Installing a underground meter pan under a window

[Sparkie1263]

Can you install a meter pan for an underground service under a window??
I don't have much room between the window and the front of the house and the builder put his basement window 5 feet off the front of the house.
Thanks in advance

 

[mdshunk]

No problem with the NEC, but you'll probably want to check your POCO rules book. They're the voice of authority on that. What power company is this being done under? Many of them have their rules book online.

You don't have something like this in mind, do you:

Photo courtesy JohnJ0906

 

[Dennis Alwon]

About 20 years ago I had a new inspector try and cite me on that. I sent him back to the office to read his book. You are probably thinking of art. 230.9(A) for service conductors

 

[augie47]

problem ?

problem ?

No problem with the NEC, but you'll probably want to check your POCO rules book. They're the voice of authority on that. What power company is this being done under? Many of them have their rules book online.

You don't have something like this in mind, do you:

Photo courtesy JohnJ0906

pickey! pickey!

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

About 20 years ago I had a new inspector try and cite me on that. I sent him back to the office to read his book. You are probably thinking of art. 230.9(A) for service conductors

Dennis
You sound like one tough contractor...boy I am glad I do not have to deal with you, nobody likes being sent back to the office to read his book.

One day I would like to spend some time with these hard nose contractors just to see how tough they really are with the inspectors.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Is that a challenge? :grin:

I was as polite as a misplaced New Yorker could be. I merely said that I believed he had his head up his a__ __ . Just kidding

I said I believe you got the interpretation wrong and that he should check it out when he got back to his office.

I just act tough-- I had many good inspectors teach me many things.

Remember I eat quiche I can't be all that tough. Shoot, I usually have to cook it also.

 

[donselectric]

did someone really call for an inspection on that meter ??

 

[mdshunk]

did someone really call for an inspection on that meter ??

That's JohnJ0906's picture. He's probably got the inside scoop on it, and he'll chime in before long, no doubt. It was in the Baltimore area, and it was energized at the time the picture was taken, I understand. I have a feeling the final grade must have changed after the meter was installed. Even with AMR meters, there's no way that's gonna fly for long.

 

[ceknight]

...boy I am glad I do not have to deal with you, nobody likes being sent back to the office to read his book.

I never send the inspectors back to their office, I carry the NEC , NYS Resi Code, and PoCo field manuals in the van with me and put inspectors on the spot immediately.

Re the OP, 5' can be a lot of room for a meter pan when you're desperate, no?

 

[LarryFine]

Remember I eat quiche I can't be all that tough. Shoot, I usually have to cook it also.

I'll bet you even stop to ask for directions when you're lost! :wink:

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

No problem with the NEC, but you'll probably want to check your POCO rules book. They're the voice of authority on that. What power company is this being done under? Many of them have their rules book online.

You don't have something like this in mind, do you:

Photo courtesy JohnJ0906

All this needs is a couple of mirrors, or an upside down periscope!

 

[kbsparky]

One thing to consider is the size/placement of the window. Some windows are purposely considred an alternate "fire escape" route. If this is the case, your building inspection might flunk if there is any obstruction under said window :-?.

We did a job recently where the original electrician installed the meter box under a window, where it was considered the alternate fire escape. While the electrical inspection passed, the building inspection did not.

There was a big stink about the whole thing, after the electrician walked off the job. He had already been paid, said his inspection passed, he refused to move the meter.

We ended up moving the service to satisfy the building inspectors fire escape egress rules. We got paid as well (I think the builder ate that one)

 

[JohnJ0906]

Thanks for giving me credit Marc... I think!

This meter was installed and energized before the walls were built and back-filled. This was at grade, but they built a wall 8' from the house and back-filled.

This house passed final inspection, and is now occupied. As-is. Don't ask me how. :-?

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Dennis
Sometimes it is in the way one posts, it is hard to tell what he may actually be trying to say.

I never send the inspectors back to their office, I carry the NEC , NYS Resi Code, and PoCo field manuals in the van with me and put inspectors on the spot immediately.

Re the OP, 5' can be a lot of room for a meter pan when you're desperate, no?

This is a challenge any good inspector would welcome. Actually sometimes for difficult topics or challenging installations it saves the inspector a ton of work and time for the contractor if the inspector would have to go and research for an answer. Remember, on some complex jobs, the contractor has had months to read and digest the prints, and then weeks to install the work literally giving him the time to figure the job out. Then an inspector (that would be me:smile: ) comes to the site and we are supposed to understand what is going on in a 1/2 hour or maybe an hour. That is when I start asking a lot of questions...not to question the quality of the work, but to try and understand exactly what is going on at the installation.

I have come across a number of field installers/contractors who do just as Chris has, put all the info in front of me. Most of the time they are right on the money, once in a while there may be some confusion as to the wording of the NEC and then we both will put our heads together to resolve the issue.



Dennis, I am glad you eat quiche, so do I