Meter Pulling

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Rock86

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Location
new york
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Electrical Engineer / Electrician
On a site today for an insurance inspection. Short version of the story, utility company connected a 480V primary transformer to a 208V system... no more breakroom microwave. As my boss and I were walking around doing the engineering thing... looking busy... my boss asked me if I was trained to shut off all circuit breakers and the main prior to energizing a system when I was in college for EC&M, but I couldn't remember. I know the importance of it and knew that prior to his question, but I couldn't recall my training it having been so many years ago.

Anyway... My question to you guys out in the field who own your own companies or manage crews, do you have a sequence of operations for a something as simple as maybe replacing an SER cable and meter pan? Something where you have to disconnect/reconnect the utility service. I remember being out in the field and swapping panels and meter pans, but in that case of course everything is off, but i can't remember a job where the only shutdown performed was at the pole.
 
I was taught to avoid turn on a breaker with a load, due to the arcing at the contacts. So before turning on a main, I turn off all branch breakers, turn on the main ,then the branch. Does it really make a difference? I don't know, but it seems safer.
 
Here in Dominion Energy land it works like this (single phase only, non-CT only):

Working past the meter enclosure:

Contact the Company (Dominion) to get a service request number and tell them you are a licensed electrician. 95% of the time, the Company gives me the permission to pull the meter. If so, shut off all CB's including the Main and cut the seal and remove the meter using appropriate PPE. Place a plastic meter blank in the can and seal with LOTO. Complete the work and do a continuity check of all 5 terminals in the meter base to insure they are all open circuit where they should be and that the line side voltages are correct. Most times use a Megger on the load terminals to insure there are no shorts that only show up at line voltage. Install the meter using appropriate PPE. Call Company to have new seal installed.

Working in the meter enclosure:

Call Company for a drop service the day of work (will happen in morning). Get inspected and call for reconnect.

Emergencies (things on fire that can't be controlled by the CB's):

Do what you can with appropriate PPE. Contact Company immediately to report the situation.

Mark
 
Just a little safety tip. Was taught any time you turn on a circuit breaker, safety switch . , or Manuel starters to take a deep breath and hold it and use your left hand if you are right handled. Must use proper PPE also. Reason for holding your breath in unfortunate Arc flash event you hopefully can not inhale a 10,000 degree arc flash that will burn your lungs. Also taught even while wearing the proper PPE & hard hat with an approved tinted face shield best practice us to stand to handle side of safety switches and turn your head.
 
garbo said:
Just a little safety tip. Was taught any time you turn on a circuit breaker, safety switch . , or Manuel starters to take a deep breath and hold it and use your left hand if you are right handled. Must use proper PPE also. Reason for holding your breath in unfortunate Arc flash event you hopefully can not inhale a 10,000 degree arc flash that will burn your lungs. Also taught even while wearing the proper PPE & hard hat with an approved tinted face shield best practice us to stand to handle side of safety switches and turn your head.
Click to expand...

And close your eyes?
 
I have a hot stick so my first choice is to pull the cutout on the pole. If that is no an option for some reason (UG, multiple houses on a single transformer) I will either pull the meter or cut the service drop at the weather head, depending on what is getting replaced. In all cases, i'll kill the main breaker first.
 
Danielt said:
I was taught to avoid turn on a breaker with a load, due to the arcing at the contacts. So before turning on a main, I turn off all branch breakers, turn on the main ,then the branch. Does it really make a difference? I don't know, but it seems safer.
Click to expand...
Contacts don't normally arc when being closed, but they sure do when being opened.

Most bolted faults are due to mis-wiring, so the first time a circuit is energized, after being worked on, is a very high risk of an arc flash event. Turning on breakers one level at a time reduces the chance of the largest breaker opening and arcing.
 
Truth? There is what I say and what I do. Not saying that is a good thing - but it is the thing.

Always tell the guys to never do, and then I do it myself.

Major caution -- IF there is an unbalanced load elsewhere from the Transformer and poor grounding (dry Summer soil) -- and the local Service Neutral is carrying some current and being grounded THROUGH the meter and the house ground -- when you pull the Meter out -- the NEUTRAL MAY BE "HOT." In the meter base -- from the Utility the Center / Ground / Neutral is hardwired through and DOES NOT "break" with the Un-Grounded Conductors. Had a joyful reminder of that the other day.

But as another big caution -- if you work across various service areas and co-ops and such, they all get to (and do) make their own "rules." Check ahead of time. Policies can change in a month since you were last wherever. Some want us to tell them upfront. Some want us to tell them after. And some . . . . will "fine" you for pulling a meter. Had that happen to a crew on a Sunday Service change, just a couple of months ago. Utility Meter crew was on the site about 15 minutes after the J-Man pulled the meter. The Utility Meter crew took the meter, and would not give it back until we paid a $300 "Service Fee." (Grayson County Co-op, North Texas).
 
electrofelon said:
I have a hot stick so my first choice is to pull the cutout on the pole. If that is no an option for some reason (UG, multiple houses on a single transformer) I will either pull the meter or cut the service drop at the weather head, depending on what is getting replaced. In all cases, i'll kill the main breaker first.
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Depending on the load, opening a cutout with a hot stick is not really safe either, unless you use a Load-Buster.

Mark
 
busman said:
Depending on the load, opening a cutout with a hot stick is not really safe either, unless you use a Load-Buster.

Mark
Click to expand...
True, seen of a guy using one in the rain and it had enough water running down the pole that the arc jumped onto the pole and it hit the lineman.
 
busman said:
Depending on the load, opening a cutout with a hot stick is not really safe either, unless you use a Load-Buster.

Mark
Click to expand...
Yeah I know some companies use those as policy. I think the rule of thumb is somewhere around 10 amps and under is highly unlikely to be a concern and that's a lot of juice for a residence at 4800 or 7620. But I would be turning off the main breaker first anyway so there is no load (except for the transformer magnetizing current)
 
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