Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
I'm talking about other contractors that don't know what they're doing.
I'm going round and round with these subbed utility contractors that install communication type pedestals along the road.
Company A installed everything and called us up to use our license to get it inspected and power turned on. During a site visit I found multiple violations, had to visit the site twice and get one failed inspection before they realized they couldn't put the pedestal with it's main breaker tight against a retaining wall.:roll:
I didn't hear anything for four months. I assumed they were trying to figure out what to do.
3 days ago Company B calls us and says we moved the pedestal 200' away, come get it inspected so we can turn power on. Here we go again. Multiple violations again, the back of the pedestal(main breaker side) is now 20" from a guy wire and fence. Fail. They also ran their utility side conduit right up the power companies pole with wire in it(one #6 black and one #6 white) all coiled up right below the transformer pot. They really stirred up a hornets nest now. The power company said NO WAY that's our job. And we don't do 120v only services. Also, they need a terminal bypass meterbase since it's commercial.
Good luck fitting a tall TB meterbase into a factory pedestal with room only for a resi style base. I'm not about to start altering this factory pedestal to shoehorn it in either.
Don't worry, Company B, just like Company A is paying for my wasted time. At least it was on my way home.
I'm about to tell our office guy we are only going to work with established "utility" companies and turn the rest down. We've got enough work, it's not worth the hassle I'm thinking.
Anyone else dealing with companies or projects like these?
I'm going round and round with these subbed utility contractors that install communication type pedestals along the road.
Company A installed everything and called us up to use our license to get it inspected and power turned on. During a site visit I found multiple violations, had to visit the site twice and get one failed inspection before they realized they couldn't put the pedestal with it's main breaker tight against a retaining wall.:roll:
I didn't hear anything for four months. I assumed they were trying to figure out what to do.
3 days ago Company B calls us and says we moved the pedestal 200' away, come get it inspected so we can turn power on. Here we go again. Multiple violations again, the back of the pedestal(main breaker side) is now 20" from a guy wire and fence. Fail. They also ran their utility side conduit right up the power companies pole with wire in it(one #6 black and one #6 white) all coiled up right below the transformer pot. They really stirred up a hornets nest now. The power company said NO WAY that's our job. And we don't do 120v only services. Also, they need a terminal bypass meterbase since it's commercial.
Good luck fitting a tall TB meterbase into a factory pedestal with room only for a resi style base. I'm not about to start altering this factory pedestal to shoehorn it in either.
Don't worry, Company B, just like Company A is paying for my wasted time. At least it was on my way home.
I'm about to tell our office guy we are only going to work with established "utility" companies and turn the rest down. We've got enough work, it's not worth the hassle I'm thinking.
Anyone else dealing with companies or projects like these?
