electrician installed conduit with service entrance wires straight into the loadcenter on a house, took those thru the loadcenter out to the meterbase line side and then from the meterbase back to the mainbreaker in loadcenter the line and load are in separate flexible conduits i redflagged it, the inspector approved it. i think i'am correct but this inspector thinks he's a genuis. give an answer please
power company inspector' code knowledge
- Thread starter aaplug
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stephenbrowndog
Member
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
I BELIEVE THE INSPECTOR WAS WRONG PASSING THIS INSTALLATION. PANELBOARDS ARE NOT TO BE USED AS PULL BOXES AND THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT THEY DID BY TAKING THE CONDUIT TO THE PANELBOARD AND NOT THE METER.
I BELIEVE THE INSPECTOR WAS WRONG PASSING THIS INSTALLATION. PANELBOARDS ARE NOT TO BE USED AS PULL BOXES AND THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT THEY DID BY TAKING THE CONDUIT TO THE PANELBOARD AND NOT THE METER.
hbiss
EC, New York NEC: 2017
- Location
- Little Falls, New York NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- EC
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
Stephen, please, enough with the CAPS.
I don't think there is anything in the code to prevent this assuming there is enough room in the panel. This is usually a POCO issue anyway, most would not want unmetered conductors to be easily accessable. That said, I can't see why anybody would do this to begin with.
-Hal
Stephen, please, enough with the CAPS.
I don't think there is anything in the code to prevent this assuming there is enough room in the panel. This is usually a POCO issue anyway, most would not want unmetered conductors to be easily accessable. That said, I can't see why anybody would do this to begin with.
-Hal
ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
If I follow you right, I think 230.7 has been violated.
If I follow you right, I think 230.7 has been violated.
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
Ryan 230.7 wouldn't apply as these wires are service entrance conductors. Just because in a normal installation they pass through a meter they still will be service entrance conductors when entering a panel and don't change until they hit the main breaker. Remember a meter box is not to be concidered service equipment 230.66
If they were underground lateral they would still be service conductors as then they only change to service entrance conductors at the point where they enter the building. as per 100 "Service Lateral" Definition.
So they are service conductors until they hit the main. Once they hit the main/disconect they cannot go back in to a raceway that also has service conductors in it.
So if they are service conductors then 230.7 allows them.
I don't see any thing in the NEC that would prevent this but the POCO might have a problem with it.
Ryan 230.7 wouldn't apply as these wires are service entrance conductors. Just because in a normal installation they pass through a meter they still will be service entrance conductors when entering a panel and don't change until they hit the main breaker. Remember a meter box is not to be concidered service equipment 230.66
If they were underground lateral they would still be service conductors as then they only change to service entrance conductors at the point where they enter the building. as per 100 "Service Lateral" Definition.
So they are service conductors until they hit the main. Once they hit the main/disconect they cannot go back in to a raceway that also has service conductors in it.
So if they are service conductors then 230.7 allows them.
I don't see any thing in the NEC that would prevent this but the POCO might have a problem with it.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
I assure you that we would have a problem with it, we will not even permit the metered and unmetered conductors to cross in a CT cabinet.
If I understand this correctly, the service entrance conductors are running through the panelboard and then coming back to it. If they are using the panelboard as a raceway, then it becomes a raceway and you then have service wires mingled with feeders and branch circuits in the same raceway, that is the violation. Under normal conditions, the service entrance conductors are terminating in a panelboard, that makes it a piece of equipment that is not used as a raceway.
If I were the AHJ, I would have turned it down.
I assure you that we would have a problem with it, we will not even permit the metered and unmetered conductors to cross in a CT cabinet.
If I understand this correctly, the service entrance conductors are running through the panelboard and then coming back to it. If they are using the panelboard as a raceway, then it becomes a raceway and you then have service wires mingled with feeders and branch circuits in the same raceway, that is the violation. Under normal conditions, the service entrance conductors are terminating in a panelboard, that makes it a piece of equipment that is not used as a raceway.
If I were the AHJ, I would have turned it down.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
By the way, most power company employees are not that familiar with the NEC. They are only concerned with their own standards which are based on the NESC, getting the meter spinning, and closing out the order for service. If something is done that looks safe to them, it will get hooked up even if there is a Code violation because they don't know the rules. I do some inspections in areas that do not have an AHJ and know a little about the Code. Trust me, I am the exception in power companies. I have several friends across the nation that represent EEI on various Code Making Panels that know the Code fairly well also.
By the way, most power company employees are not that familiar with the NEC. They are only concerned with their own standards which are based on the NESC, getting the meter spinning, and closing out the order for service. If something is done that looks safe to them, it will get hooked up even if there is a Code violation because they don't know the rules. I do some inspections in areas that do not have an AHJ and know a little about the Code. Trust me, I am the exception in power companies. I have several friends across the nation that represent EEI on various Code Making Panels that know the Code fairly well also.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
Charlie I must share these pictures with you.
I think you may have a problem with this setup.
This is not my work.
Charlie I must share these pictures with you.
I think you may have a problem with this setup.
This is not my work.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
Yep!
Yep!
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
I just want to know how did who ever did this keep track of what went where
I just want to know how did who ever did this keep track of what went where
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
I know what is happening here and it still confuses me. :roll:
[ October 03, 2004, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
I know what is happening here and it still confuses me.
:roll:[ October 03, 2004, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
By the way this passed and a meter was installed by the POCO.
By the way this passed and a meter was installed by the POCO.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
This just proves electric utility engineering and work does not always mean quality. :roll:
This just proves electric utility engineering and work does not always mean quality. :roll:
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
What is the photo cell for?
What is the photo cell for?
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
almost looks like an indoor installation.
almost looks like an indoor installation.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
This is outdoors.
I know this guy and apparently everything he does must be for the competition. :roll:
This is outdoors.
I know this guy and apparently everything he does must be for the competition. :roll:hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: power company inspector' code knowledge
If the line and load of the meter is swaped then the meter has to be installed upside down other wise it will run backwards.
If the line and load of the meter is swaped then the meter has to be installed upside down other wise it will run backwards.
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