Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

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jjhoward

jjhoward

Senior Member
Location
Northern NJ
Occupation
Owner TJ Electric
I would like to adopt a formal procedure for doing residential service cut/restores. Does anyone have or know where I can get a written procedure to use or review?
Looking for a soup to nuts type of procedure that addresses the many safety issues encountered when cutting/splicing hot power lines.

Thank you.
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

jj,
this will change from each location and is usually controlled by the ahj or power company..
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Joe,
That would be a prohibited activity. You can't do that type of work on energized conductors that serve a dwelling unit.
Don
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

I don't know where you can get a written procedure.

Here is a brief tutorial of how we do it:

For starters, on a residential drop, with the meter out, we almost always(99.9% of the time) crimp the Hots first and the neutral last. This is when using a hand operated 'H-Tap' tool.

I know this seems backwards as we electricians usually like to connect the ground, then neutral, then hot(s), but in this case, I believe it to be safer.

After the drop is connected, we check voltage at line-side of meter. Then we check for continuity on load-side of meter on service conductors. Main breaker in loadcenter shall be 'off'.
After 'no continuity' is found on load-side conductors, meter is installed. Then we check voltage on line-side of loadcenter main breaker.

After that, if everything is correct, we turn main breaker 'on', and go from there.
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Don,
Why not?

We have at least (2) utilities that 'require' us to make the connections. One even supplies the tool and crimps.
We have our own H-Tap tool and supply our own crimps.
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Todd and Don, it depends on where you are located. We will permit the connections but will pull the meter later to check the meter seal and then seal the meter fitting. We will also remake the connection at the service point. :D
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Our electrical contractors make the temp connection from the new service to the old drop with wire rope clips (little u-bolt things for steel cable) They use those as the POCO keeps the split bolts!
You'll just have to work with the POCO and get their trust. Its their meter, some will let you pull and some won't.
We had the POCO pull a meter on a service for a newt raffic signal that was in operation as they didn't like the service and meter cabinet. But we had it on tape from the preconstruction meeting it would be ok...we said sure we'll replace it, we just need to know who at the POCO to send the bill to.
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Thank you for the input Luke.
How about when cutting the lines?
Safety gloves, always on the fiber glass ladder. (Never standing on the roof!)
Any suggestions on taping/covering the messenger wire before cutting the hots?
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Why not? The OSHA rules do not permit that type of live work for electricans. The rules for utility workers are different and they are permitted to make that connection live, electricians are not. Any written procedure given to your employees would insure that you lose the civil lawsuit that will result when one of your employees is injured doing this work, and a large fine from OSHA. It may also result in a criminal convection if the employee is seriously injured or dies.
Don
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Hi Don,
Thank you for the input. I was not aware that OSHA makes laws. I thought they were suggestions. (With a ton of legitimacy when referenced in civil court case...)Nor did I know that OSHA forbids anyone other than POCO employees from touching those lines going to a residence. In my experience it is common practice for elec. contractors to work on the overhead service wires to residences.
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Don makes an excellent point. You would be exposing your company to a lawsuit that you would surely lose if these procedures were documented in violation of OSHA standards.
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

We have never required anyone to make the connections; however, we do permit it from the standpoint of not going after someone who gets his customer back into service. :D
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

Charlie,
I know that many utilities permit or even require that the connection be made to the drop by the electrical contractor. The problem with this is the fact that the electrician is not permitted to make this connection while the drop is hot per the OSHA rules. Utilities that require the EC to make this connection, may have extensive civil liability when the accident happens.
Don
 
Re: Documented procedure for residential service disconnect/

it's kind of like---"it's the electrical contractor's responibility to get the customer back on line by ignoring osha's regulations about working hot"..................but if someone gets injured he will get sued!!! another nail in the ec's coffin!!! makes sense to me!!!
 
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