How long is too long

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ronandersen

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The home inspector ;
Is the length of Service Entrance Cable restricted, if so what is the max Foot of cable?

I saw about 37 feet inside a new house today. Seams excessive.
 
The code does not define the max. That's pretty much up to the inspector. I've heard lots of different things from different areas. No SE cable inside, but up to 4' in pipe. Up to 8', up to 6'. All different things. My area permits up to 3' of SE cable inside. Whatever the rule is in your area, 37' is excessive no matter where you live. Perhaps that was SER from a meter/main?
 
With over current at the meter those conductors are not service conductors they are feeders and can run as far as you want.

It should be SER (round SE) as has been mentioned
 
Ron,

OCPD = overcurrent protective device, if it wasn't clear.

The local power company and the local electrical inspection establish the length that unfused service entrance conductors can run inside a structure. Once the unfused conductors end at the service disconnect and OCPD there is no longer a restriction. The fused "service cable" you saw is no longer the "service entrance".

From your statement, "outside meter with a 200 amp main", I understand you to say that a 200 amp OCPD is outside with the meter.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Home inspectors scare me.
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Many electricians scare me and they actually have a job installing electric work not just looking at other peoples work as an HIs job is.

They really should need to pass a test on what they are inspecting.
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In many states they do and have to have continuing education.

When was the last time you were in a electrical class?
 
iwire said:
Many electricians scare me and they actually have a job installing electric work not just looking at other peoples work as an HIs job is.



In many states they do and have to have continuing education.

When was the last time you were in a electrical class?
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Actually i think of this forum as a class.We learn here so it is education.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Home inspectors scare me.They really should need to pass a test on what they are inspecting.
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Actually I'm glad that the HI came here and asked the question. This saves a lot of aggravation down the road for the parties involved. I have seen home inspectors put things in reports that were blatantly incorrect which triggered a letter writing campaign by the seller, the buyer, the Realtor, the HI and the electrician (me). It would have been much more productive, on the HI's part, to come here and get pointed in the right direction before he set off a firestorm with incorrect info in his report.
 
iwire said:
In many states they do and have to have continuing education.

When was the last time you were in a electrical class?
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I had my continuing education class earlier this year. It was 12 hours on changes in the 2005 NEC and four hours on NFPA 70E. I thought the class was useful.

Electrical licenses here are good for two years, and if you want to renew them, you need to get those 16 hours from an approved provider.
 
iwire said:
Many electricians scare me and they actually have a job installing electric work not just looking at other peoples work as an HIs job is.



In many states they do and have to have continuing education.

When was the last time you were in a electrical class?
Click to expand...

In Michigan every time they adopt the new NEC(just adopted the 2002 in 2005) all masters and journeyman have to take 15 hours of code update classes. There is no testing you just have to attend
 
georgestolz said:
I have never taken a class, aside from hanging out here. :)
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Wow.

Seriously? . . . I'm impressed. From the clarity of your voice, I had assumed otherwise.

Out of curiosity, now that you passed your test, will you have continuing ed requirements to satisfy when you go to renew at the end of this first license period? I ask, partly, out of wondering about the nature of the reciprocity agreement that Minnesota has with Colorado.
 
George,

Mike ( the man who has given us this forum) comes through your neck of the woods every March. I would strongly recommend catching it (best 8 hours of CEU's available)! I've been to a lot of different seminars, but none so far have been as good Mike Holt's.As an instructor/presenter, he's dynamic and very sharp.
 
On the original topic, in Washington State the limit is 15 feet. You can?t go further into a building without hitting an OCPD. Of course, if your run is underground (below 2 inches of concrete), then you are not ?in? the building (and the 15? limit does not begin) until the conduit comes up out of the concrete.

On the side topic, I have PE licenses in several states that require continuing education credits as a condition for renewal. My current home state is not (yet) one of them. But I have attended Mike?s seminar on Grounding and Bonding twice in the last six years, and found it invaluable. It also counted as CE credits.
 
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