northern Illinois service responsibility

[MannyBurgos]

Was it actually cheaper to go this route vs an off the shelf new disconnect ?

Great question! So we have a 9 meter bank with a 600 amp single phase disconnect. A new disconnect was $3500 BUT it would not line up with the existing meter bank buss bars. So that meant I would have to install a new 9 meter bank with main disconnect which would now have to be re-located outside per comed requirements. This would have been an additional $30,000 to do this. The owner of the property only paid $6000.00 total for fabrication and install...

 

[MannyBurgos]

This is the first time I have ever worked with a retrofit and I tell you that this was easier than installing a new bank or even trying to locate a replacement parts. John at Power Distribution Equipment was extremely helpful and he offers his whole support. It took only 1 full day for turn-around time. He drove approximately 2 hours from his union shop in Franklin park to Zion, Il. the same day I called. Then bam, he had the retrofit at my jobsite the next day. Here comes the best part: I called poco to dump their wires at the pole and what do they tell me, "we can disconnect you but can't re-connect you until the job is inspected." Mind you it's Saturday. John, being a former Comed power engineer, talks to the trouble-man, makes a few calls and we get a construction crew within 10 minutes to dump service and they wait around for about 2 hours until we were done. John also stuck around from start to finish just so that the crew wouldn't feel uneasy. John not only saved my client about $24k, but he saved me frustration and saved the owner of the property additional money by not having to put his 8 tenants in hotels for the weekend. If you guys need options in the future, give John Gandy a call 847-707-7349.

 

[kwired]

Hahaha! Poco had to extend their s.e.c so they spliced and attached to my breaker. Is there something in code about bottom un-insulated conductor that I don't know about?

I don't see it as a NEC violation, but certainly is non workman like to many. Yes it is just as exposed as the uninsulated bus, but also consider it is on the unprotected side of the breaker.

POCO guys are used to stripping conductors a little longer then the typical breaker lug needs stripped - I bet they did the bottom one first, then went OOPS, and stripped the top one a little shorter - though it still could have been stripped even shorter then it was

Around here POCO would usually not be landing that connection, even if they are supplying the conductor. If they break a lug they are buying a new breaker, and they want the owner or contractor to be responsible for such things.

 

[meternerd]

Man..that looks like crap! I hope none of our linemen do that kind of work. We'd likely require a termination section with lugs. The wiring from there to the main would be customer responsibility. We never terminate service conductors directly on breakers. We'd install seals on any removable covers ahead of the metering. I don't see a bonding bushing on the conduit, either.

 

[MannyBurgos]

Man..that looks like crap! I hope none of our linemen do that kind of work. We'd likely require a termination section with lugs. The wiring from there to the main would be customer responsibility. We never terminate service conductors directly on breakers. We'd install seals on any removable covers ahead of the metering. I don't see a bonding bushing on the conduit, either.

the s.e.c wire on the left of picture does look like crap BUT the engineer did do a hell of a job on that retro. As far as bonding bushing, for what?

 

[kwired]

As far as bonding bushing, for what?

to comply with 250.92(B) assuming the raceway containing the service conductors is metallic - looks like RMC or IMC with a lot of threads on it so probably is metallic.

Bonding bushing is not the only way to comply with that section but is often the easiest method.

 

[MannyBurgos]

to comply with 250.92(B) assuming the raceway containing the service conductors is metallic - looks like RMC or IMC with a lot of threads on it so probably is metallic.

Bonding bushing is not the only way to comply with that section but is often the easiest method.

Just happend to look at the picture and it does look like I do have a concentric k.o. Thanks for pointing out. Looks like ill have to get a 2-piece bonding jumper. :roll:

 

[kwired]

Just happend to look at the picture and it does look like I do have a concentric k.o. Thanks for pointing out. Looks like ill have to get a 2-piece bonding jumper. :roll:

Look at 250.92(B) more carefully - doesn't matter if you have concentric KO or not - they want more then just a standard locknut to ensure a metallic raceway containing service conductors is bonded.