Pity the Poor Home Inspector

[InspectorDan]

Okay guys....here's a new one on me. Suburban tract home split-level built in '76. Sub-panel appears to be fed via conductors that come in through the feeder conduit leading to the main panel. Underground feed to the meter socket so is it possible they've tapped into the meter instead of feeding the sub-panel off of the main? Thanks again for your most kind assistance!

 

[peter d]

It could very well be an illegal tap ahead of the meter, or just someone that didn't know better and tapped it directly off the load side of the meter.

 

[InspectorDan]

Double Tap Then?

Double Tap Then?

So would that constitute a double tap on the load side and be a safety concern?

It could very well be an illegal tap ahead of the meter, or just someone that didn't know better and tapped it directly off the load side of the meter.

 

[truck41trouble]

Is there a service disconnect (fused or breaker) after the meter outside? Barring overfilling the conduit, that's the only way this could be done.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[MyCleveland]

I miss my time working for an EC, you just can't make this stuff up.

 

[qcroanoke]

It could very well be an illegal tap ahead of the meter, or just someone that didn't know better and tapped it directly off the load side of the meter.

I like that theory, guy in this area did that. Had all his 240 stuff in the bootlegged panel.
Would have gotten away with it too if he'd kept his mouth shut...
One way to find out. Pull the meter and check to see if the panel on the right is still hot.

 

[ptonsparky]

So would that constitute a double tap on the load side and be a safety concern?

Its worked for forty years, hard to argue with that failure rate.

As an EC, I would bring it to the owners attention. Glad I'm not an inspector.

 

[mbrooke]

So would that constitute a double tap on the load side and be a safety concern?

Depends on how its tapped into the meter. If two wires are sharing the same lug in the meter socket- then chances are its a no-no. But in all honesty unless someone pulls the meter and looks inside (don't do it) its impossible to say. At minimum that back fed main breaker needs a hold down tie.


I also agree with others that this could be power theft.

 

[Fnewman]

Whenever I find evidence of a possible improper connection in the sealed meter compartment, I make a call to the POCO customer service so that they can investigate. Same is true if I observe a cut meter seal.