer, and air conditioning on a 100 amp service will result in very short life for the service. If you do not use #220 silicon carbide paper, elbow grease, and electrical grease on ALL the wire strands regardless of whether it is copper or aluminum, the box lugs will slowly spot weld over time and become unserviceable.
Click to expand...
MC I have seen you say this twice now and I can't help but ask....where did you come up with this?

Properly torqued copper connections do not need "#220 silicon carbide paper, elbow grease, and electrical grease".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top