meters

[electrico]

i want to know what is the meter hight for deweling unit outdor?

 

[bill addiss]

Re: meters

electrico,

You've got to ask your local Power Company, it's their call.

Bill

 

[ryan_618]

Re: meters

In Utah the power company says "about neck height". Hows that for vague?!!!

I've seen them installed between 3' and 6' and have yet to see the POCO complain.

Bill is right though, it is their call.

 

[electricman2]

Re: meters

In my area it's 4 to 6 feet from center of meter to finished grade or it won't be connected.

 

[tom baker]

Re: meters

The meter is not required to be installed to meet the NEC. Its installed to meet the POCO's requirements for making money.

 

[iwire]

Re: meters

It is definitely a power company issue.

Many POCOs have a book that you can get listing all the requirements for residential and commercial services.

Also you can check on line many POCOs post the info on their web sites.

If you simply ask one of the meter readers you may get an answer like 4 or 5 feet because that is convenient for them but may not be the "whole" truth.



[ November 04, 2003, 05:04 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[daveselectric]

Re: meters

Bob,

Nice picture. What about the 6'6" rule for disconnects?


The meter should be mounted at a height where it is serviceable.

david neuman

 

[iwire]

Re: meters

Thanks David.

I pass this most days going to and from work, so I had to grab a few shots.

If you are asking about disconnects of this 9' high service, there are none on the meter socket.

An outside disconnect in this area is unusual, the service disconnect will be on the panels most times.

If you are asking about the meter stacks, yes we would have to keep the top breaker below 6' 7" per 404.8.

That means the bottom meter is very low like 12" to 18" from the floor, I have only installed these stacks indoors (no snow to worry about) and have never had a problem from the POCO.

 

[pierre]

Re: meters

In Con Edison territory, lower NY, they have had a law of 4ft-6in. to 5ft-6in forever, but never really enforced it. 6 months ago they decided to start enforcing it again, so you can imagine the responses when guys have been installing for years any which way, and now it is strictly enforced. Also the POCO used to send out their 'Blue Book' with all of the details for different installations. Now you have to go to their website for any of the info.

Pierre

 

[bill addiss]

Re: meters

Pierre,

In LIPA territory, right next to you, on Long Island the Meters are allowed between 3' and 6'.

Maybe we have shorter meter readers out here.

Bill

 

[rick5280]

Re: meters

Come on guys, you know there has to be a real reason for meter socket height requirements, other than the height of the meter readers!

In my city, the rule adopted is 5'6" to the center of the socket. This is the necessary height to put the meter reader into a safety zone if the meter shorts out upon installation or removal.

To install a meter correctly, you hold it securely, pushing the bottom stabs in first, then the top. If there is a short, the force of the arc will be directed upwards and not into the face of the meterman. If the height is lower than 5'6", it would be real easy for the meterman to be looking down into the socket when installing the meter.

It is also ok to install the upper meter stabs first, and the same prinicipal applies, but the direction of the arc will be downwards, into the body area, and away from the face.

Of course, all of this is moot if the service in not energized, or if correct PPE is used. How many of you guys install or re-install a meter in a dead socket? I bet not many. How many of you guys were the required protective clothing while installing a meter into a hot socket? Again, not many.

In my city, this requirement for the meter socket height has been in effect for at least 30 years, and, for the most part, is followed. However, there are a few instances where it can not be followed, such as meter pedistals, or in alleys where vehicle traffic might cause damage to the meter, or, like the above posts state, meter stacks. Prior approval is required for these cases.

My point is to think about the safety aspect of this, not that the power company is starting to hire short meter readers!!!!!

Rick Miell

 

[bill addiss]

Re: meters

Rick,

You make a good point.

I admit I was not thinking of any safety-related reason for the meter heights to be what they are, and I don't see that my utility was thinking of that either by allowing such a wide range.

Maybe our area is different in that we now have manual lever bypasses in the meter sockets which means that the meter does not have to be inserted or removed under load, although the 3 foot height has been allowed for some time before the Bypass metering equipment was required.

Bill

 

[iwire]

Re: meters

I changed this post when I read Ricks post again and saw that he addressed meter stacks.

[ November 05, 2003, 04:32 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[electrico]

Re: meters

the reason i asked is because i instaled one at 6'2" do to the location of the conduit for panel feed and my boss said the the inspector was going to fail it but he didn't but my said that he could of because it was in the code but he couldn't find it and po co allready reconnected

 

[iwire]

Re: meters

Here is what the POCO wants in most of the areas I work.

I say most because we have a few non-profit municipal power company's that have their own rules.

National Grid Green Book

INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE FOR NATIONAL GRID USA

905. Meter Height

A. Outdoor Meters.

Outdoor meter sockets or troughs should be mounted so that the face of the meter is less than six (6) feet above the final grade. In no instance will any meter be installed with the top of the meter more than six (6) feet nor the bottom of the meter less than three (3) feet above the final grade. A clear area of three (3) feet is required in front of each meter. See Figure 905-1.

B. Indoor Meters.

Multiple meter centers installed indoors shall be mounted so that the top of the meter is no more than six (6) feet and the bottom of the meter is no less than two (2) feet above the floor level. A clear area of three (3) feet is required in front of each meter.

Exception: Meters for cable television power supplies or amplifiers must be installed above the normal height. See Section 1107 and/or Figure 1107-1.

923. Meter Sockets for Self-Contained Meters

For each service with self-contained metering, the Customer shall furnish and install an approved meter socket that is made by an organization acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and the Company. Company requirements are as follows:

A. Automatic bypasses are never permitted.

B. To ensure continuity of service during unscheduled meter maintenance, a safety arc shield and an approved single-handle-operated manual bypass are required on all meter sockets that service common areas of apartment or condominium complexes, and on all meter sockets on business, commercial, and home office services. A waiver of this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis. See figure 923-1.

E. Sockets with a manual bypass must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a single-handle-operated mechanism. See Figures 923-4 and 923-5.

2. The non-bypassed, in-service position of the operating mechanism must be visible when the meter is installed.

3. It must not be possible to replace the meter socket cover when the operating mechanism handle is in the bypassed position.

4. All sockets with bypasses rated 200 or more amperes shall have a mechanism which locks the meter blades in the socket jaws.

Warning: Do not use a manual bypass as a disconnect to open or close a circuit carrying load.

F. Multiple meter installations with ringless sockets shall have separate covers for each meter position. Single covers for two (2) or more meter positions are not acceptable.

I agree with Bill in that the Bypass and arc shield are required for safety reasons.

I have a hard time believing most POCOs would set the height based on pulling the meter hot.

Wouldn't that be seen as encouraging or condoning the practice and setting themselves up for fines or lawsuits?

National Grid the predominant suppler in this area, has a range of 2' to 6' inside and 3' to 6' outside.

[ November 05, 2003, 04:54 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[bill addiss]

Re: meters

Thanks Bob,

All Meter Sockets installed in our area (including resi) must have the Manual Bypass for about 5 years now.

Bill