Elderly couple in trouble tonite

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jim mccloy

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A buddy of mine just called and told me that his parents house is without power and they discovered that the back of the meter socket is toasted. This is a bad nite for this to happen. Here in western PA we are expecting some bad weather to be moving in.

He asked me if I could come and repair it but I can't get a night time disconnect from the power company. Allegheny power is basically running skeleton crews these days. He said he called the poco and they told him they can't do anything for him as they are not responsible from the point of service down. ( as we all know ).

I wonder what caused this problem in the meter socket.

Any guesses?
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

Too many possibles.Would think they would treat this as a 911 and at least cut the drop loose.Or do they do that there? Might wanta check there drop in morning for possible open neutral.Wish you luck.
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

The POCO should have to come out in a EMG to do a disconect if that is what they require. Here we do our own, and do the reconnect. I have all the crimp tools to reconnect the drop.

As what causes this? "Conductive moisture".
With that in mind here we have some bright home owners that see water leaking down from the roof from an ice dam and do the worst thing possable put salt on it this in turn runs down into the meter and boom. end of story.

P.S. anything that melts ice or snow is most likly conductive.

[ February 03, 2004, 02:09 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

Thats one thing I like about our Poco here (EMC) They'll come out most anytime for something like this.

Unless it's a major storm and all their resources are committed,they'll do everything possible to assist in a situation like this.

Hope the problem gets resolved quick.


Russell
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

This seems strange to me as well. We have "trouble men" working 24/7/365 and they patrol street lights when there are no calls. In a situation like that, the trouble man would remove the meter and feed the service entrance directly from the service drop. I have also seen a piece of triplex run directly through the conduit and hit the main breaker. The customer has 24 hours to get the installation fixed unless we are in a storm situation. In the meantime, he is in a bad situation and running off meter. :)
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

A poco's ordinary customer service number people are often clueless. You need to somehow get to the inside number for the field crews in a situation like this.

I've found that calling the local fire company works well. If you say you've got a fried service that is dangerous, was burning, arcing, whatever, and the poco's ordinary customer service people have been unresponsive, its likely the fire dept can have a crew onsite to do the disconnect within a couple of hours. Fire chiefs have incredible influence ;)
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

Wayne years ago we had a custoemr store salt for ice melt above the main electric room 480/277 VAC service. The tech that stored the salt thought it would be a good idea to cover the core drilled holes above the gear. They had a toliet leak into the salt storage onto the gear...........More overtime.
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

Like Hurk in an emrg. we would, disconnect, repair and reconnect, next morning we go and get the necessary permits at the city municipal bldg.
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

As it turns out, my friend made it sound like the poco would not come to do "anything". I too, found it odd that they at least wouldn't come out to disconnect so an electrician could get to it in the morning. That is in fact what happened. They cut the drop last nite and there's an electrician there now, as I'm typing this, and he's just waiting on his inspector. We had some real nasty weather today...I'll bet it was a real fun job.

I talked to the electrician and he said there was a short in the meter base right where the conductors enter into it.

Jim.
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

JIM, WV IS ABOUT THE SAME AS PENN. HAVE THEM COMME AND CUT YOU LOOSE. NETRUAL BURNT____ MOST COMMON THEN CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS.
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

" I have all the crimp tools to reconnect the drop."
hurk,
What kind of crimping setup do you use? Can you suggest a system for residential connections that won't break the bank? I am getting tired of buying bugs only to have the linemen keep them when they come to re-connect.
Thanks, Brian
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

One of the nice features of the crimps is that most of the work can be performed on the ground, skinning and crimping the load side of the service point. No taping necessary -YEA!!!
When first doing these crimps just be aware that the crimps you buy will have to fit the service conductor size and the Utility conductor size which is almost always a different size - the crimps come with the different sizes, you need to pay attention as to which you need.

Pierre
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

I use both Burndy and Polaris, depending on what's available, and just include the cost of them in the service.

I'm also in the habit of doing my own cuts and re-connects in emergency situations. Provided I inform the POCO what I've done and why they simply come out and check everything after the fact, no harm, no foul.
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

This is the ratchet one I use.
OUR840
24.jpg


But I also have a battery one too:

PAT750.JPG


One word of caution. If using an older type with the uninsulated long handles Be very careful as if these handles touch anything grounded you will make allot of sparks and a big boom. I once hit the aluminum gutter it was grounded through another conduit touching it. and it just vaporized it as well as showering me with molten aluminum.

[ February 04, 2004, 01:36 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

Our poco have rules that basically go out the window when they're busy, and an automated voice will triage (via # selection) inquiries.

Fire Chiefs are given a direct # to Foremen, all else waits for someone to answer the message bin...

I suggest researching the letter of the state laws, perhaps your state has a good on-line legislative setup as mine.

Look for what constitutes Theft of Utilities or Malicious acts against Utlities

Sometimes severe circumstances dictate a need to stray from the boundries set by AHJ's and Poco's

Ask your poco exactly what they own, and what the customer owns.

For example, if the customer 'owns' the drop & meter, then an electrician under thier employ makes no malicious act cutting it, or reconnecting it from the street
 
Re: Elderly couple in trouble tonite

In SE Wis we cut the drop, replace the riser and meter as needed and temp the service using big blue wire nuts. Permit is taken out the next day, and inspector releases to poco. Occasionally, serviceman is there and makes permanent connection. Inspector still comes out. We also tape the big blues for security. I have not had one come loose (knock on wood). Like I say VERY temporary!! (And cheap!)
 
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