Normal power indicator??

[360Youth]

Edit to add: You hooked up a 1.5v led to 120v mains? Did you see the Magic Smoke?

Sorry, LED may have been a lazy example. Low wattage 120v light. I thought I have seen 120v LED. :roll: I do not always pay attention until I need to find it. My head only holds so much sometimes until it starts to hurt.

Again, which Section of the Code states this? I'm not arguing with anyone, I just want to know where I find it In The Code.

It is not always directly in the NEC. As 480 indicated, if you remember 110.3 B, you will remember to check if a particular item is listed for a particular install.

 

[LarryFine]

Check some of these: http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032293&cp=2032058.2032232

 

[infinity]

If his mains are turned off because the genset backfed breaker is turned on, then there wouldn't be any *current* to measure on the poco side. He wants to know when the *voltage* returns so that he can flip the breakers back and draw current from the poco. A current sensor wouldn't do him any good in this situation.

Good point, I missed that part in the OP.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Any type of indicator light or meter connected on the line side of the panel main breaker will require a service disconnet and overcurrent protection as well as a legal way to tap the line side conductors.
Don

 

[jerm]

couldn't you just use PED blocks to 'splice' the mains on the poco side, and tie a 120v neon lamp into those? I think there's an exception for 'protecting' the #18 leads because of their length?

 

[jrclen]

D'pends. How does it connect?

Typical feed through meter. I would think there is a battery back up to hold the numbers in a power failure. I'll ask a lineman next chance I get.

 

[jrclen]

Maybe you could use some type of Split-Core Adjustable Current Sensors on one of the phase conductors. These are donut style switches that snap around the conductor and close when current flows through them.

http://www.mod-tronic.com/veris_ac_switches_djustable_split_core.html#c

There would be no current flow in those conductors. They would be sitting there, energized and waiting.

 

[jrclen]

'rownd deeeez paarts yooo ain't seeeeee'n no nayborfolk......

Same here. I have to get in the truck to see the neighbors.

 

[jerm]

There would be no current flow in those conductors. They would be sitting there, energized and waiting.

Is there an echo in here? See post 14
http://forums.mikeholt.com/showpost.php?p=760425&postcount=14

 

[infinity]

Is there an echo in here? See post 14
http://forums.mikeholt.com/showpost.php?p=760425&postcount=14

Maybe he missed that post or this one too:

Good point, I missed that part in the OP.

 

[winnie]

If you were to wrap a couple of square inches of metal foil tape around an insulated conductor, it would form a capacitor with the metal conductor inside. Using normal insulations and insulation thicknesses, I estimate about 6pF per square inch of foil (with large error bars!) In other words, the normally used insulation on the conductor is in no way changed; simply surrounded by some conductive foil.

Put a couple of square inches of foil around each of the ungrounded service entrance conductors, and connect these two capacitors with a pair of back to back LEDs. You end up with a 240V circuit consisting of 2 12pF capacitors and the LED. About 1/2 microamp will flow though these LEDs.

I _think_ that 0.5uA is enough to get a dim glow out of some LEDs (the small 5mm LEDs are normally rated for 5-30mA, but will often produce some light at much lower current levels). Certainly 0.5uA is something that could be detected with a proper circuit.

Now here is the question: if the only connection between this circuit and the unfused conductors is capacitive coupling through suitably rated insulation, is any additional OCPD required?

-Jon