old job comes back to haunt

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Here in Va we also use service cable exposed. It's only considered in danger of damage when next to a driveway and the like.
 
peter d said:
No worries. I was just pointing out how different things are in different parts of the country. Out west, their breaker panels are outside. Talk about weird! ;) :D
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Yep, about half the resi panels I install are outside. And you would have a hard time buying SE cable or anything like it here.
 
To all of you East coast guys, I came up witht the same mind set and did this installation confident that there was no problem with it as it would have passed inspection in any of the jusrisdictions I worked in there. However how do you address 225.20 which refers you to 230.50?
Also from a business point of view what do all of you think is the path of least resistance to get this resolved with an HO that obviously has no intention of using me again? As I stated earlier I think that just having some else do it and back charge me will cost me the least amount of money in the long run (this job is kind of far from my office in an area of the metro area I don't work in anymore unless the job is large enough)and just write this one off as lesson learned.

Thanks for all of the input
 
230.50 (A) is clear "where subject to physical damage"

You said the conductors go down toward the basement on the exterior wall. How close to the ground did you run them? Can a lawn mower hit them. I think some here are talking about overhead coming into the top of the meter not at ground level. IMO you have to protect conductors that are close to the ground.

I generally don't like another contractor working on my jobs. Remember your still liable. Not to mention they may bad mouth you to the HO. I say bite the bullet and go fix the problem, but I don't know your situation.
 
ishium 80439 said:
I'm resigned to the fact that something needs to be done to appease the insp but at this point I just want to tell the HO to have her current "electrician" take care of it (PVC sleeve) and back charge me. I have a feeling that the guy who did the wiring will have that special deer-in-the-headlights look. Perhaps at that point she may realize why we get paid to do what we do.
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If there is an inspector involved, why would the current electrician have a deer-in-the-headlights look? Sounds like he pulled a permit and he's only insisting that it is not his problem, it is yours.

I'm not trying to insult you for the situation, I'm just saying that you should pay for him to do the work if you don't or can't do it and there isn't really a problem here other than costing you a little money for a mistake that is completely understandable.

My only concern is that the current electrician may want to pull your cable out to install piping instead of finding a quick but reasonable fix.
 
[why would the current electrician have a deer-in-the-headlights look? /QUOTE]

I'm fairly convinced that it is a homeowners permit with a handyman doing the work. Based on context clues from the HO, the current electrical installer seems intimidated by the concept of playing with the subfeed.
In the long run, after reading comments here, especially those of you who brought up the concept of other people putting their hands on work I still own, I contacted the HO and told her I would protect it. I think I'll try that U-guard. Thank you Davis9. Thanks to everyone who took time to comment.
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growler said:
In reality I normally run a rigid mast and I probably would have protected this cable with rigid or PVC. Not because it's really necessary but I like for a job to look good and for people to think they are getting a quality product. I like rigid because it's easy to paint to match the siding and it looks solid.
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Me too.

In the past, I used SE cable for the service.

Now....If the service drop is going to be attached to the house, I use sch. 40 PVC conduit, weather head and (Aluminum) USE cable for the service riser.

If the drop is going to be supported by the mast, I use 2 1/2" rigid steel (or IMC) conduit, weather head and USE cable.

I don't have a problem with SE cable, I just think that conduit looks more professional.....and it doesn't cost much more....just a opinion.

As far as the OP's problem. I would bite the bullet, take care of the problem personally, and try to greet and leave the customer with a smile.....:smile:
No use to burn any bridges...unless it's already burned.
Might save you some "bad mouthing".

Just my opinion.
steve
 
Good luck with it. I goes in easy anyways. Shouldn't take too long. Make sure you get your inspection right away.

Tom
 
Davis9 said:
Good luck with it. I goes in easy anyways. Shouldn't take too long. Make sure you get your inspection right away.

Tom
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Lesson learned, get inspections, as soon as jobs are completed!
 
growler said:
I don't think I have ever seen a kid chewing on a service cable. Must be the lead paint, stop useing it.

In reality I normally run a rigid mast and I probably would have protected this cable with rigid or PVC. Not because it's really necessary but I like for a job to look good and for people to think they are getting a quality product. I like rigid because it's easy to paint to match the siding and it looks solid.
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I always put put SE cables in conduit. It does look much more professional and it will stop the children from knawing on it. Without conduit it realy is just 240 volt extension cord!
 
iaov said:
I always put put SE cables in conduit. It does look much more professional and it will stop the children from knawing on it. Without conduit it realy is just 240 volt extension cord!
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I ripped the industrial looking RMC off of my house and installed SE.

IMO it looks much better then the RMC did.
 
iwire said:
I ripped the industrial looking RMC off of my house and installed SE.

IMO it looks much better then the RMC did.
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Its probably the old industrial electrician in me that feels compelled to put everything in conduit.
 
iaov said:
Its probably the old industrial electrician in me that feels compelled to put everything in conduit.
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I enjoy running pipe and can appreciate a well done job.

But I don't want to see it on the side of my home. :)
 
cschmid said:
I am pipe man I even use pvc instead of UF at my own place.. I use pvc every time I can get away with it it is a cheap as UF and has more options then..
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About the only place I run PVC is buried in the earth, if I can't run cable it will be steel raceway of some type.

In my area PVC exposed often looks like garbage a few years after installation.
 
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