changing panels feed from underground feeders.

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badashuka

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Once again I am coming for some advice, thanks ahead of time guys. My company changes a lot of panels out that are Federal Pacific and Zinsco because of their fire danger. However lately I have been having a hard time finding meter disconnect combos to replace the old ones because of the length of feeder coming out of the underground conduit. There just isnt enough to reach the new lugs for the meter. The utility company said they will not splice more on and that I am not allowed to either. The utility told me to "find some kind of can with some kind of lugging" to do the job. I really dont know what that means and after asking them questions neither did they. I heard of some people cutting the pipe, but with the feeders in it I am skeptical. I just don't want to tell my customer that I have to replace their underground feeders because most of the time they are just buried in the ground and the conduit is just a chase through the foundation. The expense will kill my job and the home owner. Any Ideas will be great.

Thanks again.:blink:
 
badashuka said:
Once again I am coming for some advice, thanks ahead of time guys. My company changes a lot of panels out that are Federal Pacific and Zinsco because of their fire danger. However lately I have been having a hard time finding meter disconnect combos to replace the old ones because of the length of feeder coming out of the underground conduit. There just isnt enough to reach the new lugs for the meter. The utility company said they will not splice more on and that I am not allowed to either. The utility told me to "find some kind of can with some kind of lugging" to do the job. I really dont know what that means and after asking them questions neither did they. I heard of some people cutting the pipe, but with the feeders in it I am skeptical. I just don't want to tell my customer that I have to replace their underground feeders because most of the time they are just buried in the ground and the conduit is just a chase through the foundation. The expense will kill my job and the home owner. Any Ideas will be great.

Thanks again.:blink:
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You mention "feeders", this would tell me that ther is a disconnect before they get to the panel, no ?
 
The pipe has been emt and rigid. The homes that I am having this issue with are at least 25 to 30 years old or more. Basically the meter combo is usually on the left and the disconnect for the sub panel in the home is on the right. I should say it is the service entrance cable length that I am having trouble reaching the lugs for the meter. Not sure what to do that meets UL, N.E.C and Utility requirements, although a inspector told me, that is soley utilities jurisdiction. They say I cannot splice on more length which is what people in my area are telling me to do. I just dont want to have the power cut, do something irregular and then have the utility refuse to reconnect power. Kinda lost on this one. I did find a combo that would meet my needs but they dont sell it anymore.
 
We use a Midwest terminal box but that may not agree with your POCO. Either that or cut them back to. where the wire was "damaged", put some direct bury splices in, extend the repaired wire up to your new meter/disconnect. Surely they allow you to repair damaged underground?
 
ptonsparky said:
We use a Midwest terminal box but that may not agree with your POCO. Either that or cut them back to. where the wire was "damaged", put some direct bury splices in, extend the repaired wire up to your new meter/disconnect. Surely they allow you to repair damaged underground?
Click to expand...

The problem is that when I change out an old meter/main disconnect that is fed from underground, the service entrance cable is not long enough to reach the lugs for the meter on line side. Pacific Gas and Electric will not allow splices and I cant find a meter combo with lugs low enough for the service entrance cable to reach. I have spliced before and I was told to never do it again or they wont reconnect power. Is there anyway that I can extend the lug down a few inches that meet UL requirements. I think the utility is just trying to force us to spent alot of money rerunning the service underground because they charge alot just to pull the cable after we dig and run the conduit. these houses are so old that the conduit is just a stub up through the foundation and it is direct burial to their christy box. Now they require a full run of conduit to the christy box. That is why I think they are just trying to push us to up grade the whole enchilada instead of just the panel. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.
 
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