No support on underground service

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bjp_ne_elec

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Southern NH
I have looked around the area I live (southern NH) and notice that a major portion of the underground services I've looked at - there is no support on the conduit from the finished grade to the meter socket.

What have you seen in your area, and what's the preferred method of attach? I personally don't like to put anything where the conduit runs over the siding. I usually try to get a support just below the siding - and use unistrut - as it's typically about 2" of space between the concrete foundation and the back of the pipe.
 
Our podco runs the lateral to the meter base and not only is there no strap the pipe comes out of the ground at an angle into the base.

If I run a conduit to a pool house or detached garage I always strap the pipe about 2' from the enclosure. If it is a small conduit I may add a strap lower so that it does not move during backfill.
 
Our poco requires an expansion coupling in our area. Not following where you're going with that Pierre. How does it impact as to whether you support the conduit or not? I don't know, maybe it does.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Our poco requires a expansions fitting as well, and it MUST have one strap installed, usually a 3 1/2" minerallac on the expansion fitting only...
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Yes, but how many straps have you actually seen installed? I have never seen a single one anywhere in CL&P territory.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Every one I do... :grin: And thats enough for me...
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But have you ever seen them refuse to energize a service because there is no support on the slip joint? I haven't. I know you practically live in a different country up there, but down on the shore I haven't seen it done. Ever.
 
peter d said:
But have you ever seen them refuse to energize a service because there is no support on the slip joint? I haven't. I know you practically live in a different country up there, but down on the shore I haven't seen it done. Ever.
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To answer your question, No, but I always install a strap, and I don't see too many new houses that I didn't wire, so I can't say if other EC are installing a strap or not... not sure why you would not, it is clearly printed in CL&P's handbook...
 
I quit running the poco conduit into the meter about the same time I got tired of them pulling it out to run their wire (justifiably so, I just got tired of strapping it twice or picking my conduit from the site after them not using it.) When I did run it I tried to strap within 2' or atleast somewhere along the wall (sometimes the offset distance rom the meter can made it difficult to mount a 2-hole strap. That is where the pvc standoff strap looks good.) I also would heat an offset where the pvc met foundation to keep close to the wall. But most of that is history, now.
 
In SC. All we have to do is set the meter can. POCO does the rest. No straps and no concern about how it looks. Straight or crooked. It's installed this way on my house too. I hate to look at it because it is not straight. I just wish I had been at home the day they installed the the service. Maybe I could have shamed them into making it look good, but it probably would have not been any concern to them.

When I lived in Florida, we set the meter can and the conduit. Ridged to below grade, then adapter for the PVC, and then a large sweep for them.
We used minies instead of unistrut, as it is a cleaner look.
 
PVC

If it's over 3 feet from the bottom of the meter can to the ground, a strap is required [352.30(A)] and I always install one.

Around here, the AHJ figures the expansion from the 100 degree F temperature change column

Over 6 feet from the box to the ground, a expansion joint is required.

Since the meter height is always 5' to center, I've never been required to install a expansion joint on a underground service.

A expansion joint isn't required on a overhead service because only one end of it is securely supported.
I make sure that the conduit is not clamped too tightly and is free to move.

steve
 
hillbilly said:
PVC



Since the meter height is always 5' to center, I've never been required to install a expansion joint on a underground service.


steve
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Do you have frost where you live, because if you did you would install a slip fitting on the meter, I've seen TA's pushed right thru the bottom of the meter...
 
stickboy1375 said:
Do you have frost where you live, because if you did you would install a slip fitting on the meter, I've seen TA's pushed right thru the bottom of the meter...
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Yea, we have frost, although less and less these last few seasons.
I'm not sure, but the frost line seems to be less than 12" around here.
I've never seen a expansion joint on any underground service around here, and I've never seen the problem that you describe.
The POCO dosen't require one and they are the ones that install the conduit.
I simply supply it and the sweep.

I'm gonna ask the POCO guys next week out of curosity....get their opinion.

steve
 
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