Meter Sockets
- Thread starter gunny7
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al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Meter Sockets
Not knowing your location, or the power company that is supplying this meter socket, I make the general statement that the power company itself will tell you how they want the wires setup, as well as the type of meter sockets that are "approved" by them for use on their system.
Not knowing your location, or the power company that is supplying this meter socket, I make the general statement that the power company itself will tell you how they want the wires setup, as well as the type of meter sockets that are "approved" by them for use on their system.
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Meter Sockets
To my knowledge, the NEC is silent on this. In my area, the primary PoCo gives me this clearly labeled diagram. Line is drawn on top.
To my knowledge, the NEC is silent on this. In my area, the primary PoCo gives me this clearly labeled diagram. Line is drawn on top.
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Meter Sockets
Gunny
If you feed the meter from the bottom and connect the load to the top the meter will run backwards, of course you can plug in the meter upside down but why would you want to have the meter readers stand on their heads to read the meter (If they do then they have to take Rogers meds)
Gunny
If you feed the meter from the bottom and connect the load to the top the meter will run backwards, of course you can plug in the meter upside down but why would you want to have the meter readers stand on their heads to read the meter (If they do then they have to take Rogers meds)
kentirwin
Senior Member
- Location
- Norfolk, VA
Re: Meter Sockets
Roger - I need a prescription for that!! Or is sold over the counter? Why isn't TV innundated with a huge ad campaign!?
Roger - I need a prescription for that!! Or is sold over the counter? Why isn't TV innundated with a huge ad campaign!?
Re: Meter Sockets
I believe Al's picture indicates the center knockout in the bottom of the enclosure cannot be used. To me that seems like the best one to use if coming out of the bottom. Why would the power company not allow it to be used?
Along those lines, our local power company has no such rule so most use the middle bottom knockout, but I see some that put it to the side. Is there some reason to do it that way I'm not seeing?
I believe Al's picture indicates the center knockout in the bottom of the enclosure cannot be used. To me that seems like the best one to use if coming out of the bottom. Why would the power company not allow it to be used?
Along those lines, our local power company has no such rule so most use the middle bottom knockout, but I see some that put it to the side. Is there some reason to do it that way I'm not seeing?
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Meter Sockets
Paul,
The text in the sketch says "any position". The bottom center is fair game.
Note that the left side, bottom also doesn't have a raceway/cable illustrated, yet it is a good position to use, if the installation warrants it.
To your question, for underground services only, the PoCo in my area has a preference to bring their service lateral up into the bottom left side of the meter socket. As a wireman, I get to use the bottom middle & right, as well as the K.O.s on either sidewall and through the back of the pan.
The reason they want the bottom left K.O. on underground fed services is to avoid the space constriction around the internal bypass mechanism control lever.
[ April 05, 2005, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: al hildenbrand ]
Paul,
The text in the sketch says "any position". The bottom center is fair game.
Note that the left side, bottom also doesn't have a raceway/cable illustrated, yet it is a good position to use, if the installation warrants it.
To your question, for underground services only, the PoCo in my area has a preference to bring their service lateral up into the bottom left side of the meter socket. As a wireman, I get to use the bottom middle & right, as well as the K.O.s on either sidewall and through the back of the pan.
The reason they want the bottom left K.O. on underground fed services is to avoid the space constriction around the internal bypass mechanism control lever.
[ April 05, 2005, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: al hildenbrand ]
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Meter Sockets
We do not permit the center position to be used on an underground fed service where we are providing the cable. We will feed to the top and will not bend around the blocks to get there. We do not care if it is an overhead feed.
Gunny, to address the original question. We, along with nearly all the other electric utilities in the nation, supply a meter manual for use by the electrician. It is our cash register and we will not supply you with power if you do not follow our rules. The NEC has no requirements for the installation of metering equipment but we do and we enforce them.
Not anymore with the electronic meters.
We do not permit the center position to be used on an underground fed service where we are providing the cable. We will feed to the top and will not bend around the blocks to get there. We do not care if it is an overhead feed.
Gunny, to address the original question. We, along with nearly all the other electric utilities in the nation, supply a meter manual for use by the electrician. It is our cash register and we will not supply you with power if you do not follow our rules. The NEC has no requirements for the installation of metering equipment but we do and we enforce them.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Meter Sockets
Well just keep your dang electric.I will run a generator and use photocells
Well just keep your dang electric.I will run a generator and use photocells
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Meter Sockets
Jim,
LOL
Me, I like my internal Light, better. AUM-M-M-m-m
Jim,
LOL
Me, I like my internal Light, better. AUM-M-M-m-m
Re: Meter Sockets
Al, are we looking at the same picture? You maybe had a typo when you said left bottom doesn't have a cable--that's the one that does have a cable. And though the text says any position, it has arrows pointing to the other knockouts but not center bottom, which is why I concluded that wasn't allowed. If you are allowed that's good. Would you agree the center is the best one to use?
