230.24(B) gives vertical clearances for overhead service conductors, and for those that have the handbook Exhibit 230.23 give a nice illustration of these clearances. My problem, or question, is in Article 100 Definitions, it seems clear that these conductors are defined as the "service drop", which is on the "line" side of the service point and therefore not subject to the NEC, according to the handbook. Looking at Exhibit 230.23, I can't see where these overhead conductors are on the "load" side of the service point. If you could clarify this or point out what I'm missing, I'd sure appreciate it. Thank you.
Overhead Service Conductors
- Thread starter SPierce
- Start date
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It's all on the line side until the meter socket .
Expanding on that, you could have a central pole fed from the utility containing your meter. It could then leave that pole overhead and go to other buildings as unfused Service conductors under the rule of the NEC. If there happened to be a disconnect box at the pole so feeders were being run to the other buildings, I think article 225 references these same clearance values.
beanland
Senior Member
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
NESC
NESC
Utility work is covered by the National Electric Safety Code (NESC) which has a similar table listing the allowable heights of service drops.
NESC
Utility work is covered by the National Electric Safety Code (NESC) which has a similar table listing the allowable heights of service drops.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
But that code is only effective to the extent that a particular utility has incorporated it as a basis for its own internal rules, yes?
Tapatalk!
Tapatalk!
beanland
Senior Member
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
Defacto
Defacto
I believe that the NESC is not an optional code, but that may be because utility regulatory bodies have adopted it. A utility would not have the option of not following it. The NESC covers the supply of electricity and the NEC covers the utilization of electricity.
NESC 011. Scope
A. These rules cover supply and communication lines, equipment, and associated work practices
employed by a public or private electric supply, communications, railway, or similar utility in the
exercise of its function as a utility. They cover similar systems under the control of qualified
persons, such as those associated with an industrial complex or utility interactive system.
B. The NESC covers utility facilities and functions up to the service point.
C. NESC rules cover street and area lights (supplied by underground or overhead conductors) under the
exclusive control of utilities (including their authorized contractors) or other qualified persons (such
as those associated with an industrial complex).
NEC 90.2 Scope.
(A) Covered. This Code covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical ?ber cables and raceways for the following:
(1) Public and private premises, including buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and ?oating buildings
(2) Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations
(3) Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity
(4) Installations used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings, that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center.
(B) Not Covered. This Code does not cover the following:
(5) Installations under the exclusive control of an electric utility where such installations
a. Consist of service drops or service laterals, and associated metering, or
b. Are on property owned or leased by the electric utility for the purpose of communications, metering,generation, control, transformation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy, or
c. Are located in legally established easements or
rights-of-way, or
d. Are located by other written agreements either designated by or recognized by public service commissions, utility commissions, or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction for such installations.
Defacto
I believe that the NESC is not an optional code, but that may be because utility regulatory bodies have adopted it. A utility would not have the option of not following it. The NESC covers the supply of electricity and the NEC covers the utilization of electricity.
NESC 011. Scope
A. These rules cover supply and communication lines, equipment, and associated work practices
employed by a public or private electric supply, communications, railway, or similar utility in the
exercise of its function as a utility. They cover similar systems under the control of qualified
persons, such as those associated with an industrial complex or utility interactive system.
B. The NESC covers utility facilities and functions up to the service point.
C. NESC rules cover street and area lights (supplied by underground or overhead conductors) under the
exclusive control of utilities (including their authorized contractors) or other qualified persons (such
as those associated with an industrial complex).
NEC 90.2 Scope.
(A) Covered. This Code covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical ?ber cables and raceways for the following:
(1) Public and private premises, including buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and ?oating buildings
(2) Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations
(3) Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity
(4) Installations used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings, that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center.
(B) Not Covered. This Code does not cover the following:
(5) Installations under the exclusive control of an electric utility where such installations
a. Consist of service drops or service laterals, and associated metering, or
b. Are on property owned or leased by the electric utility for the purpose of communications, metering,generation, control, transformation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy, or
c. Are located in legally established easements or
rights-of-way, or
d. Are located by other written agreements either designated by or recognized by public service commissions, utility commissions, or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction for such installations.
Unless I'm reading it wrong, that's not what the code teaches. The "service point" is the dividing line between the utility(line) side and the customer(load) side. And the service point is not necessarily the meter, it's near the drip loop on an overhead service or at some point outside the building on an underground service. Correct?
beanland
Senior Member
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
POI
POI
Agreed. Technically, unless the utility opts to define the POI as the terminals on the meter socket, the meter does not exist (it is just a wide point in the line.) The POI for an overhead line is generally where the service drop connects to the pigtails coming out of the weatherhead. If the service is underground, the POI is defined by the utility and can be the transformer terminals, a box in the sidewalk, or the meter terminals.
POI
Agreed. Technically, unless the utility opts to define the POI as the terminals on the meter socket, the meter does not exist (it is just a wide point in the line.) The POI for an overhead line is generally where the service drop connects to the pigtails coming out of the weatherhead. If the service is underground, the POI is defined by the utility and can be the transformer terminals, a box in the sidewalk, or the meter terminals.
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