Interesting call today

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480sparky said:
So... you swapped the panel hot, knowing it won't solve the issue. Then a few days later you're going to have the power shut down to replace the meter socket/pan.

Silly me. I would have done both when the power is off, sans the chance of experiencing the Big Blue Zot.
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My thoughts also, but I've done dumber stuff than this in the past so I'll just say it's poor planning and a bad idea and leave it at that.

Standing on top of a 12' step ladder to change a 400 watt MH lamp at a gas station canopy is ... DUMB as chit. Glad I lived to talk about it.
 
480sparky said:
In some places, it's illegal (by law, not POCO policies) to tamper with their cash register.

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its all good things to keep in mind... im sure they want to sell you the watts on both legs. EDIT- "tamper with"- by all means I agree!

and I bet the meter was warm- so you say "it was 220degF on my pyro meter"... we really need to keep those poor meter guys busy. sure, the commercial setters job gets a little more complex with all the CT's and short blocks but it has to be the easiest job in our trade..

the home owner still owns and is responsible for the enclosure, lugs, riser and conductors...

why is so much moisture getting into the enclosures? is this San Fran?
 
Ok, so you can't pull the meter. If the feeder is overhead, can you cut it? With some hot gloves, a curved stripping knife and a couple of Polaris connectors, you can put it back when you are done. (I don't personally do this, but others I know have.) Doesn't help you change the meter can, but you can work the panel safely.
 
rambojoe said:
its all good things to keep in mind... im sure they want to sell you the watts on both legs. EDIT- "tamper with"- by all means I agree!

and I bet the meter was warm- so you say "it was 220degF on my pyro meter"... we really need to keep those poor meter guys busy. sure, the commercial setters job gets a little more complex with all the CT's and short blocks but it has to be the easiest job in our trade..

the home owner still owns and is responsible for the enclosure, lugs, riser and conductors...

why is so much moisture getting into the enclosures? is this San Fran?
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Yes....I'm still lurking around. Retired but not dead yet. Since I was a meter/relay tech for numerous utilities in my career, I just have a couple of comments. When you work "line side" circuits, where the only protection during a fault is a primary fuse which likely is sized for many services off the same transformer, the fault current required to blow the fuse is "very high". More than enough to cause a significant arc flash. I speak from experience when I say the resulting injuries to the unfortunate victim can be serious to fatal. Is it really worth it? As far as POCO response time, I can't say I've ever seen even close to the 3 month delay. We are talking about the cash register, but also we're talking about liability. If the service has reported problems, the POCO is the target with the deepest pockets if something bad happens. Much cheaper to send a tech out to diagnose the problem than to wait for a fire or worse. As far as "easiest job"....well, yeah, if all you do is set or pull meters, but when you pull a meter and the jaws decide to come out with the meter when you pull it and go line to line, or install a meter into a dead shorted socket due to miswiring, causing blinding flashes and loud, scary noises, easy takes on a new meaning.

OK...sermon is over.
 
well i didnt say safest... sorry. whats your feelings on a JW yoinking a resi meter for safety/inspection? especially after seeing it WAS fubar?
 
rambojoe said:
well i didnt say safest... sorry. whats your feelings on a JW yoinking a resi meter for safety/inspection? especially after seeing it WAS fubar?
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Well..... "seeing it was fubar" is interesting. How would you know if the socket or service entrance connections were fubar unless you pulled the meter to look? Frowned upon by ALL utilities and illegal for some. Exceptions are for emergencies, such as fire, etc. I know most here are journeyman level, but as I said before, line side fault current can be extreme and even those of us in the utility world wear proper PPE and have linemen on call when we deem it too much of a hazard to do hot. Working with another qualified person may at least help to notify emergency services, but working alone on line side? Not for me.....I have (had) two close friends who are no longer alive because of the unexpected. I'm trying no to be "preachy" because we're all professionals, but respect for services ahead of fault protection is pounded into our heads at every safety meeting, for good reason. I do want to thank those who are willing to share knowledge because I learn something every time I come here.....:thumbsup:
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
We are expected to disconnect and the service drop.
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For those who are allowed, what do you do with underground? I'd be very surprised if they want you to open the transformer enclosure to cut the service. Just curious.
 
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