Our city's PoCo doesn't install the cables, so most use the center for underground services. I have seen another PoCo that does install the lateral have the restriction not to use the center. Charlie, could you elaborate on why you don't allow that knockout to be used when you install the cable? I don't know what blocks you mean.
Edit typo
[ April 08, 2005, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: paul32 ]
Al, are we looking at the same picture?
You maybe had a typo when you said left bottom doesn't have a cable--that's the one that does have a cable. And though the text says any position, it has arrows pointing to the other knockouts but not center bottom, which is why I concluded that wasn't allowed. If you are allowed that's good. Would you agree the center is the best one to use?Our city's PoCo doesn't install the cables, so most use the center for underground services. I have seen another PoCo that does install the lateral have the restriction not to use the center. Charlie, could you elaborate on why you don't allow that knockout to be used when you install the cable? I don't know what blocks you mean.
Edit typo
[ April 08, 2005, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: paul32 ]
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
Re: Meter Sockets
Paul,
I don't think I've got a typo. . .I posted April 05, 2005 03:20 PM:
But I'll agree that I use the bottom side, center the most often, only because I do more overheads than undergrounds.
[ April 08, 2005, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: al hildenbrand ]
Paul,
I don't think I've got a typo. . .I posted April 05, 2005 03:20 PM:
As for the bottom side, center being the best, I'd say that the relationship to the rest of the service entrance assembly determines which position is best.
But I'll agree that I use the bottom side, center the most often, only because I do more overheads than undergrounds.
[ April 08, 2005, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: al hildenbrand ]
bill addiss
Senior Member
Re: Meter Sockets
Interesting picture Al. For what it's worth, our utility has a rule against line and load conductors 'crossing' so that Line conductor running up the right side in the 2nd picture would be a no-no.
Bill
Interesting picture Al. For what it's worth, our utility has a rule against line and load conductors 'crossing' so that Line conductor running up the right side in the 2nd picture would be a no-no.
Bill
Re: Meter Sockets
Al, I was thinking the left side of the bottom rather than the bottom of the left side, my mistake.
Bill, if you have to run that conductor on the left side it would have to make a sharp bend to get to the terminal. I saw that done and looked like it exceeded the bending radius.
Charlie, I'd still like to understand better why the center bottom knockout can't be used.
Thanks for the replies.
Al, I was thinking the left side of the bottom rather than the bottom of the left side, my mistake.
Bill, if you have to run that conductor on the left side it would have to make a sharp bend to get to the terminal. I saw that done and looked like it exceeded the bending radius.
Charlie, I'd still like to understand better why the center bottom knockout can't be used.
Thanks for the replies.
bill addiss
Senior Member
Re: Meter Sockets
Our utility has specific requirements for meter enclosures (size and design). The approved meter pans may have a slightly different design, or have more bending space in them.
Bill
[ April 08, 2005, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: bill addiss ]
Paul,
Our utility has specific requirements for meter enclosures (size and design). The approved meter pans may have a slightly different design, or have more bending space in them.
Bill
[ April 08, 2005, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: bill addiss ]
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: Meter Sockets
Paul, when we install the cable into a meter fitting, it is underground since the electrician installs the service entrance conductors for overhead services. The service conductors must go around to the top of the meter fitting (our standards) to make the connections so we do not want to bend all of the conductors right under the meter socket.
Blocks are the name of the plastic pieces that hold the jaws that the meter plugs into.
Paul, when we install the cable into a meter fitting, it is underground since the electrician installs the service entrance conductors for overhead services. The service conductors must go around to the top of the meter fitting (our standards) to make the connections so we do not want to bend all of the conductors right under the meter socket.
Blocks are the name of the plastic pieces that hold the jaws that the meter plugs into.
Re: Meter Sockets
I was going to say I still don't follow the restriction, but maybe I misunderstood you at first. I originally assumed the restriction on the use of the center bottom knockout was for the load side conductors, meaning the line comes in a side bottom and the other side or back knockouts are free for the load conductors.
Charlie, Now I'm thinking you meant the center bottom can't be used for the LINE conductors, which makes perfect sense. If that isn't what you meant, explain how the load conductors in the center bottom would restrict routing the line conductors.
The document Al got his pictures from does say the center can't be used at all (it's the same power company I referred to) even if not clear from the picture. So even if I understand Charlie now, I still don't understand that power company.
I was going to say I still don't follow the restriction, but maybe I misunderstood you at first. I originally assumed the restriction on the use of the center bottom knockout was for the load side conductors, meaning the line comes in a side bottom and the other side or back knockouts are free for the load conductors.
Charlie, Now I'm thinking you meant the center bottom can't be used for the LINE conductors, which makes perfect sense. If that isn't what you meant, explain how the load conductors in the center bottom would restrict routing the line conductors.
The document Al got his pictures from does say the center can't be used at all (it's the same power company I referred to) even if not clear from the picture. So even if I understand Charlie now, I still don't understand that power company.
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