Don't open those padmounts!!!!

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mdshunk said:
No, that would be theft.
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Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm saying that let's say you signed up for service, and you couldn't wait for them to send out a linecrew, so you decide to hook everything up yourself. That's in essence what this boils down to.

If your utility allows it, then fine. Around here, it's strictly forbidden and it's becoming a problem apparently, or else CL&P would not have sent out thousands of letters at great expense to every electrician who is licensed in the state of Connecticut.
 
peter d said:
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm saying that let's say you signed up for service, and you couldn't wait for them to send out a linecrew, so you decide to hook everything up yourself. That's in essence what this boils down to.

If your utility allows it, then fine. Around here, it's strictly forbidden and it's becoming a problem apparently, or else CL&P would not have sent out thousands of letters at great expense to every electrician who is licensed in the state of Connecticut.
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I think your comments, and the comments of others, are colored by their geography. Just depends on what you get used to. And, yes, I will get out a kick meter and open up a line splice closure trays for phones if I feel the need to do a visual inspection. I empower myself to do that.
 
mdshunk said:
I think your comments, and the comments of others, are colored by their geography. Just depends on what you get used to.
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I suppose, or your area just has really lax utility rules, or your just really cozy with all your local linemen that you can get away with that stuff. I don't think it would fly in the vast majority of the country.
 
life is funny in that there are people who are exceptions, and legitimately so. it is not supposed to be that way, but it is. I think based on the knowledge of a very-well practiced and savvy electrician, Marc certainly included, it is not a big deal to "do it yerself" and the cable co./telco will bill for the hook-up anyway, so I guess I do not see the harm in a case like this one where the EC is top grade.
 
peter d said:
I I don't think it would fly in the vast majority of the country.
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You say this because you've lived and worked in the vast majority of the country? I can neither confirm or deny that statement, but what I can say is that you are unqualified to make it.
 
mdshunk said:
You say this because you've lived and worked in the vast majority of the country? I can neither confirm or deny that statement, but what I can say is that you are unqualified to make it.
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It doesn't take a great deal of common sense to understand the principle that utilities throughout this nation would more than likely want to restrict access to its high voltage compartments (and other installations) from the general public, including electricians. :roll:
 
peter d said:
It doesn't take a great deal of common sense to understand the principle that utilities throughout this nation would more than likely want to restrict access to its high voltage compartments (and other installations) from the general public, including electricians. :roll:
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What I lack in common sense I make up for in awesome-ness. I was recently granted a degree in awesome.

phd-in-awesomeness.jpg
 
I also received the letter from CL+P. My initial thought was-"Why would an electrician ever open a padmount transformer?" Maybe its because Ive only been an electrician for 12 years but I was always taught to call the power company for any cut/recpnnects, commercial hook ups, or anything dealing with pad mount transformers. Since starting my company 3 years ago, I have figured in time for dealing with the utilities on any projects with utility involvement. I routinly cut the seal off meters on residential service changes, and have had very fast response times for having a tamper proof lock removed. Its funny-I never had a clue that any electricians would even think of opening a transformer. That is why I love this site- I learn something new every time I come on.
Thanks,
Bill
 
frogneck77 said:
I also received the letter from CL+P. My initial thought was-"Why would an electrician ever open a padmount transformer?" Maybe its because Ive only been an electrician for 12 years but I was always taught to call the power company for any cut/recpnnects, commercial hook ups, or anything dealing with pad mount transformers. Since starting my company 3 years ago, I have figured in time for dealing with the utilities on any projects with utility involvement. I routinly cut the seal off meters on residential service changes, and have had very fast response times for having a tamper proof lock removed. Its funny-I never had a clue that any electricians would even think of opening a transformer. That is why I love this site- I learn something new every time I come on.
Thanks,
Bill
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Now if you just made you a penta-head socket out of a piece of conduit, you would be good to go.:grin:
 
mivey said:
Now if you just made you a penta-head socket out of a piece of conduit, you would be good to go.:grin:
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I am not that creative- I just use a flatbar to pry the meter socket off enought to get a long sawzall blade behind it and cut the screws. Penta-head socket-That sounds cool-Is that all I need to get the lock off?
 
frogneck77 said:
I am not that creative- I just use a flatbar to pry the meter socket off enought to get a long sawzall blade behind it and cut the screws. Penta-head socket-That sounds cool-Is that all I need to get the lock off?
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No, a penta socket gets the bolt out of the transformer door. A Brooks key is what you need for meter locks, and it's more like two spurs that expand inside the barrel lock to let the little ball bearing fall down so you can remove the lock. Once you see the tool itself, it clears up how the lock works.
 
stupidity is contagious, stay away from me

there is no reason to go into the transformer, thats why thereis a handhole loctaed just to the side of the pad, with the low volt tap conductors to feed houses.
 
kjp said:
there is no reason to go into the transformer, thats why thereis a handhole loctaed just to the side of the pad, with the low volt tap conductors to feed houses.
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Im not aware of these handholes you are referring to. All the pad mounts Ive seen sit on top of the vault(silo) and the primary and secondary conduits or DB feeds enter directly into the vault
 
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